Rome’s Downtown Development Authority wants to take a longer look at proposed fees for contractors and trash bins that take up parking spaces during construction projects downtown.

The DDA board agreed Thursday morning to eliminate visitor parking passes for downtown. Fewer than 50 were issued last year.

The panel also approved a $5 increase, to $15 from $10, for fines associated with double parking and parking on the wrong side of the street.

Those changes will have to be ratified by the full City Commission. DDA Director Ann Arnold said the proposed changes would make all the prohibited zone fees consistent.

The DDA board also agreed to issue first-offense warnings for people who park in private lots downtown without a permit.

A design committee had proposed one week free for contractors who are working on buildings downtown, then $8 per day for each day beyond one week. The same panel also recommended a $50 fee for trash bins at work where buildings only have access from Broad Street. Buildings with side or rear access would be charged $25 for taking up parking spaces with trash bins.

Board member Harry Brock suggested the contractor fees might be too high and the trash bin fees to low. Greg Sumner, who chairs the design committee agreed with Brock’s suggestion to revisit those fees.

Arnold told the board, “Money is not the motivation.” She said keeping space available for downtown shoppers is the key issue. She called the construction issue a double-edged sword, wanting to improve the look of downtown shops, but also wanting places for shoppers to be able to park.

Downtown merchants will conduct their annual spring sidewalk sale Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with musicians at various spots on Broad Street from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Downtown parking manager Becky Smyth reported that 176 parking citations were issued in February, and more than $5,500 in parking fines had been collected in February.

Smyth said Rob Blumberg, who is opening the new Johnny’s New York Style Pizza at 233 Broad St. on Monday, will offer free parking in the Third Avenue parking deck for customers to use. He is leasing the spaces for $2 each from DDA.

Tickets will be validated when a customer pays the check and are valid for two hours and 15 minutes.

Arnold was at Downtown Development Day in Atlanta on Wednesday. Downtown leaders from across the state tried to drive home the point that over the last 30 years, downtown business districts have created more than 47,000 jobs and have created a $2.6 billion economic impact.

Rome’s downtown effort has drawn more than $5 million from various state grant or loan programs, resulting in another $21 million in private re-investment and the creation of more than 300 jobs.

“We’re a force to be reckoned with,” said DDA Chairwoman Elaine Abercrombie.