The "Parking Service Bar" price list, which defines parking prices and fines for illegal parking and damage to parking lots, was adopted at today's session of the Bar Municipal Assembly (MA) with 19 votes from the ruling coalition councilors, while nine opposition councilors voted against.
Government councilors from the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Social Democrats (SD) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) advocated the position that establishing parking prices is an important step towards communal and traffic order in Bar, while opposition councilors claimed that these tariffs would be an imposition on citizens and that they were not symbolic prices, as announced by the local government.
The Executive Director of "Parking Servis Bar", Nikica Purlija, said in her introductory speech that parking fees will be charged between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM on weekdays, and from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturdays.
Parking will be paid for by sending SMS messages, via an application, by selling parking tickets in the retail network, by selling at parking machines, at the cashier's controllers, and by selling monthly tickets.
Purlija pointed out that Bar will have the lowest parking service prices, cheaper than in other municipalities, where, according to her, multiple price increases are planned. She emphasized that this is an issue of public interest and noted that Bar is one of the last municipalities to introduce parking service charges.
Radomir Novaković (Biram Bar) said that Purlija came to read the document prepared by the board of directors of "Parking Servis" and raised the issue that its president, Nikola Đurović, was not there to explain the prices. He assessed that it is important to know how they arrived at these prices and what methodology was used.
Valentina Minić (Democrats) disagreed that this price list is “great” and that the prices are “below any possible level.” She called it catastrophic and added that the local government, through the actions of the Bar “Parking Service,” wants to “rip off citizens.”
The additional economic burden on citizens is controversial for her, she stated, especially because Bar has declared itself a poor municipality, since it uses funds from the Equalization Fund.
The president of the local government, Dušan Raičević, reacted to her allegations and said that it is true that a great injustice was done in Montenegro when the Municipality of Bar was classified among the municipalities that, according to the development index, are less developed, and therefore are entitled to funds from the Equalization Fund.
"And on the first day when that decision was made, I said that it was obviously a mistake that was made, but that we were not in a position to correct that mistake. The fact is that according to the 2022 decision, the Municipality of Bar had a development index of 98.79 and according to that development index, it was included among the beneficiaries of the equalization fund. The truth is that on that basis, in the previous two years, we have received close to seven million euros in revenue."
Likewise, he added, the error they pointed out was corrected a week ago, so the decision defining the development index was changed and the Municipality of Bar, in terms of development, "jumped" from 98.78 to 105.45. Accordingly, he said, the Municipality of Bar is no longer, and will not be, a beneficiary of the Equalization Fund.
Drago Drobnjak (SD) said that in Podgorica, parking is charged in three zones and that the price per started hour is 60, 50 and 40 cents in different zones. Nikšić is also divided into three zones and the prices are 80, 30 and 20 cents per started hour, while the preferential ticket for residents is eight euros, five and four euros, while for legal entities and entrepreneurs it costs 30, 20 and 10 euros on a monthly basis.
When it comes to Bijelo Polje, Drobnjak stated, there are three payment zones, and parking costs 80, 70 and 50 cents per hour, and a preferential ticket for residents costs 12, 10 and eight euros per zone, while for legal entities and entrepreneurs, the monthly ticket is 60, 50 and 40 euros per zone.
Budva has one zone and the price from January to April is 50 cents per started hour and increases to one euro during the rest of the year, while in special parking lots the price is even higher than the rest of the year.
"I believe that the prices we are considering today are, in most cases, below the price level in other cities, or are approximately the same, because in our two zones the price per started hour is 50 and 40 cents, the preferential price for tenants is five euros in both zones, where only Nikšić is cheaper than us - in the third zone with a price of four euros," said Drobnjak.
He assessed that the tariffs are not intended to create unacceptable costs for citizens, but rather that the establishment of a functional parking service in Bar will improve communal order.
Darko Janković (Europe Now Movement) said that citizens will not welcome the levy brought by this price list, primarily because they are not familiar with what the results of the collection will be and whether it will actually relieve traffic.
Two years is not a small period of time, as long as "Parking Servis" has existed, he said, for the company to start operating, so citizens and opposition councilors have doubts about the intentions of the local government, and that, considering that the budget is extensive, better use of space and the potential construction of garages in the city should have been considered.
Branimir Lakićević (New Serbian Democracy) assessed that the topic of the "Parking Service" price list is the culmination of everything that has happened in the past year and a half - the founding of the company, the appointment of the board of directors, the adoption of the study on parking zones.
"Although establishing a 'Parking Service' is something that all municipalities in Montenegro have, I believe that the way it was done was not a good way. Before we established the 'Parking Service', the Municipality had to build certain infrastructure facilities in order for the Parking Service to function as a sufficient whole," he said, referring to public garages and fenced parking lots.
