The shortage of parking in downtown Ferndale is a sore spot for city officials, businesses, residents and visitors. Hundreds to thousands of people and their cars visit the city's bars, restaurants and festivals every weekend. Weekdays are getting more crowded, too.

City leaders were on hand Saturday to talk to local business owners and residents about plans the new deck and dealing with parking shortages during construction. The site is a former municipal surface parking lot with a 138 spaces.

Officials expect the project to be finished within a year to 15 months. The construction will mean the temporary loss of parking, which will cause further headaches for those trying to navigate the popular downtown area.

The Royal Oak Daily Tribune this week reported that the parking rates in Ferndale could double under a proposal the City Council will consider Monday.

The proposal would hike metered rates from 50 cents to $1 per hour and expand parking enforcement periods by two hours up to 11 a.m. to midnight. Money from increased rates and enforcement hours would go to fund city payments on a $20 million bond that is paying for the mixed-used parking deck.

If approved, the new rates would start April 1.