The "Proposed Changes to the University's Paid Visitor Parking Program," which is circulating among various campus constituencies, also would convert the Slee A and Slee B parking lots on the east end of the academic spine to paid lots-accommodating both visitors to campus and UB faculty, staff and students who use the university's preferred parking program-and return the Center for Tomorrow lot to a free overflow lot with shuttle service.

Under the plan, the number of paid/visitor parking spaces in the Fronczak lot would be reduced from 618 to 165. The remaining spots-approximately 450-would be used as open parking for faculty, staff and students.

In addition, the lot adjacent to UB Stadium that is used for parking during football games would become a permanent overflow and visitor parking lot.

The recommendations from the task force, which the group hopes will go into effect for the Fall 1998 semester, are designed to "maximize parking accommodations at the east end of the North Campus toward better serving all members of the university community and creating a welcoming environment for visitors," said Carmela Thompson, director of campus parking and transportation services, and co-chair of the task force.

Assessing a $2 parking fee for all special-event patrons would reduce the cost to departments for reserving parking, create a guaranteed revenue source to offset staffing and support the construction of new lots and maintenance of existing lots, and achieve greater consistency in fee schedules and related policies, according to the task force recommendations.

Thompson said the recommendation was endorsed by representatives from the Center for the Arts and the Division of Athletics, who say assessing a parking fee "is the fair and equitable thing to do, and that most visitors to campus will not be put off by it."

The task force report states that establishing visitor parking in the Slee lots at the east end of campus would better serve the needs of event sponsors and visitors attending campus events, many of which are held in Slee, the Center for the Arts and Alumni Arena, all at the east end of campus. The lots would be staffed, and access and egress controlled by a single entry and several one-way exit gates.

Relocating some of the preferred parking spaces from the Fronczak lots to the Slee lots also would better serve members of the university community on the east end of campus, the report says.

Some paid parking will continue to be maintained in the Fronczak lot to accommodate visitor-based offices such as Admissions, located in Capen Hall on the west end of campus, for which "an east-end lot would not be appropriate."

The task force is circulating the proposal and seeking consultation from various campus constituencies, including the bargaining units, the Faculty Senate, the Professional Staff Senate and student government. Comments can be sent to Thompson via campus mail, 106 Spaulding Quadrangle; fax, 645-7331, or e-mail, (carmelat@ acsu.buffalo. edu)