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), related to the downtown parking zone by adding exceptions to enforcement.
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DEPARTMENT: Economic and Community Development
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 1 & 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Downtown Board and its parking committee recommended that vehicles with disabled license plates be exempt from downtown paid parking. Council responded positively to this recommendation at its meeting on October 20, 2025. Based on state law and public feedback, staff recommends that the exemption also include disabled parking placards.
Under Texas Transportation Code Section 681, vehicles displaying a valid disabled license plate or placard may not be charged parking fees at parking meters. While the City of New Braunfels does not have parking meters, staff believes the statute reflects legislative intent that individuals with disabilities should not be required to pay for public parking. State law also allows only vehicles with disabled plates or placards to park in accessible parking spaces; vehicles with Disabled Veteran plates are not eligible for these spaces unless accompanied by a placard.
Public feedback noted that many residents and visitors with disabilities use placards rather than license plates. Including placards also aligns with other Texas cities such as Fort Worth, Houston, Galveston, San Antonio, and Dallas, which exempt disabled plates and placards while typically applying a time limit to encourage turnover.
It is unlawful to use a fraudulent disabled parking placard. The license plate or placard must bear the international symbol of access as defined in the Texas Transportation Code, Sec. 681.001, and it must be issued by a state or by a state or province of a foreign country to the owner or operator of the vehicle for the transportation of a person with a disability. ParkNBTX Ambassadors will be trained to identify eligible placards, and photos of suspected fraudulent placards will support enforcement. The police department may be notified if misuse is suspected. Interstate has been monitoring disabled parking plate and placard use prior to this change; staff will re-evaluate the new exception if a significant, unusual increase in usage occurs.
ISSUE:
Approval of an ordinance adding disabled parking license plate and placard holders to the paid parking exceptions in Downtown.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☒Economic Mobility ☒Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
The impact is unknown as the data collected does not include length of stay or the impact of the ordinance change.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of adding disabled parking license plate and placard holders to the paid parking exceptions in Downtown, with ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance and assess program impacts.