Benton Harbor council debates parking attendants, QR payment plan and use of youth programs

BENTON HARBOR — Commissioners debated a proposal presented June 1 to expand paid parking operations downtown and at Jean Clark Park, including hiring four parking attendants to staff a 14-hour daily schedule.

City Manager Mr. Little said prior high seasons for Jean Clark Park generated more than $150,000 in revenue, and staff expects attendants and expanded paid parking to produce offsetting revenue. The manager described a technology-first approach: moving toward QR-code payment kiosks and relocating a limited number of physical meters rather than covering downtown with costly standalone machines (which carry high maintenance fees).

Commissioners asked about the attendants’ training, backup from police, and whether attendants would have body cameras for safety. Mr. Little said attendants would be trained, would operate a vehicle that reads license plates, and would have police backup available for incidents; the city does not plan to issue body cameras for attendants but is exploring police support for high-risk situations.

Several commissioners asked about using workforce-development partners (Michigan Works, Youth Solutions, CDBG youth programs) to supplement seasonal parks staffing. Manager Little said the city has used such partners in the past but cautioned that external programs are not always reliable as full-time attendants, and certain enforcement duties require trained staff. Commissioners said parking attendants, when run correctly, should be revenue-neutral and asked for clearer projections tying attendant costs to expected beach/downtown revenue.