Hollidaysburg introduces downtown parking changes

Borough moving away from coin meters to electronic collection

HOLLIDAYSBURG - The Hollidaysburg Borough Council is making several adjustments to the downtown parking system, one that is much needed and requested by many, said Ethan Imhoff, borough manager.

Council members approved the modification of an ordinance at Thursday's meeting, allowing the payment of parking fees to be collected electronically. This is a switch from the coin operated meters that have been used by the borough for several decades.

Parking meters in the borough are old and are becoming obsolete, Solicitor Nathan Karn said. He explained that parking meters aren't manufactured anymore and are challenging to fix.

To upgrade the parking equipment, the borough has accepted a three-year contract with Just Park, a parking management software. Users will access the payment method by scanning a QR code with their phone and paying on the app or website. Options will be available for users to select the amount of time they will occupy the area, which will depend on the parking zone's time limit.

"Something had to be done," Karn said of the metered parking system.

The electronic parking meters are expected to be in place within about two months, Imhoff said after the meeting. After the installation of the electronic parking system, there will be an adjustment period for a couple months where electronic parking and coin meter parking will still be available. At the beginning of 2027, the coin meters will officially be removed.

Imhoff said many of the local business owners have been asking for this change because it is convenient for their customers. With fewer people using and carrying cash, he said this change will "ultimately be very beneficial."

With the new system, parking ticket appeals will now be handled through an administrative appeal process at the borough instead of going to the magisterial district judge, Imhoff said.

In addition to changing the payment process, the council agreed with the Parking Committee's recommendation of increasing the parking fee from 50 cents an hour to $1 an hour and parking violation fines to $20. These prices are anticipated to be implemented at the beginning of September.

During the public comment section, Hanna Vipond, owner of Gelly Bar Nail Art Studio, expressed her concerns about how the parking time limit is impacting her business and asked the council to increase the time from two hours to four.

Vipond moved her nail studio downtown for a bigger space and is trying to increase her number of employees. "I am grateful for that," she said. But, most of her services take more than two hours, and she said it's nearly impossible for her clients to move their cars.

While she said she is happy about the new electronic system, she is worried about her business.

"With the price of the tickets going up, I'm afraid it's going to negatively impact my business if my clients are getting tickets at almost every service," Vipond said.

Brady Leahey, council member and parking committee member, said he understands her frustrations and is willing to work with her and the other downtown businesses. Leahey agreed with another member of the public and suggested increasing the time limit to three hours, saying "It's a place for us to start."

The resolution to change the parking time limit from two to three hours in certain parking zones will be put on the agenda for council's approval during the September meeting.

In other business, stormwater management projects are underway as the Gaysport mitigation project is seeing progress. The drain line connecting the stormwater pond to the Beaverdam Branch is complete and this week, the contractor is excavating the stormwater retention pond, which is where excess stormwater is held, Imhoff said.

The East End Project is almost ready to get started as the borough staff received the necessary easement and are applying for the required permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The council also voted Thursday night to have John Whitlock fill the vacancy of the Borough Shade Tree Commission after Mayor Chad Repko was elected and had to resign. Whitlock provided the council with a statement of interest.

Mirror staff writer Jayla Nartatez is at 814-946-7535.