|
Lincoln aldermen Tim Becke and
Dennis Clemons speak to downtown business owners about parking, ask
for input
[November 12, 2026]
At the Downtown Lincoln
Initiative’s November meeting, several downtown business owners and
employees heard from Ward 2 Alderman Tim Becke about parking issues
around the square.
Ward 3 Alderman, whose ward includes the downtown business area, was
also there.
An October 29 Lincoln Daily News article states, “Installing parking
meters in the downtown shopping district in Lincoln became a lengthy
discussion at the Tuesday night, October 27th Committee of the Whole
meeting of the Lincoln City Council. There was no conclusion
reached, and the topic will come back to a second committee of the
whole meeting later.”
The article explained, “The question of parking meters was brought
up by Lincoln Police Chief Joe Meister. The intent is to discourage
business owners, employees and county employees from taking up
spaces that should be utilized by shoppers by imposing a 50 cent per
hour charge on parking around the downtown square and a block off of
the square in all directions. If an employee chooses to park near
the place of employment it will cost them around $4 per day or $20 a
week, to do so.”
Meister brought up at the city council meeting that parking around
the Logan County Courthouse square is free on both sides of the
street. He said, “there are designated parking spots for certain
county officials, but all other employees are requested to utilize
the municipal parking areas. Business employees are encouraged to
park in the alleys behind their place of employment or at one of the
municipal lots. The problem is most of the time this is not
happening, which means when people come into town to shop, it is
difficult to find parking anywhere around the square.
Meister did say that by ordinance, the parking spaces are limited to
customers with only a few exceptions. There is signage posted around
the square indicating this. And it is unlimited parking for
shoppers.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s,
Becke owned a business downtown and recalls people being told to
leave parking spaces open for shoppers. Someone would mark tires and
check them after two hours.
When Meister talked to the city council about possibly putting in
parking meters, he told them the cost for several meters would be
around $75,000. Someone would also need to be hired to check the
meters.
Because Becke wants feedback on the issue, he is currently doing a
study and gathering information on how people feel about parking
meters. He feels the traffic flow is great and wants to see downtown
businesses be profitable.
Becke said he wants to be honest and has no ulterior motive. To him,
parking meters eliminate downtown traffic. Downtown Springfield has
taken theirs out.
Clemons said he also wants to hear concerns and ideas from
businesses. With only three police officers per shift, asking that
they enforce downtown parking is asking a lot. Clemons knows
businesses deal with parking issues, and he wants to do what he can
for them and for the public as well.
What Becke likes is to see everyone working together and putting all
their minds together. He plans to look at the long-term effects of
parking issues and try to figure out the best solution.
Becke likes a methodical approach. He has thought about a tiered
fine system, where people receive higher fines after their first
parking offense. Another idea is to have yearly parking passes.
[to top of second column] |
Those present from
downtown businesses included Guest House Coffee and Pastries
owner Ethan Hoinacki, J & M Meat Market’s Mike Robbins, Small
Town Creations owner Kathy Williams, USA Mortgage’s Tiffany
Winebrinner, The Bee owner Melanie Welch, Spirited Republic
co-owner Colleen Roate, Indigo Quilt Studio owner Heather
Barrick and Ink & Imprint owner Julie Bates.
More than one person said they have seen downtown employees and
other people parking around the square in the same space for
hours.
Hoinacki said having open spaces is better for people shopping
because it creates revenue for the city. He also wants
businesses to profit from being downtown.
In brainstorming solutions to the problem, business owners
brought up various suggestions that included:
• Reviewing and rewriting the parking ordinance.
• Enforcing the parking ordinances.
• Signs letting people know there is parking available in the
lot behind the Museum of Route 66.
• Signs for employee parking and signs for long-term parking.
• Signs that say customer parking only.
• Signs saying something like “30-minute parking.”
• Educating people about parking issues.
Recently, Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch sent out a letter to people
working downtown pointing out multiple parking spots behind the
former State Bank building, now the Museum of Route 66, and by
Latham and Scully Parks.
There was a question about where parking meters would be placed.
If parking meters were to be put in, Becke said they would
likely be placed around the whole square. When he sees signs for
two-hour parking, he follows that rule.
In upcoming weeks, Becke said there
will be some public meetings to discuss the issue and wants to spend
time working on a solution. He wants to protect businesses and work
with the police chief on remedying the situation.
[Angela Reiners]
Related articles:
10/29/2026
Lincoln City Council
Installing parking meters downtown a big topic on Tuesday night
11/12/2026
Lincoln City Council
Becke and Clemons
share information from downtown business meeting regarding parking
issues
|
