A goodwill gesture by the city will continue for the foreseeable future.
The parking meters along State Route 89A in Uptown were turned off shortly after the initial COVID-19 closures in March and have remained that way ever since.
“Activity/visitation was already down significantly but it was intended as a small gesture to relieve merchant concern about the cost to park being an impediment to visitors stopping and patronizing the businesses that remained open,” Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Karen Osburn said.
Osburn said the city will continue to monitor things, but as long as businesses are still struggling they intend to keep the meters inactive.
“We have queried merchants through the Chamber and other means and at this point the majority prefer we keep the meters inactive for the time being,” Osburn said.
The meters are currently bagged with messaging indicating no payment is required. The signs will be removed when they are reactivated.
The meters have been a good source of income for the city, with all funds being set aside for Uptown projects. In Fiscal Year 2019 the gross annual revenue was about $580,000 and after expenses was just under $500,000.
“A merchant’s group decides how to reinvest those funds into Uptown,” Osburn said. “Most recently it has been determined that revenue will go towards the construction of a parking garage.”
