Council amends downtown parking ordinance; paid parking limited to one downtown lot

The Abilene City Council approved final reading changes to the downtown parking ordinance that remove references to parking meters and authorize a paid-parking program and clearer signage for time-limited parking downtown.

Public Works Director Max Johnson told the council the ordinance cleanup replaces meter references with a paid-parking program and clarifies enforcement of time-limited curbside spaces. At present, staff said the only site planned for paid parking is the lot across from the downtown hotel; downtown curbside spaces and other lots will remain unchanged unless specifically converted and signed.

Council members and a public commenter asked for clarity after earlier public confusion. Max Johnson and Councilman Reagan emphasized the change does not convert downtown streets into paid spaces and that existing one-hour or two-hour limits on curbside spaces will be retained and enforced as signed. “Nothing really changes for anyone except for the parking across from the downtown hotel,” Johnson said.

Tammy Fogel, a resident who spoke during the public hearing, urged clearer communications to avoid damage to downtown businesses and said business owners at a recent Business Expo supported the limited paid-parking roll out. Councilman McAllister moved to approve; Councilman Craver seconded. The mayor announced “all yeses, motion carries.”

Votes: Motion to approve ordinance amendment (Councilman McAllister), second (Councilman Craver). Outcome: approved. Notes: Paid parking will begin with the downtown hotel lot only; signs will mark time-limited spaces.