Residents praise new meters but warn lack of outreach may spark backlash

Janice Wagman, a lifelong Royal Oak resident, told the Downtown Development Authority on Jan. 21 she supports the new parking meters and found them intuitive and accessible, including coin and credit card acceptance and an easy app option.

But Wagman warned many downtown visitors are not Royal Oak residents and may be unfamiliar with the new rules. She identified elimination of the on-street “grace period” as her primary concern and urged the DDA and city to delay enforcement until the old meters are removed, add clear on‑screen messaging stating the grace period is gone, use temporary signage or banners, distribute FAQ pamphlets, and hand out small key‑tag license‑plate reminder cards at enforcement points to reduce confusion.

Wagman said she had discussed accessibility with the city’s older-adults advisory board and favored distributing the simple license‑plate cards at events or via enforcement officers. She also encouraged proactive positive media coverage to emphasize that "Royal Oak fixed the parking."