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Lititz Borough weighs parking-meter increases, merchants and residents urge better payment options
Summary
Council reviewed staff analysis showing a $0.25 per-hour increase would add roughly $31,000 annually and $0.50 would add about $62,000; merchants favored not 'bagging' meters for the holiday season while public commenters urged improved credit-card and app functionality.
Taneya (speaker 5) presented an analysis of downtown parking-meter options, saying raising the rate from $1.00 to $1.25 per hour would generate an estimated $31,000 a year and $1.50 would yield about $62,000.
Council members discussed two linked decisions: whether to increase hourly rates and whether to stop the long-standing practice of bagging meters during the holiday season. One council member said merchants she contacted supported leaving meters active to encourage turnover; she added, “I don't think an extra 50¢ an hour is gonna keep anybody from coming into Lititz.”
Jane Smith, speaking for Venture Lititz, told the council she did not oppose a rate increase but urged the borough to fix meter payment functionality before raising rates. She said many users — both visitors and residents — struggle with credit-card transactions at the meters and asked the borough to prioritize a solution. “If there's something — an app component — that could be added, please keep that top of mind,” Jane said.
Jared (speaker 10) described the 2024 payment split for meters as roughly two-thirds cash and one-third card and said vendors have reported limits such as bank processing time and connectivity; he suggested exploring an app feature but said staff need to analyze implementation costs and timing. Council asked Jared to provide dollar estimates for additional rate scenarios and to return with a recommendation ahead of the budget-advertising timeline.
No formal rate change was adopted at the meeting; council members voiced informal consensus to move away from bagging and to pursue rate and payment updates for 2026.
