SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO Dan Klingerman stands in front of what will be Buffalo Wild Wings on Third Street in Loyalsock Township on Wednesday June 26, 2013.

Parking tickets issued to multiple drivers parked outside Liberty Arena sparked a discussion Monday with the arena’s owner and the Williamsport Parking Authority.

Daniel A. Klingerman, owner of The Liberty Group, developer of the indoor arena at West Fourth and Hepburn streets, met with authority members at Mayor Gabriel J. Campana’s office at City Hall, said Dr. Anthony Cipolla, authority chairman.

“The arena owner isn’t asking for free parking,” Cipolla said of the early Monday morning meeting.

An alternative plan — such as relocating those who’ve reserved monthly spaces to another nearby lot during times when the arena is heavily booked — could be implemented, he said later at the authority’s monthly meeting.

Enforcement-related signs on the lot indicate tickets can be given out for parking violations after 5 p.m. and on Saturdays, but lately there’s been some leeway.

“We haven’t been ticketing on weekends,” Cipolla said.

The parking area, known as Lot E, has 150 spaces, with 30 reserved for city employees such as police and codes enforcement personnel, he said.

“We are concerned with the issue with parking and the amount of ticketing,” Campana said after the meeting. “We want Klingerman to be successful and so the solution is to create a balance between the two.”

City Council was unaware of the meeting and thought enough public or hourly parking is available in the lot.

“Clearly, we were assured there was plenty of parking available,” said Council President Jonathan Williamson. “Of course, the authority might need to adjust what kind of parking (is) in the lots they manage and have responsibility over and should find the right mix of parking in various parts of the parking facilities they manage.”

“We were assured there would be plenty of parking, but there were no discussions about that becoming a paid lot all of the time, such as weekends and after-hours,” Councilman Randall J. Allison said. “I think it took everyone by surprise. Subsequent to the project getting done it was revealed the parking authority, because it participated and gave money, now had to recuperate that money.”

Allison said the matter was not part of the conversation or council might have addressed it.

“There was already a permit parking, but not that it would become hourly paid parking, especially on weekends when it wasn’t charged before and when a lot of events happen,” he said.

“It’s problematic for the arena users and those reserving parking spaces,” Allison added.

“As for parking and paying — we’re all paying,” Councilwoman Bonnie Katz said.

She said she’s spoken out many times about the city’s parking-related issues. “It fell on deaf ears,” she said.

Katz remains concerned about parking at times when the arena holds a tournament or event, City Hall has a controversial meeting, the cinema is showing several box office hits and the Community Arts Theater is packed with a sensational performer or performance.

For example, tonight council is holding session while renowned comedian Ron White performs at the Community Arts Center.

Basketball games are played at the arena with the John Bower Basketball League on Saturday, said Councilman Clifford “Skip” Smith, chairman of the city public works committee.

“Users put credit cards at the pay stations and money in the meters to pay to go in there and park,” he said.

The league previously played games at the Pennsylvania College of Technology gymnasium, which provided free parking, he said. “Council has been hearing about it,” he added.

Additionally, volunteers who attend city committees and commissions meetings are paying for parking and, when they overstay their allotted time, have received parking tickets, Smith said.

“We would hope there would be a way to accommodate the arena and the users and for the authority to use whatever revenue it collects for good purposes such as improving surface lots and adding more technology to its lots and garages,” Councilman Don Noviello said.