Businesses, residents worry proposed parking fines could lead to decreased traffic in downtown Jefferson City

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Some local businesses in Jefferson City worry that increased parking fines in the city might lead to less people choosing to travel downtown.

On Monday night, the Jefferson City Council introduced a bill that would significantly raise the fines associated with parking around the city. If passed, parking fines across the board would increase to $25.

The change could mean that a fine for parking at a meter whose time is expired could rise by $19. That's something businesses, like Cold Cocked Frozen Liqueurs worry will become problematic for small businesses.

"Downtown businesses and small businesses downtown are already struggling with inflation right now and parking is already an issue," owner Angela Santarelli said. "You wouldn't want to see anything deter additional customers from coming in and supporting local businesses and bringing their business downtown."

Santarelli said many businesses in the downtown area already experience slow nights throughout the week. She said she thinks the price hike could lead to people choosing not to come downtown anymore out of fear they'll be hit with the increased fees.

Co-owner Cason Shane said he also finds a possibly $19 jump extremely high, and said he thinks the increase would make local people suffer.

The Jefferson City Finance Committee met on Wednesday night to discuss a fiscal year 2026 parking budget amendment. Ward 3 Councilwoman Treaka Young told ABC 17 News following the meeting that the committee did not discuss the proposed fine increase, but rather talked in general about new meters coming to the city that will allow them to better gauge parking payments.

Young said it isn't clear when or if the council will vote on the proposed changes. Santarelli said she also believes the city should explain to its businesses why the city is proposing the changes.

"I mean $19 is a substantial increase. I think as a local business owner that we all deserve to know where this money is going, where is this additional money from these fines being spent, those types of things," Santarelli said.

Young did not elaborate on where the funds will be spent, but said that the city is hoping to ensure people are not over-occupying spaces in the downtown area due to the Madison Street Parking Garage closing.

"We are way behind market rate on the fines and the fees that we were charging residents," Young said. "What we found is that a lot of people were going downtown and they would park their car there all day and and they'll just say 'I'll get this ticket and it really doesn't matter."

Young said she inquired about what other cities similar to Jefferson City's size were charging for parking fees during Monday night's meeting and was told $25 was roughly the going rate.

Jason Bernard has lived in Jefferson City for roughly five years and was shopping in the downtown area on Wednesday night. Bernard said he had heard about the city possibly increasing parking fines, and doesn't agree with it.

Bernard said he thinks if the city is going to make the change, it should do it in smaller increments but said overall, he has a hard time thinking the bump in fines is at all necessary.

"I think that they should at least put that money back into the streets. The potholes around town don't seem to be getting any better," Bernard said. "There's so many other places where they can find ways to earn money and I mean earn it, not just take it from the people who are out here trying to shop at these stores."

New Bloomfield resident Danielle Worthington said she's originally from Denver, Colorado, so she has more patience when it comes to heavy traffic and struggling to find parking while downtown. However, Worthington said she thinks change in a small town is usually more difficult for people to accept and thinks transparency on the city's end about where the money is going could help people be more understanding.

"I think from a business standpoint, I understand why the city needs to increase parking fees but from a community standpoint, it makes it difficult to access these businesses anyway," Worthington said. "If the goal is to bring money back into downtown, then I would understand that but as it is right now, I worry about that this will push people away from these businesses which in a small town, no one wants to see that."

Young said she wants all people and businesses in the city-- including local churches and funeral homes -- to know the city is looking into all aspects of the possible change.

"It was simply introduced to us as a bill, it was not anything we voted on yet," Young said. "We're looking at all aspects and how it's going to impact Jefferson City residents as well."

You can view a list of the proposed fine changes below.

Check back for updates.