PRESENTER: Presenter
Jeff Jewell, Economic and Community Development Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 126, Sec. 126-355 (c) and Sec. 126-381 (b), by adding additional parking exceptions to the downtown and river recreation parking zones.
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DEPARTMENT: Economic and Community Development, Public Works
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 1, 3, & 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On November 24, 2025, City Council approved the second and final reading of an ordinance identifying vehicles with disabled veteran license plates, disabled parking plates, or vehicles displaying a disabled parking placard as exempt from the Downtown paid parking fees.
City Council directed staff to consider adding Purple Heart recipient medal license plates and Congressional Medal of Honor license plates as exempt from Downtown fees and parking registration requirements at the October 19, 2026 Special City Council meeting.
To align with Downtown, it is proposed that Purple Heart recipient license plates and Congressional Medal of Honor license plates are also exempt from parking registration and fees in river recreation areas.
ISSUE:
Approval of an ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances to allow Purple Heart recipient and Congressional Medal of Honor license plates to the paid parking exceptions in Downtown and in river recreation areas.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
YES Economic Mobility YES Enhanced Connectivity N/A Community Identity
N/A Organizational Excellence YES Community Well-Being
FISCAL IMPACT:
The impact is unknown as current data does not log the quantity of Purple Heart recipient plates or Congressional Medal of Honor license plates parked in Downtown and in river recreation areas.
According to TXDMV.gov, Purple Heart recipient plates make up approximately 0.071% of all registered vehicle license plates in Texas - or 1 in every 1,400 vehicles, so the assumed fiscal impact of this ordinance change is minimal. There have been approximately 3,536 individuals awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and approximately 75 have been Texans. With over 26 million vehicles registered in Texas, the fiscal impact of exempting Medal of Honor and Purple Heart plates is likely negligible.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the first reading of the ordinance changes adding Purple Heart recipient license plates and Congressional Medal of Honor license plates to the paid parking exceptions in Downtown and in river recreation areas.