Post and Courier | Josh Archote

COLUMBIA — The City Council finalized its parking overhaul on Dec. 3, which will bring higher rates, fines and expanded enforcement hours. 

The ordinance passed 6-1, with at-large Councilwoman Aditi Bussells casting the only vote against the measure. Bussells wanted to see more of a focus on walkability, she explained in a Facebook post. She also had concerns regarding the higher rates’ impacts on local businesses, inconsistent rates across the city and poor communication with the public on the proposals.

The proposal is largely the same since the first reading of the ordinance on Nov. 19, except for the following changes that passed in the final ordinance:

• The changes will go into effect on March 1, instead of Jan. 1. 
• For the first two weeks of March, fines will be given out but won’t actually require folks to pay the fines. This grace period was established to help people understand the changes before the fines go into effect. 
• Parking won’t be enforced on Saturdays, except for in the Five Points district. 

Columbia residents pushed back on some of the proposed changes in several meetings. The final ordinance passed with some important changes from what the council first proposed in July.  

Although there were some lingering concerns and feedback from residents at the Dec. 3 City Council meeting, the feedback was largely positive. Several residents thanked the council for being responsive to their concerns about the parking changes. 

Here are the most important changes coming from the overhaul:

• On-street parking rates will increase from $0.75 an hour to $1.50. 
• The first hour of parking in garages will be free. But rates will be higher in the second and proceeding hours.
• Unreserved and reserved monthly off-street parking lot users will see their monthly fees rise.
• Expanded enforcement hours, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturday enforcement hours will remain in Five Points only. 
• Fees and fines for parking violations will increase. The average citation will go from $42 to $68, not including the fire lane fine increase. Parking in a fire lane would jump from $20 to $500. Overtime parking citations would go from $8 to $25.
• Special parking permits and fees will also increase, including downtown residential lot fees, loading zone permits, bagged meter fees and valet permits, though some of the rates were reduced following pushback from residents.
• New parking kiosks will replace aging coin-fed meters across the city.

The projected revenue over five years with the proposed changes would be roughly $11 million — lower than the $17 million the city had originally projected. Over the same period without the proposed changes, the city would take in an estimated $261,000.

It’s a long overdue change, Columbia officials say, given that the city hasn’t touched its rates in the roughly 20 years since there was paid parking in Columbia. Compared to cities of similar size, Columbia had the lowest hourly incremental rates for on-street and deck parking, according to data collected by a consultant hired by the city. The same was true for Columbia’s meter violation fees.

The city plans on reinvesting all of the extra cash back into the parking system. Some of those improvements include:

• New pay-for-parking kiosks
• Gateless parking solutions for parking decks
• An automated online appeals process for parking citations
• Expanded electric vehicle charging system
• Upgraded parking deck cameras