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City outlines downtown parking overhaul: $1 hourly meters, $1.25 premium on Kansas Avenue, and reserved spaces for businesses proposed
Summary
Public works presented a plan April 15 to simplify downtown parking zones, raise meter rates, add reserved spaces for businesses/food trucks, and address an annual parking fund shortfall of $400,000–$500,000. Council discussion focused on impacts to seniors, residents and garage usage.
City staff on April 15 proposed a package of changes to simplify downtown parking rules, raise hourly rates and add tools for reserving spaces for business uses as part of a bid to stabilize the parking fund, which staff said currently operates at “a revenue loss of 4 to $500,000 per year.”
Deputy Director of Public Works Jason Tryon presented a multi-part plan that would: increase 10-hour on-street meter rates from $0.50 to $1.00 per hour; make most on-street paid parking $1.00 per hour and establish a $1.25-per-hour “premium” rate on Kansas Avenue; increase some monthly garage permits (example: $67.75 to $74); convert temporary cone-marked 15-minute loading spaces to signed permanent 15-minute zones; permit downtown property owners to reserve spaces for business uses (food trucks and mobile retail) when those spaces supplement a downtown business; and remove yellow hoods on the 100 blocks east and west of Kansas Avenue to begin paid parking there. Tryon said revenue currently does not cover annual expenses and projected insolvency of the parking fund as reserves approach depletion in 2027 without changes.
Why it matters: Tryon told council that “parking operates right now at a revenue loss of 4 to $500,000 per year” and that without changes the parking fund would likely be insolvent by August 2027 given long-running debt service obligations. The proposed Kansas Avenue premium would be phased in no earlier than Jan. 1, 2026, to give downtown businesses time to prepare and to allow public outreach and signage.
Council members raised equity and access concerns. Councilwoman Ortiz relayed an 83-year-old constituent’s worry about paying to attend free lunchtime concerts and staff clarified that on-street parking is not charged after 6 p.m. and that valid ADA placard holders are not required to pay for on-street parking under Kansas law. Council members pressed for clearer signage directing visitors to garages, better marketing of monthly permits for employees, and exemptions or affordable options for downtown residents on fixed incomes. Councilman Duncan urged the council and departments to use existing tools such as the city’s energy and parking dashboards and to ramp up internal marketing to encourage visitors to use garages for longer stays.
Next steps: Staff said the item was a discussion and planned to return with an action item next week to adopt a resolution that would set rates and trigger outreach for a January 1, 2026 start where the council approves. Council members asked staff to explore additional signage, enforcement hours, and resident-parking options.
