Columbia businesses, residents torn over new downtown parking meters

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Downtown Columbia businesses and residents are torn over whether or not the city's new downtown parking meters will be effective.

The city announced on Thursday it plans to begin installing 15-minute curbside pickup parking signs and meters in downtown on Monday. According to a press release from the city, 19 curbside parking meters were selected in collaboration with the Downtown Community Improvement District.

A map provided by the city shows a majority of the meters will be installed on Ninth Street and East Broadway. The city hopes to ensure regular parking space turnover by installing the new meters, according to the release.

Josey Patterson lives in Columbia and said while she understands where the city is coming from, she's unsure of if people will actually follow the rules.

"I mean, it could say 15 minutes but someone could be in there for an hour or so, so I don't know," Patterson said. "If people follow out with what they're supposed to be doing and follow the rules I could see how it could be customer friendly.. more people in and out for those businesses."

The release states residents will be responsible for paying the standard on-street parking rate of 60 cents per hour. However, Patterson said she has her concerns over whether or not people will actually pay the fee and said she believes it should be lowered, due to the short period of time.

Manager of the Jimmy Johns on East Broadway Wally Harris said he also has his concerns over the effectiveness of the meters for his business. Harris said he's seen numerous delivery drivers park in the current designated curbside pick-up areas for an hour.

He also said he's witnessed several fights among people downtown after drivers park alongside the road to pick up their orders. He said he was unaware of the news regarding the new meters, which frustrates him.

"It would be really nice if they would let us know about this, we should have a say in it...this affects all of us," Harris said. "It will be effective if it's enforced correctly, it will...but the problem is we don't have a lot of enforcement at night, especially at night."

Brenden Holmes has lived in Downtown Columbia for four years. He shared similar sentiments as Harris about people parking illegally, which is why he said he's in favor of the changes.

"I think if you're picking something up, or you're doing a delivery I think that kind of gets in the way a little bit, especially in front of a few places I go to a lot," Holmes said. "They'll park in front of it in the middle of the street and I think there should be some sort of limit on that."

As part of the installation process, the city said the current curbside parking meters with red bags placed over them will be removed. City of Columbia Public Works spokesman John Ogan told ABC 17 News in an email he believes the removal should begin Monday afternoon.

"It appears that Monday morning, the meter techs will be collecting money from the meters," Ogan said. "So, they won't start installation of the signs and removal of the bags and reprogramming the meters until Monday afternoon."

According to the release, spaces can be used for curbside pickup for downtown business, but are not exclusively reserved for businesses directly near a meter.