NATCHEZ &8212; Center City Grill co-owner Guy Bass has evidence the parking situation is hurting business downtown.

&8220;We are not open for lunch anymore because of parking,&8221; Bass said. &8220;It&8217;s hurt my business. It has put 10 people out of a job.&8221;

Bass is not the only Natchez business owner who has similar concerns about the limited availability of parking downtown.

He and a group of 20 business owners and residents met Thursday afternoon in the Historic Natchez Foundation conference room to develop solutions to what many see as a growing problem.

&8220;It&8217;s the number one thing we talk about at Main Street meetings,&8221; Natchez Downtown Development Association Director Tammi Gardner said. &8220;All small towns have a parking problem.

&8220;It&8217;s time to try to figure out the solution for ourselves, instead of complaining about it.&8221;

Topping the list of concerns was the lack of parking spaces available due to business owners and employees parking close to their businesses.

Most in attendance agreed Thursday that too many store owners and employees use the convenience of parking next to their store without understanding that it is hurting downtown businesses.

&8220;We are parking away our bloodline,&8221; said Elaine McCrory, owner of the Antique Mall and Flightline Caf/. &8220;It&8217;s not worth parking in front of our stores to kill downtown. That is what we are doing.&8221;

McCrory, like Bass, says that she has customers tell her &8220;Look I am trying to find a parking space, but I can&8217;t find one.&8221;

&8220;Your own employees are the biggest problem,&8221; Natchez Alderman Bob Pollard said.

But recognizing the problem is not enough, Gardner said. &8220;We need some spaces for business owners to get off the street, to open it up for customers.&8221; Gardner said.

One solution is to find open lots in strategic locations around town for businesses &8212; one on the east side, one on the west end of downtown and one on the south end, Gardner said.

&8220;We have to give them alternatives,&8221; Garner said.

The city once leased a parking lot from St. Mary Basilica on Union Street for such a use. But it was dropped out of the budget and the lot is now leased to Britton & Koontz Bank.

Natchez Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said the city is currently looking to reinstate a lease for the parking lot of Zion A.M.E. church.

This lot and others could help &8220;encourage business owners to use the lots and not park in front of stores,&8221; Gardner said.

But most in attendance agreed that without enforcement, many owners will not use the lots, if available.

&8220;We have to enforce the two-hour parking rule,&8221; McCrory said. &8220;Without enforcement it will do no good.&8221;

Along with enforcement, many pointed out the city&8217;s $3 parking tickets are not much of a deterrent, suggesting that the rates be increased.

Gardner said that in many towns boots are installed on many cars that have had numerous unpaid parking violations. Removing those boots can cost an owner up to $300, she said.

Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins pointed out that the city at one time had a full-time person in charge of issuing parking citations.

Due to budget constraints that position was eliminated. Until recently, few parking citations were being written.

After recent complaints, a current police employee has been given part-time responsibilities to issue tickets.

Mullins said raising the cost of tickets to $10 could help pay for a full-time position.