Milena Božović (Biram Bar) asked on what basis the prices were set, and assessed that councilors and citizens must be familiar with the methodology for calculating the price of services. She noted that "Parking servis Bar", since its establishment, has not performed its primary activity - charging for parking, but only had expenses without income.
"We have repeatedly pointed out that this is an imposition on our fellow citizens, who have every right to receive adequate service for the money they spend on parking their vehicles, that is, for parking lots to be improved, for new parking lots to be built in the form of public garages," said Božović.
She added that she also sees the fact that there are only two zones as a drawback and that the busiest streets in the city have been identified with those parts of the city where traffic is less intense as a drawback. She believes that the prices are not symbolic, as Purlija claims, and asked what should residents who have paid for preferential tickets and do not have a free space in their zone do, and if they do not find one, do they have to pay for parking in another zone?
Rade Stanisavljević (Democratic People's Party) pointed out that the party was never satisfied with the way the "Parking Service" was formed and that its saga has lasted a year and a half - from its establishment to the formation of prices.
He promoted the construction of garages, as was planned on the site of today's flea market, but nothing came of that idea. As for parking prices, he said they were inadequate and high.
Milan Nešković (Democrats) agrees that the city needs a parking service – but not in this way. From a municipality that boasts that it does not charge for parking, he said, they have come to the point where they will charge for every parking space in the city.
He noticed that the price list did not include the price for towing a "spider" vehicle, so he asked if that meant that "Parking Servis" would not have that service.
"The Municipality of Bar and the Public Utilities Company will pay monthly parking tickets for their employees if they wish to park in front of their companies in the amount of 75 euros per year. If that same employee lives in Topolica, he will additionally pay a tenant's ticket of 60 euros per year - a total of 240 euros per year," said Nešković.
Momčilo Leković (Democrats) called the "Parking Service" an agony that has lasted for almost two years. He questioned the fact that only one councilor from the government spoke out, and assessed their silence as evidence of a split in the ruling coalition.
"This document is something that had to be on the agenda. The director of this company has been sitting alone in an office for some time, without employees or any infrastructure. I feel sorry for her politically today because she was left alone by her colleagues who are sitting in silence today," said Leković, assessing that this was not correct.
Asim Andrić (DPS) replied to Leković that he was the least invited to talk about relations in their coalition because of the examples of all the municipalities where the Democrats are in power, which are not functioning. He said that the local government in Bar is functioning and that they have excellent inter-party relations.
Support for Purlija, he said, is unquestionable because they have supported all previous proposals, so they don't have to constantly repeat that there is political support. He assessed as positive the fact that everyone recognized the need for communal development in the city and the establishment of order in parking.
The lowest parking prices in Montenegro will be in Bar, he emphasized, adding that they are subject to change, but it is good that a basis has been established to try to solve this problem.
Vesna Drašković (DPS) said that she lives in the first parking zone and that it is very difficult for her to find a parking space since there are a large number of businesses and companies near her place of residence. Another problem she noticed is the large number of parked vehicles on the boulevard that are left there for easier sales and visibility.
"I would like 'Parking Service' to solve this problem. I think five euros a month is not a big tax, even though my salary is below average," she said, adding that from now on she will make an effort to walk to work.
Drašković pointed out some parking lots that were not decorated and asked whether charging would begin before they were decorated and asked for an approximate month in which they could expect this.
Vladimir Božović (SDP) assessed that the parking service is a necessity, because, as he said, the number of vehicles is growing, and a regulated and transparent parking payment and management system is not a luxury. The proposed price list serves to introduce a balance between the needs and interests of drivers and the principles of public order, he said.
Ferida Peročević (Pokret URA) pointed out that the price list was submitted to the councilors three days before the session, without enough time to prepare amendments, without discussion and without consulting the public. She assessed that this was a clear choice to prevent the opposition councilors from participating in the correction of this document.
She said she was bitter and disappointed because the authorities promised "symbolic prices" and instead put figures that represent a burden on citizens.
Purlija, answering questions from councilors, said that when setting prices, they did not use some practices that other municipalities have, such as summer (more expensive) and winter tickets, but that the price will be the same throughout the year and that there will be no time restrictions on parking use.
"It is pointless to discuss whether public parking should be charged, because it is clear that this is an issue that has long been identified as a priority, because we are a tourist city, and it is necessary to introduce order in traffic and communal order, and one of the legal obligations of local self-government is precisely that," she said.
When asked when parking fees will begin, Purilija replied that it will be when the conditions are met – after parking spaces are marked, and that citizens will be informed about this through the media and the "Parking Service" website.
The number of parking spaces will increase, she said, adding that this is one of the reasons why the company exists. Parking lots near the sports center and stadium, which the councilors were interested in, will also be charged.
