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Waterloo mayor announces new downtown parking options including free first hour, council to consider changes March 3
Summary
Mayor Quentin Hart told the City Council he has discussed downtown parking with council members, Main Street and business owners and will bring options — including one free hour and a 50¢ rate increase after that hour, ramp rules and an RFP for parking services — to the council on March 3.
Mayor Quentin Hart said Monday the city will return to the council March 3 with new options for downtown parking after several weeks of public comment and council discussion.
Hart said the package he will bring back includes one free hour of parking (requiring kiosk registration), a 50¢ increase to the parking rate after that first hour, an hour-free rule for the parking ramp, and consideration of a non-tow enforcement tool for long-duration violations. He also said staff expect to issue a request for proposals for overall downtown parking services in the coming weeks.
‘‘There has not been a vote taken,’’ Hart told the council and members of the public. ‘‘For the first time in history, we’re moving to a free parking for that first hour.’’
Hart said he has discussed the proposals individually with council members, downtown business owners and Jessica Recker of Main Street Waterloo, and that the next meeting will feature ‘‘a different option’’ on the agenda. Main Street Waterloo and several downtown business representatives told the council earlier they worry changes could hurt customer access at a time of growth downtown. ‘‘Parking should support this growth and not restrict it,’’ Jessica Recker said during public comments.
Council and staff comments at the meeting emphasized enforcement and accessibility. Public works Division Manager Randy Bennett said crews will continue to address snow-removal impacts that have reduced downtown spaces while the city transitions enforcement and ramp improvements. Bennett also said staff will begin tidying and pulling snow piles and will attempt to restore downtown parking incrementally.
Hart said the city has discussed ramp security options and is still searching for a funding source to provide after-hours security in parking ramps. He also reiterated the plan to publish an RFP for parking services ‘‘at some point within the next couple weeks’’ to evaluate management and enforcement options.
The council did not vote on any parking ordinance Monday; Hart said the options will return to the agenda on March 3 for formal consideration.
