Borough to trial ParkMobile‑only payment at four zones; staff proposes broader parking code updates

Borough staff told council at the April 14 work session they will seek approval next week to temporarily convert four multi‑space meter zones to digital‑payment‑only (ParkMobile) on a six‑month experimental basis and will report back at the end of the trial.

Tom Brown and parking staff said some multi‑space machines are in disrepair, repair turnaround is slow and in at least two zones the operating cost exceeds revenues. About half of current parkers in the affected zones already use ParkMobile, staff said, and each multi‑space location will display a QR code to help motorists register. The temporary change would allow the borough to evaluate usage, equity impacts and revenue before amending the ordinance permanently.

Parking staff also presented a suite of Chapter 11 proposed updates that they plan to advance for council consideration. The changes aim to: remove vendor‑specific language (avoid naming a single app), clarify meter scofflaw procedures and penalties, streamline violation escalation timing (proposed removal of a three‑day escalation step in favor of a standard 30‑day period), add rules for EV charging stalls, and allow the parking director to make limited temporary permissions (for specified streets marked with an asterisk) for resident parking where street width allows.

Staff said the proposed scofflaw tiering is intended to strengthen deterrence for habitual meter violators while preserving a 50% discount for motorists who promptly resolve a meter violation. Council members asked staff to include feasibility analysis on whether digital validation options could be offered for on‑street digital meters (similar to garage validations), and to consider neighborhood permit scenarios in future work. No final ordinance vote was taken at the work session; staff will bring the temporary parking regulation for a vote next week and return with ordinance language and fee tables for formal action.