Hourly parking up to 1 euro, monthly reservation up to 300 euros
A parking space in Bar, in the first zone, will cost 50 cents per started hour, and when the ticket is issued by the controller, the price will be 2,80 euros per starting hour, while a monthly, preferential parking ticket for residents will cost five euros.
In a closed parking lot, where there is a toll ramp, one hour of parking will cost one euro. Such parking will only exist in the first zone.
A preferential monthly ticket for employees, lasting ten hours a day, will cost 15 euros. Such a ticket for entrepreneurs and legal entities will cost 30 euros, and the price of a monthly ticket for non-residents will be 20 euros.
Delivery vehicles will pay a monthly ticket of 60 euros, with uninterrupted use and a stay of up to 60 minutes. Buses will pay 10 euros per started hour. The daily ticket for parking in the first zone will be 10 euros, and must be paid within eight days.
If someone from Bar wants to reserve a parking space on a monthly basis, they will have to pay 150 euros for a parking space reservation for 10 hours a day (eight plus two hours), and 300 euros will be charged for a monthly parking reservation for the entire day - 24 hours.
The first zone will include parking lots in the part of the city bordered by the Adriatic Sea, Petrovic Dynasty Boulevard, JNA Street and Barskih logoraša Street, parking spaces in Stari Bar, parking spaces in Žukotrlica and in Sutomore.
The second zone will encompass the part of Bar bounded by the Željeznica River, the railway line, Makedonska Street, Trgovačka Street, and Bulevar Dinastijë Petrovića. It differs from the first in that it is mainly residential in character.
In the second zone, a parking space per started hour will be slightly cheaper - it will cost 40 cents, or two and a half euros when the ticket is issued by the controller.
The preferential monthly ticket for tenants will be the same – five euros, as will the monthly ticket for employees – 15 euros. The price in the second zone remains unchanged for monthly tickets for legal entities and entrepreneurs (30 euros) as well as for non-residents (20 euros).
Fifteen euros will be cheaper for delivery vehicles in the second zone, so the price for uninterrupted use with a stay of up to 60 minutes will cost 45 euros. A daily ticket in this zone, as in the first, will be 10 euros.
A monthly parking space reservation in this part of Bar will cost 150 euros for using the parking lot for up to 10 hours a day (eight plus two hours), and 300 euros is the price for a monthly parking reservation for the whole day - 24 hours.
All of this is stated in the Price List for services for general and special parking lots of DOO "Parking Servis Bar", which was adopted by the Board of Directors of that company on October 3, and which "Vijesti" has access to.
For damage to the ramp, 800 euros
The part of this Decision that refers to other fees also stipulates the prices of fines, so the initiated intervention to block the vehicle's wheels will be charged 10 euros. Unblocking the vehicle's wheels will cost 40 euros.
Anyone who damages a parking ramp will have to pay a fine of 800 euros, and anyone who damages a parking lot will be fined 2.000 euros. If a parking ticket is lost or damaged, the fine will be 30 euros.
As explained in the document adopted by the Board of Directors of "Parking Servis Bar", a preferential parking ticket (PPK) implies a subscription from the first to the last day of the month.
A PPK can only be issued if the applicant has settled his/her due obligations towards the "Parking Service", and is the user or owner of the vehicle for which a preferential ticket is requested. Users of preferential tickets are required to conclude a contract on such use of a parking space, for a period of at least six and at most 12 months.
The PPK is valid exclusively for the vehicle, or rather for the license plates specified in the concluded contract, and only for the zone for which it was issued.
Legal entities or entrepreneurs - persons residing in Bar, or companies registered in Bar, who use business premises in the area where parking is charged for a vehicle registered to that legal entity or entrepreneur.
A legal entity or entrepreneur may be issued a maximum of three preferential tickets per business premises.
A natural person – tenant, in this Decision, is defined as a person with registered residence in Bar on a property located in the parking fee regime zone. Such a person may be issued a maximum of two preferential tickets per residential unit.
A natural person – non-resident, is defined as the owner of real estate in Bar in the parking fee zone with proof of residence address submitted, and with a registered second address of residence.
An "employee" as a natural person is someone who is employed by an employer who uses business premises in the area (zone) where parking is charged. The daily ticket, as stated in the document, is valid for 24 hours from the moment of issue until the same time on the first following working day on which parking is charged.
The price list of the Bar "Parking Service" will be presented tomorrow, Monday, September 27, to the councilors of the Bar Municipal Assembly, as this item was added to the daily work and decision-making agenda the day before yesterday, Friday. The councilors, by majority vote, should approve this document.
"Parking service Bar", which was founded by the local assembly at the end of 2023, and officially registered in August last year, celebrated its first anniversary this summer without any parking spaces, while the people of Bar were still unaware of how much parking in the city would cost, although the question of when exactly parking fees would begin remains open.
Bonus video:
