City Market tenants will help determine new paid parking plan

City Market tenants will get a say in the area’s new paid parking plan.

Last month, the city sent out postcards announcing a proposed plan to charge $3 minimum for the first three hours on weekdays in five City Market lots.

The plan didn’t sit well with some tenants, who were concerned the fee would deter short-term customers along with all-day parkers, including downtown workers who park in the City Market and ride the streetcar to their offices.

“Those were proposed fees, not final fees,” said City Market property manager Deb Churchill. “I think that’s where a lot of the unrest and concern came from.”

Churchill said the city and City Market management came up with the initial proposed fees by looking at what other River Market parking lots charge. Now City Market management is using feedback from tenants to determine rates and a timeline for the changes. Many tenants have said they would like a grace period for short-term customers.

“Once they come up with something, they’ll communicate with us and distribute the information to tenants,” said Beth Breitenstein, public information officer with Kansas City’s public works department.

Churchill said she hopes to finalize a plan on Friday and discuss it with tenants at a meeting next week. After that, the City Market will announce parking changes to the public.

She added that City Market management has been communicating with tenants about the switch to paid parking for about a year.

The changes are necessary as downtown develops, Breitenstein said. The River Market area is expected to increase in density as the streetcar expands and apartment construction projects are completed.

Last summer, the city installed demonstration parking meters in the River Market as a response to recommendations in a 2016 parking audit. Breitenstein said the city is still testing meters from various vendors.

Breitenstein also said adding paid parking is not a direct reaction to the arrival of the streetcar, which she said has spurred economic development in the area and attracted more people downtown.

This story was originally published January 26, 2018 at 9:58 AM with the headline "City Market tenants will help determine new paid parking plan."