The Jackson City Council dealt with parking issues on two fronts Monday night.

Parking spaces on Main Street, from JB's to Sue's Shoppe, will be shrunk a bit to make room for an Amador Regional Transit System bus. The bus needs some additional roadway length for itself and its handicap ramp, a total of 32 feet. By making the eight parking spaces slightly smaller, just enough length can be gained for the bus, without losing any spaces. The only expense for this change will be the cost of repainting the roadway striping.

Amador County Supervisor-elect John Plasse asked the council if this change would eliminate the possibility of changes under discussion at the parking subcommittee of the Jackson Economic Development Committee, which would call for diagonal parking and restriction of direction on Main Street to one way.

Council members discussed the matter and decided to move forward with the parking space shrinkage, citing the minimal cost and ease of further changes in the future.

The fine for expired parking meter violations was raised from $11 to $25 to partially replace revenue lost by covering of the parking meters on Main Street. It was estimated that the larger fine will replace $15,840 of the $25,520 anticipated revenue loss.

City Manager Mike Daly suggested that local business owners, employees or other regular visitors to Jackson take advantage of the city's inexpensive monthly parking permits. For $35 a month, unlimited parking is allowed in the covered parking area under the Jackson Civic Center. For $20 per month, unlimited parking is available in all uncovered lots.

In other actions, the city showed its appreciation to Kam Merzlak for his "ongoing support and involvement in the local community," with a standing ovation from the city council and presentation of a plaque from Jackson Mayor Rosalie Pryor Escamilla.

Merzlak has been active in numerous community organizations, notably the Historic Jackson Business Association, Jackson Economic Development Committee and the Amador County Chamber of Commerce. Recently, Merzlak made a splash with his involvement in a kids fishing derby and Amador County's award-winning California State Fair booth.

"It's a great award and I still have a couple of tricks up my sleeve for the city of Jackson," Merzlak said. Merzlak is one of only two recipients this year of the Mayor's Recognition Award, the other being Vera Allen.