Committee adopts Hiller amendments and sets Jan. 1, 2026 start for wider downtown parking changes; exempts Kansas Avenue meters

The Topeka City Committee on May 14, 2025, advanced a revised downtown parking package to the full governing body after adopting amendments from Councilwoman Hiller, approving a ban on parking meters on Kansas Avenue between Sixth and Tenth streets, and setting a Jan. 1, 2026 start date for changes covering defined downtown blocks.

"Anything is up for grabs under the directive that was sent back to you," said Jason, a city staff member who presented the background on prior council action and the referral back to committee. Jason noted the ordinance as amended would specifically exclude Kansas Avenue between Sixth and Tenth from metered parking and that the intended status quo there is two-hour, non-metered parking.

Nut graf: The committee considered three linked questions: (1) whether to adopt Hiller’s cleanup amendments to the ordinance language, (2) whether to remove staff discretion to put meters on Kansas Avenue (the Dobler motion), and (3) what implementation dates to set for the larger downtown pricing and meter program. The committee adopted Hiller’s amendments, approved no-meter language for Kansas Avenue and agreed to a Jan. 1, 2026 start date for the 100-block implementation area.

Key items adopted or clarified in committee: - Hiller amendments: language cleanups (remove references to physical meter hardware in favor of terms like "time-restricted parking" and "payment method"), removal of College Hill TIF area enforcement language, and expanding on-street permit price ranges. Committee members described the amendments as largely housekeeping and supportive of flexibility in signage and enforcement. - Kansas Avenue: Committee approved language that "no parking meter zones shall be established on Kansas Avenue between Sixth and Tenth Street." Committee members clarified the practical effect is to preserve two-hour free parking on that stretch unless the governing body later changes the ordinance. - Implementation timing: The committee set Jan. 1, 2026, as the start date for the broader rollout affecting the 100 blocks east and west of Kansas Avenue (areas currently covered by hooded meters). Garage and monthly-permit rate increases were discussed as likely to be implemented as systems and garage renovations are completed; staff said some rate increases could be implemented within 60–90 days once systems and billing are updated.

The presentation also addressed operational details: replacing ad hoc orange cones with signed 15-minute loading zones placed per MUTCD standards, rules for downtown food-truck reservations (permitted when affiliated with a downtown business address), and a request that staff "wordsmith" ordinance language so Hiller’s changes and the Dobler motion do not conflict.

Ending: The committee voted to forward the amended ordinance and any needed resolution to the full governing body with the adopted changes and the Jan. 1, 2026 start date for the wider downtown area. Staff was tasked with finalizing ordinance language and coordinating public notice and implementation steps; the committee signaled an intention to avoid conflicting resolutions and to put implementation dates directly in the ordinance where appropriate.