The Gary Common Council amended and passed an ordinance on June 3 to regulate meter parking within the city, establish a parking meter fund and add language covering vehicle charging stations.

An attorney who presented the amendment said the ordinance adds definitions for “meter parking” and “parking meter,” clarifies that fees may apply to oversized vehicles and explicitly allows the city to include charging stations in metered areas. The presentation noted the city will use a cashless payment app and that staff corrected formatting and definitions in the draft.

Why it matters: Council and staff said the ordinance will create a predictable process for charging for parking in designated locations, provide funding for parking-related infrastructure and support electric vehicle charging where appropriate. Staff emphasized signage, public communications and an initial period of enforcement “with grace” so residents can adapt.

Fee schedule and enforcement: A council member asked about specific fees; the presenter said she would circulate the fee schedule to council members after the meeting. During the discussion a council member referenced a $10-per-hour figure, but the presenter said the official fee schedule would be provided to the council for review. Enforcement will be coordinated between beach patrol, parking attendants and the city’s enforcement office; towing will be used in no-parking zones and for habitual violators.

Vote and next steps: The amendment and the ordinance (CPO 2025-35) passed by roll call vote, recorded as 9-0. Staff said they will share the detailed fee schedule with the council and lead a public communications campaign before full enforcement begins.