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Council weighs phased switch from coin meters to smartphone and kiosk payment options
Summary
Council members and parking staff discussed replacing aging on-street meters with sign-based ParkMobile/Civic Smart options, text-to-pay and limited kiosks. The council directed staff to pilot sign-based and text options in lower-traffic areas and to preserve cash options for people without cell phones.
Council members and parking staff discussed an ongoing effort to modernize on-street parking payments. Staff described plans to replace a stockpile of about 100 aging meters, refurbish another roughly 60 existing devices and pilot sign‑based, app/text-based payment options in lower‑use areas of downtown.
Staff said a full kiosk rollout is costly (an example price cited was about $8,500 per kiosk plus monthly fees) and could create confusion if implemented citywide too quickly. Councilmembers encouraged a phased approach: pilot sign-based ParkMobile or Civic Smart + text-to-pay in three low‑use zones (near the Art Center, by Famous Dave’s and the Orthodox church) while keeping meters in busier areas where coin and card usage remain significant.
Council and staff also discussed outreach and signage: members asked that any transition include clear signs with a parking‑space number, a QR code, and a short text number so people without smartphones or who do not want to download an app could still pay by text. Staff confirmed Civic Smart supports text‑to‑pay and will check with ParkMobile about sign options. The council asked staff to plan a 24‑month transition approach to reduce reliance on aging meters while maintaining accessibility for residents without phones or who prefer cash.
Ending: The council approved technical budget adjustments for meter replacement and directed staff to proceed with a phased pilot of signage-based and text payment options in specified low‑use areas, while preserving cash and kiosk options where appropriate.
