City of Wichita has another option to implement paid parking. Here are all 5 of them
Another option to implement paid parking in the downtown Wichita area has emerged that takes a phased-in approach and begins next year with surface lots and parking garages.
With revenue coming in, the city will also begin maintaining and operating its lots and garages, and adding more security.
"We would introduce higher rates in the lots and in the garages in 2025 to try to offset some of those expenses," Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson said.
Parking meters for on-street parking will then be introduced the following year.
The Delano neighborhood was carved out of the fifth option until a new multimodal center is built, where staff will then reevaluate its options for paid parking in that area.
Old Town also would be exempt, but instead of charging people for parking, the city would either implement a 1% community improvement district (CID) sales tax in the area or increase rates for Old Town businesses that already pay for parking for their employees and visitors.
The fifth option would keep the same rates and hours as other options that the city presented last month :
Paid parking Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sundays would be free.
Metered parking would start at $0.75 an hour, with daily rates at $5 for surface lots and $10 for covered lots. Monthly rates start at $35 for surface lots and $70 for covered lots.
The first four options
Three options for paid parking start with rates at $0.75 an hour, but then begin adding certain exemptions.
One option would allow for free parking up to 15 minutes. Another option would allow up to an hour of free parking. A third calls for no paid parking in the Old Town area, and would introduce a CID sales tax, or charge Old Town businesses more for parking.
Other exceptions include accessibility parking, loading and rideshare parking, and event parking — like at the Old Town Farm and Art Market.
The fourth option allows the city to keep parking free in the downtown area.
The city has been pursuing paid parking downtown, saying it needs more money to maintain existing parking spaces. City budget documents show that the downtown parking fund has been operating at a loss for years.
However, city presentations show that only one of the options generates a net positive revenue for the parking budget — the option that allows only up to 15 minutes of free parking — bringing in nearly half a million dollars. The rest run the parking fund at a deficit.
"Regarding the revenue projections, we took a pretty conservative approach," Anderson said. "We looked at ... models across the county, peer cities across the Midwest. What they're charging, what their occupancies and demands are. ... We feel like these numbers are pretty close to what we could probably reasonably expect to see."
An initial plan, which would have charged for parking across downtown, drew an outcry from residents and business owners earlier this year.
The city heard feedback on the parking plan at nearly a dozen public meetings in August that included comments from downtown businesses and restaurant owners.
The Wichita City Council will vote on which plan it wants to implement at its Nov. 19 meeting at 6 p.m. in City Hall. Residents can speak about the parking plan during public comment on the item, or contact their city council member beforehand.
