HOUSTON — Houston’s council members were expected to vote Wednesday on whether to extend the time parking meters are enforced across the city.
However, Council Member Mario Castillo referred the proposal to a committee for further vetting and was supported by most of his colleagues.
The council voted in favor of his proposal 13 to 4 with Council Members Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Tiffany D. Thomas, Edward Pollard, and Martha Castex-Tatum voting against.
Parking is currently free on city streets after 6 p.m., but the proposed ordinance would charge drivers until 2 a.m. to park.
The council members who proposed the ordinance said it could bring as much as $20 million a year to the city and help close a financial deficit that is estimated to be more than $160 million.
Many are opposed to the idea, especially those who work at night in downtown.
Blair Ault has worked as a bartender in downtown at the Little Dipper for more than a decade. She also works at the Big Top in Midtown.
She has to park her car each night she comes to work and instead of parking in a garage, which costs upwards of $15, she elects to park on the street where it is free every night after 6 p.m.
“I had my secret parking spots,” Ault said.
But all of that could change if city council members decide to increase the number of hours drivers have to pay to park.
“We will lose people to the Heights, to Montrose, wherever they will have free parking,” Ault said. “We’re Houstonians, we’re going to go wherever we can park for free.”
If she works three times a week, 50 weeks a year, paying $17.60 at the meter each shift, it will add up
“$2,600 a year in the service industry, that’s my car, that’s some of my rent,” Ault said. “One of the reasons I was able to stay a bartender for almost a decade was because of the free parking.”
She was among other Houstonians at Tuesday’s city council meeting who spoke out against the plan.
“All of us are opposed as it currently stated to the proposed extension of parking meter hours in downtown Houston,” said Houston Symphony executive director John Mangum.
Mangum said the entire theater district is against the idea of increasing the hours for metered parking.
He said because it is the only free parking option during performances, it will create an additional barrier to access and engagement, specifically for low-income visitors.
Mangum said the theater district provides free or low-cost tickets for those who can’t afford the pricier ones so they can experience the city’s arts, as well.
“Everyone understands that the city depends on public revenue to provide services and if we’re going to have these big-ticket items coming forward and we know that we have some fiscal challenges in the future, we’re going to have to find a way to pay for it, and this may be one creative way to do it,” said city councilmember Edward Pollard.
Pollard is among three council members who proposed the new parking meter ordinance and believes it is a way to reduce the city’s deficit without raising taxes.