It’s probably a matter of courtesy for the Lawrence City Commission to at least discuss about any idea proposed by one of its members.

That being said, some ideas just aren’t worth serious consideration. A case in point is Commissioner Matthew Herbert’s suggestion that the city find a way to let people pay their parking tickets with donations of nonperishable food.

Herbert’s heart is in the right place, but this idea is simply unworkable. It would be impossible to create a system that is both verifiable and convenient enough that people would use it — let alone dealing with the administrative hassle it would create for the city.

Herbert said he knew of three cities — Albany, N.Y., Lexington, Ky., and Tallahassee, Fla., — that had instituted such programs on a limited basis close to Christmas and he wanted to see Lawrence try it year round. News reports confirm that all three cities had programs, but only for a month or two as part of amnesty programs for overdue parking fines. (Ten cans of food would earn you a $15 credit on your parking fines in Lexington.) None of the communities attempted to make it an ongoing system.

If commissioners think donating to a local charity would entice people to pay their fines, they could try a short-term program like those in the other cities. If they want an ongoing program, they could even consider donating a certain percentage of parking fines to a local food bank. Information about the program could be featured prominently on fine envelopes and mailings for overdue fines. The donation would benefit local food banks without creating a new program that adds to the city’s costs and workload.

But, please, don’t try to set up an ongoing system that has people hauling in cases of canned corn to pay their parking tickets. It’s just a bad idea. Tell Herbert “Thanks, but no thanks” and move on to other, more important business.