Columbia City Council moved on Tuesday to table proposed changes to parking meter rates (Council Bill 2-05-25) until the Sept. 15 meeting after a request from a downtown business district representative. The tabling gives the Business Improvement District (CID) and other stakeholders additional time to review the staff presentation and the proposed revenue assumptions.

What staff proposed: Staff described a plan to simplify downtown on-street pricing and the ParkMobile app fee structure. The proposal would move coin meters and app payments toward a $1-per-hour flat fee in locations outside the historic downtown core, and would remove the additional app convenience fees customers currently pay at the first hour in some spaces, equalizing the app and coin meter first-hour charge. Staff said the change reduces coin handling and meter maintenance and aligns Columbia's prices with peer cities. Staff also noted the parking enterprise fund needs additional revenue to protect reserves and deferred ramp maintenance.

Why business groups asked to delay: A representative of the Business Improvement District said the board had not yet had time to brief its members and requested a short delay so business owners could respond and allow staff to brief the CID board. Council accommodated that request and tabled the ordinance to Sept. 15 so the CID and other downtown stakeholders can review the proposal and provide public input before a final decision.

Other matters: Staff also explained that the city has built funds toward a parking ramp maintenance project but is considering delaying a $600,000 ramp repair in light of reserve concerns. Staff will return with the revised projection and a clearer accounting of transfers and the effect on the parking enterprise fund.

Outcome: Council voted to table the bill to the Sept. 15 meeting to allow additional outreach and to permit staff to provide clearer materials linking the rate change to the enterprise fund projections and to confirm where CIP transfers are shown in the budget.