Highway Committee backs ParkMobile agreement and advances paid-parking ordinance starting April 1

The Ephrata Borough Highway Committee on Jan. 28 recommended that Borough Council enter a five-year service agreement with ParkMobile to provide on-demand parking transactions and authorized the Borough Council President to sign the agreement. The committee also reviewed a revised draft ordinance to reimplement paid parking in the borough, with staff planning public outreach ahead of an April 1, 2026 effective date.

The ParkMobile agreement would give the borough a five-year initial term for mobile parking payments and includes one complimentary ParkMobile welcome kit with aluminum signs and decal stickers to complete implementation. The committee agreed to recommend Council approve the contract and delegate signature authority to the Borough Council President.

Committee members reviewed proposed amendments to the Code of the Borough of Ephrata (Chapter 305, Vehicles and Traffic) that would update Article V (On-Street and Off-Street Paid Parking) and related schedule entries (including Section 305-35 Paid Parking Zones, Section 305-37 Rates and Operational Times, and Section 305-107 Schedule XXIV, Unmetered Parking Lots). Staff said the final ordinance will be advertised and made available for Committee review in February 2026 and is scheduled for Council action on March 9, 2026; if enacted, the ordinance would take effect April 1, 2026.

Staff told the committee it will pursue timely, widespread public notification and education about the reimplementation of paid parking, including signage and outreach tied to the ParkMobile rollout. The committee directed those implementation plans to continue so Council and the public have details before the March Council meeting.

This report reflects committee recommendations and discussions; final approvals and the ordinance’s effective date depend on Borough Council action.