Jefferson City discusses possible parking meter upgrades, rate changes
Mitchell Kaminski
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Jefferson City Council members heard a detailed presentation from city staff this week outlining proposed changes to the city’s parking meter system, enforcement trends and long-term financial challenges facing the parking program.
The discussion took place on Wednesday at City Hall during a council work session, and no public comment was taken.
City staff told council members the parking fund’s balance has declined significantly over the past year. In October 2024, the fund stood at about $4.2 million. As of this spring, it had dropped to more than $1 million, largely due to roughly $3 million being allocated toward the city’s planned downtown parking garage.
Looking ahead, staff estimated annual operating costs for the parking system — including staffing and basic operations — will reach about $1.3 million by 2027.
The city currently manages 19 parking lots and about 965 on-street parking spaces. Without factoring in the new garage, staff estimated the 20-year capital maintenance cost for the system at $5.1 million, or about $260,000 annually.
The planned Madison Street parking garage is projected to cost about $20 million. If financed over 30 years at 4% interest, the monthly debt service would be roughly $95,000, according to city staff.
A major focus of the presentation centered on aging parking meters and the need for upgrades. Staff said the city has roughly two years left before it will need to begin “cannibalizing” existing meters for parts. The current meter housings are no longer manufactured, limiting replacement options.
Staff said the city can currently assemble 31 meters using available parts. Installing an existing meter costs about $1,125, while installing a single new meter costs about $724. Replacing all outdated meters with new models would cost an estimated $1 million. New meters would include updated technology and allow drivers to pay with credit cards.
In January, the Jefferson City Council approved a parking fine hike with an 8-2 vote. Parking violations were approved to be $25 across the board. A fine for metered parking was previously $6.
Jefferson City is also mulling over rate increases for parking meters. The proposed rate structure would affect on-street parking, off-street parking and the parking garage being built on Madison Street.
City staff provided historical context, noting Jefferson City installed its first fee-based parking meters in 1940 at a rate of 5 cents per hour. Adjusted for inflation, that rate would now equal roughly $1.10-$1.40 per hour. Currently, about 60% of meters charge just 35 cents per hour, with rates ranging up to $1.
Under the proposal presented to the council, the city would introduce a tiered-pricing system. A proposed “red zone” would have a two-hour maximum at $2 per hour, a “blue zone” would allow two hours at $1 per hour, and a “green zone” would charge $1 per hour with no time limit during the first year. Beginning in year three, rates would increase by 3% annually. Year two would include a $1.50 core rate and a $2 premium rate.
Staff estimated that High Street alone could generate an additional $200,000 annually at a $1-per-hour rate. The proposal is aimed in part at encouraging turnover and moving long-term parking away from the Capitol area.
If approved, staff projected parking revenue would increase by about 121% in the first year and by 188% by the fifth year.
City staff also addressed recent increases in parking citations. ABC 17 News records showed a sharp rise in expired meter tickets in January. From Jan. 6-Feb. 2, 2025, 182 tickets were issued. During the same period in 2026, 1,022 tickets were issued.
Despite the increase, staff said the number of tickets per officer per day remained similar. In January 2025, officers issued an average of 26 tickets per day over seven enforcement days. In January 2026, officers issued an average of 25.55 tickets per day across 20 enforcement days with two officers.
City spokesperson Molly Bryan said several factors influenced citation numbers, including weather, staffing, downtown events, legislative sessions and protests.
Parking enforcement in January 2025 was limited by severe winter weather and staffing shortages. A major snow and ice event forced closures and delayed openings early in the month, and parking staff were reassigned to emergency response duties such as clearing sidewalks, garages, and crosswalks. Only one officer was available for enforcement for much of that month.