Downtown DeKalb business owners reached an agreement about parking recommendations to be made to the DeKalb City Council.

At a public meeting Tuesday night, business owners met with representatives from downtown DeKalb and the city’s economic development committee to discuss parking issues.

Chad Bryden, staff liaison for the economic development committee, hosted the discussion and said he recommended to the council the following:

– Reduce the parking fines from $10 to $3.

– Increase the one-hour parking limit spaces to two hours.

– Increase the two-hour parking limit spaces to three hours.

– Have a graduated system for parking fines. Once a person received a certain amount of fines at a particular price, it would be raised to a much higher fine.

– Having parking available for residents and downtown employees in the 12-hour lot.

– Enforce multi-ticket parking fines.

Bryden said the ultimate agreement, despite any differences of opinion, was to bring people downtown.

Helen Umbdenstock, owner of Helen’s Hair Designs, 147 N. Second St., expressed concern over the $10 parking fines.

“I do think this has hurt the downtown, big time,” Umbdenstock said.

Community Development Director Paul Rasmussen suggested that if the problem lies with employees taking spots, then there needs to be a better handle on where they park.

“It’s not the size of the fine, it’s how much you punish them,” Rasmussen said.

Recommendations will be made at the next city council meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 27.