Columbia holding public meeting on parking cameras

Columbia Public Works planned to host a public meeting Tuesday evening about camera upgrades in the city’s six parking garages.

The 5:30 p.m. meeting was organized as an informal open house at City Hall where officials answer questions and gather feedback about the project.

The project will convert the current parking garage analog camera system to an IP system, install additional cameras at garage entrances and exits and add more cameras to the top of the Fifth and Walnut garage.

Work is scheduled to begin in late spring or early summer and is estimated to cost $250,000.

The city is also working to install new gate arms and electronic payment kiosks at all garages.

Parking manager Leah Christian told ABC 17 News the department is working to implement numerous plans related to staffing, policy and communications to make the transition as smooth as possible.

” We are currently reviewing a contract with a vendor which will read the debit/credit cards and is fully … compliant (with security standards), ” city spokesman Steve Sapp said. ” The contract is in legal review/negotiation now. We believe we can have the contract finalized by May. ”