Pay-to-park in downtown Abilene? Council discussing use of paid parking at select lots

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – As expansion and renovation projects continue downtown, the Abilene City Council is considering a paid parking system.

As expansion and renovation projects continue downtown, the Abilene City Council is considering a paid parking system.

Two parking lots have been singled out for potential implementation in these discussions so far, Council hearing from Assistant City Manager Michael Rice and members of the public at its Thursday, February 27th meeting. Mayor Weldon Hurt clarifying that no action would be taken as this was merely a discussion and information gathering meeting.

Two parking lots have been singled out for potential implementation in these discussions so far. At its Thursday, February 27, meeting, the council heard from Assistant City Manager Michael Rice and members of the public. Mayor Weldon Hurt clarified that no action would be taken as this was merely a discussion and information-gathering meeting.

“This is a discussion today to give staff direction. I just want everyone to know that. We still will have a public hearing we want your input. But we are not voting on an ordinance today,” Hurt said.

This meeting comes four weeks after the city council retreat, at which the council directed the city to meet with the public, gather information, and present that information to the council to gauge the public’s position on the matter.

The proposed plan maintains three free parking lots, marked in orange on the map, at North 2nd Street and Hickory, Cedar Street, and the corner of North 2nd and Mesquite. The parking garage on Pine Street and the lot on North 5th Street, marked in blue, will continue their current operations with a minor exception, as Rice explained to the council.

“In association with First Financial, we have signed agreements with them that they would provide free parking after 5 O’clock Monday through Friday and also free on Saturdays and Sundays,” said Rice.

Two lots denoted in green on the map are the subject of possible paid parking discussions. One sits across the street from the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, and the other is next to the old Abilene Reporter-News Building at the corner of North 2nd Street and Pine Street.

Paid parking would be managed by the app-based Company ParkMobile. Rice explained that ParkMobile would collect part of the parking fee, with the rest of the charge going into the city’s general operating fund, as would parking violation fees. The proposed lot across from the Hotel would differ in that a portion of those fees would be put into a hotel debt payment fund.

Rice says proposed pricing is subject to change at the council’s discretion. The current proposal suggests a cost distribution of:

• 0-2 hours – Free
• 2-4 Hours – $5.00
• 4-6 Hours – $9.00
• 6-9 Hours – $13.00
• 9 Hours or more – Daily rate of $20.00
  • 3 Day Maximum (or towed at owner’s expense)

The topic that drew the most opposition from council members was the proposal to turn the parking lot next to the Abilene Reporter-News lot into a paid parking area. Multiple members voiced concern that implementation in that area might become a deterrent for downtown visitors, negatively impacting commerce and further limiting available spaces for visitors as construction continues to take up space.

“There’s an impact we’re already having on the businesses, especially on Cypress, but just a difficulty getting around in downtown… I don’t have a strong feeling of opposition towards the hotel parking but I don’t want to see paid parking today at the Reporter News parking lot,” said Councilmember Shane Price.

“I don’t think it solves a problem at this point. Down the road, I think it can serve a purpose; I just don’t think we’re there yet. And so again I would agree with Shane [Price]’s phrasing too. I’m not opposed to the downtown hotel parking across the street being paid. I am very much opposed to the ARN paid parking,” Council Member Blaise Regan added.

Multiple citizens and downtown business representatives spoke up during the public comment portion, many of them speaking out against paid parking at the ARN lot or the implementation of paid parking anytime in the near future.

“I am not here to fight against paid parking entirely. I am here to ask you to wait. Wait until the Cypress Street Project is fully finished and downtown businesses have had a chance to recover. Please do not introduce another challenge before a downtown has the opportunity to stabilize,” said Grain Theory Director of Events and Engagement, Rani Burk.

“Now we’re talking about making a parking lot where the Reporter-News used to be. Please make that a free lot… City staff, what we’re talking about here as a possibility is bringing back basically a high-tech version of a parking meter. I want to know if y’all want to be known as the City Council and Mayor who brought back parking meters to downtown Abilene, I wouldn’t want to be,” Texas Star Trading Company Owner Glenn Dromgoole said.

Following the public comment section, council decided to pursue further discussion surrounding the paid lot across from the downtown hotel as well as considering the wording for how commercial vehicle parking would fit into the plan.

Following the public comment section, the council decided to pursue further discussion surrounding the paid lot across from the downtown hotel as well as considering the wording for how commercial vehicle parking would fit into the plan.

A public hearing will be held on the possibility of paid parking downtown, though that date has not yet been set.