There's been alot of talking about parking in town the last few days. First, parking rates are going up in the three city garages (Gotts, Hillman and Knighton). I believe the rate increase is a quarter an hour with the maximum going from $8 to $10. The first hour free has also been eliminated, although those of us who are city residents will now get two hours free in the garage once the city figures out how to differientiate between residents and nonresidents.

Nothing is changing at the county garage off Calvert Street although the county raised the daily maximum to $8 (from $4) a few years ago and there was never a first hour free offerred.

Part of the issue of parking is that city law prohibits private businesses from operating for-profit stand-alone parking lots. The only public lots are run by the city of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. There is a lot on Greene Street run by the county schools vocational program, but the county school system wants to subcontract it, which the city is fighting.

Perhaps the city could get more people to ride the stadium shuttle if it were to operate the shuttles more reliably.