Signs informing of free public parking, much like the one limiting parking to 15 minutes in front of the Martins Ferry Municipal Building, will soon be installed in downtown Martins Ferry as the city transitions from metered to free parking. Parking will be limited to two hours. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

MARTINS FERRY — Martins Ferry’s transition to free downtown parking remains a topic of discussion among city leaders, as Safety Director and Code Administrator Melissa Yeso clarified Wednesday what the new policy means for businesses, customers and residents in the commercial district.

During previous council meetings, the option of allowing downtown businesses to essentially rent the spaces closest to their storefronts seemingly was accepted and some business owners opted in. Yeso said that was a misunderstanding and what is available to lease are spaces in the municipal-owned lots.

“Let me make it very clear, there has obviously been some confusion regarding parking,” Yeso said. “We are shifting to two-hour customer parking. This is not exclusive parking available to businesses in front of their businesses. We are hoping that by asking employees to purchase parking within our city lot, it will free up the necessary parking spaces in our downtown community for our customers.

“If a business reaches out to anyone in this room asking for an exclusive parking spot, the answer is ‘no.’ We are shifting all two-hour customer parking. No exclusivity.”

Earlier this year, council voted to abandon plans for a paid parking system that would have used electronic meters or a mobile app. The proposal was dropped in January following pushback from residents and business owners. Instead, officials removed parking meters and converted downtown spaces to free public parking with posted two-hour time limits.

Under the new policy, most downtown spots are designated for two-hour parking to encourage turnover and ensure availability for customers. While drivers are no longer required to pay for parking, vehicles that exceed the time limit may be ticketed. Enforcement will focus on monitoring the duration of parking rather than collecting fees, with police using traditional methods such as marking tires to track violations.

Yeso explained that exclusive businesses parking would lead to challenges when enforcing parking infractions.

“It’s public parking, and it makes it a challenge for the police department to enforce exclusive parking,” she said. “The department does not have the time to police every individual business, but they do have the resources to monitor the entire street for two-hour parking.”

Mayor John Davies asked that Yeso and Police Chief Vince West “get together and get all this straightened out” so all stakeholders — business owners, patrons and city officials — are on the same page.

“We [already] have specific parking areas now so did [businesses] pay for them? Do we have to reimburse their money? I already got a question about it yesterday so somebody has to come up with one set of rules citywide,” Davies said.

Yeso said a letter will be sent to downtown businesses clearly outlining the policy.

“At this time, the city will not be exploring a business-exclusive parking program,” the letter states. “This does not mean it will never be considered in the future, but for now it is important that we evaluate how enforcing the two-hour customer parking impacts overall parking availability and downtown traffic flow. Once we have meaningful data and community feedback, we can revisit additional options if needed.”

Some council members expressed support for still allowing businesses to lease spaces near their storefronts, but Yeso said that option is off the table.

“We are not having exclusive parking. Period. Everything is going to be two-hour customer parking,” she said.

Yeso also noted that reserved signage could create confusion, particularly when businesses are closed and noted that the idea behind the free parking is to make the city more inviting for those to shop and do business in Martins Ferry and “support a vibrant and welcoming downtown.”

“If a business isn’t open on Saturday and there is a sign in front of the business, that sends a confusing message to customers,” she said. “Are they allowed to park there? Aren’t they allowed to park there? If every spot is assigned to a business, what does that say to customers? And if you are a resident and those spots are taken, where are you supposed to park?”

City officials said the decision to institute free parking limits reflects community concerns about adding new fees while still ensuring access to downtown businesses. The two-hour restriction is intended to prevent long-term parking from limiting customer access and to improve overall traffic flow in the downtown district.

Martins Ferry Services Director Andy Sutak said those who are interested in leasing a spot on a city lot or wish to inquire about availability can call the Martins Ferry Utilities Office at 740-633-2862.

In related matters, Yeso said letters will also be sent to residents regarding parking in alleyways, where improperly parked vehicles have created challenges for emergency responders navigating certain areas.