NORMAL - Uptown Normal Business Association members and representatives from Illinois State University will be among those helping to decide how much it will cost to park in the future uptown parking decks and how long customers can park on the street.

The City Council on Monday hired the Hile Group of Normal to lead an expected, nine-month study of uptown parking guidelines. The group will be paid up to $18,000.

According to Hile Group's proposal, the committee will look at parking meters, time limits, enforcement, parking exemptions and use of parking revenue. The City Council would have the final say.

City Manager Mark Peterson said the budget assumes some of the parking revenue will be used to pay for the management and maintenance of the decks.

The City Council hired Heartland Parking Inc. for that job. The group will be paid about 4$1.15 per space per month or about $9,000 annually to manage the 660-space deck currently being constructed just east of the Bank of Illinois.

It will be paid about $6,900 to manage the future 500-space parking deck that will be used by the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center and the rest of uptown. That deck will be built on the southeast corner of Fell Avenue and Beaufort Street.

Heartland will be responsible for cleaning the facilities, removing snow, inspections, landscaping and training new employees.

Councilwoman Cheryl Gaines suggested the council had not yet determined if the town should charge for parking.

Peterson said the budget assumes there is a fee, but if not, the town will need to find other money to cover Heartland's costs.

"I want it to be easier and cheaper to park in the decks then on the streets," Gaines said.

Bloomington officials surveyed other nearby communities to set their rates, according to Bob Floyd, director of city facilities. Rates vary and include a flat rate of $40 per month; four hours free at the Madison Street lot; and 65 cents per hour or $4.55 per day at the Lincoln lot by the McLean County Law and Justice Center.