Debate over Wichita paid parking is intensifying

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The debate over paid parking coming to downtown Wichita is intensifying. Some business owners and members of the public are left with questions.

The exact cost is still unknown, but Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson said he believes it will start at 75 cents an hour.

Others said their frustration wasn’t about feeding the meter but how the city announced it on Saturday in a social media post with very few details.

Russell Arben Fox, a professor at Friends University, said his frustration came from the lack of critical details.

“The fact they rolled this out with a lot of those specifics as yet undetermined was really unfortunate,” said Arben Fox.

He added, “If people have to plan for a change in how they run their business, in how they arrange their commutes, all sorts of things like that, they want to have some specifics.”

Arben Fox said Wichita’s assistant manager was apologetic in Thursday’s meeting. He believes it is important for people to get on the same page.

“Despite all the noise and the fury, there’s actually some really productive conversations going on, and I was happy to be a part of one today,” he said.

Ray Uriarte, who owns a barbershop in Delano, said employees will have to deal with paying to park during long shifts but welcomes the change if it improves the city.

“This area is definitely growing a lot. I feel like with the city growing and downtown getting more people here, it’s going to end up happening,” he said.

Johnson said he welcomes the feedback.

“Most of us were expecting some form of questions, some push-back, some engagement question. I’m personally excited to see so many people care about it, and I’m hoping that we see attendance at the coming meetings pretty high,” he said.

The next and final meeting is Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building.

Wichita City Council will bring the topic back around for discussion on the agenda in early September.

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