Cincinnati City Council will vote Wednesday on an ordinance to spend $500,000 to replace 1,700 smart parking meters in the Central Business District.
City economic development director Phil Denning told the Budget and Finance Committee meeting Monday it's because of changing technology.
"The meters connect with one another and with the system on the 2G wireless network, and that is being phased out by the end of 2019," Denning said.
That connection to the network is critical for them to operate.
"And so at that point in time, all the meters that currently connect with that network will be effectively cut off," Denning said. "They will look like smart meters, but they'll function only on coins."
That would mean the parking meters would not be able to accept credit cards.
Denning said the new meters will be on the 3G wireless network and should last for seven to 10 years.
