Lawrence city commissioners’ decision to approve a parking plan for the city while retaining the option to review specific plan recommendations in the future was spot on.

The 62-page parking plan covers a dozen neighborhoods in the city’s core and makes 30 recommendations, such as the addition of electronic payments and reservations; a boot and tow policy; residential permits; and increased fines and fees. The commissioners approved the plan Tuesday, but with the caveat that the individual recommendations in the plan must be approved separately before being implemented.

Commissioner Mike Amyx rightly noted that it is unlikely that commissioners agree on all 30 recommendations. Allowing commissioners to vote on individual recommendations as they come up for implementation ensures that the plan’s costs and impacts are reviewed and discussed before taking effect.

The recommendations are broken into two phases. Recommendations in the first phase are expected to be addressed in the next six months, while city staff said the recommendations in phase 2 could be implemented over the next five to 10 years.

Under Phase I, recommendations include implementing a boot and tow policy to deal with habitual parking violators, adding residential permit parking for downtown neighborhoods, replacing five-hour meters with 10-hour meters and changing 15- and 30-minute meters to two-hour meters. Phase II of the project recommends adding kiosks that allow for electronic monitoring and payment for parking, adding a web portal to allow for online payment of tickets and purchase of permits, extending meter hours in active areas to 9 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and increasing rates charged on Mass Street on 10-hour meters and for permits.

There certainly is a lot to like in the plan, especially the installation of systems that allow for electronic payment for parking. Such a convenience is sorely needed.

Commissioners expressed reservations about the severity of the recommended consequences for parking violations, especially implementing fines and penalties — including towing — after three parking tickets. But such issues can be addressed as they come up for implementation.

The parking plan is expected to meet the city’s parking needs for the next 10 years. It’s a thoughtful plan with recommendations that should make downtown parking in Lawrence more convenient. City commissioners made the right call in their vote Tuesday.