Goldsboro council approves temporary moratorium on downtown parking enforcement after widespread complaints

Goldsboro City Council voted 6-1 on Dec. 2 to pause enforcement of downtown time-limited parking and remove the posted signs while the council and staff gather more data and consult merchants and residents.

Mayor Kandace Gaylor put a compromise proposal on the table earlier in the discussion to change meter-adjacent spaces along Center Streets median from two-hour to four-hour parking instead of scrapping the program. That idea prompted extended debate among council members, who described sharp disagreement among downtown merchants, employees and residents about whether current rules have helped or hurt business.

Council members raised multiple concerns that led to the moratorium vote. Speakers who favored a pause described small business owners who say customers avoid downtown because of the risk of tickets, and said city employees are occupying curb spaces intended for customers. Supporters of keeping rules in place argued that removing the program entirely would undo benefits for some businesses and residents and would return the city to the previous unregulated pattern.

Councilman Roderick White and others repeatedly asked for more complete data and for targeted fixes such as additional handicap spaces and selective residential permits. Council members also proposed hosting merchant and resident meetings and reviewing consultant recommendations before making permanent changes.

The final motion, carried after debate, directed the city manager and staff to implement a moratorium on parking enforcement and remove enforcement signs. The mayor clarified the ordinance would remain in effect but staff would not enforce it during the moratorium. The council set the moratorium length as "60 days post retreat," meaning 60 days after the council retreat scheduled for Jan. 16, 2025.

Council asked staff to take specific follow-up steps during the moratorium: conduct outreach to merchants and residents, collect and analyze utilization and survey data, evaluate and implement additional handicap spaces, pursue limited off-site parking leases for city vehicles to free curb space, and return with recommendations following the retreat. The mayor also asked staff to ensure clear public messaging and to coordinate with the Downtown Development Corporation and the citys public information officer.

The moratorium vote was: yes 6, no 1. Council members also agreed staff would take down the two-hour signage to reduce public confusion while the pause is in effect.

The moratorium and the follow-up work are intended as a temporary, working pause while the council and staff refine a parking policy tailored to Goldsboro, rather than a permanent reversal. The council set expectations that it will revisit the issue after staff reports and stakeholder meetings.