Council approves changes to downtown parking limits and garage hours

The Noblesville City Council on a roll-call vote approved Ordinance 16‑3‑26, a package of updates to on‑street and garage parking rules intended to ease short‑term turnover and support downtown businesses.

Aaron Head, community engagement manager in the mayor’s office, told the council the main changes shift weekday street parking from two hours to three hours, move the enforcement window from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. to 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and modify meter and garage rules to provide more free or extended short‑term parking. Head said the Levinson and Federal garages will move to a three‑hour free window with a $2 hourly charge thereafter and that some surface lots will move from two‑hour metered to three‑hour free parking.

Head said he received three emails from business owners with supportive comments and described a planned implementation timeline: the clerk’s office will advertise the changes, signage updates should be in place within about a week after advertisement, and ordered new signs are expected to be installed in approximately 30 days. “Most of what we’re doing is limiting enforcement, actually,” Head said, and noted a short grace period would be offered as the changes become effective.

Council members raised no objections; the ordinance was moved, seconded and approved by roll call (7 ayes, 0 nays). City staff said enforcement would begin after the statutory advertisement period and the posted signage is installed.

The ordinance’s adoption means the parking changes will be enforced after the clerk’s advertising step and the brief grace‑period noted by staff. The council did not amend the proposal and no further council action was indicated at the meeting.