LEWISTON — Officials are considering big changes to the city’s parking system in response to what they say is a perception that parking downtown is “difficult and expensive.”

A proposal developed between city staff across multiple departments and the Lewiston Downtown Association would remove all 215 coin-operated parking meters and make municipal garages free for the first two hours.

The transition would make most on-street parking two-hour parking, with some 15-minute spots.

A presentation to city councilors during a workshop Tuesday said free parking is a “critical step to support and revitalize our local downtown business.”

A memo to the council said city staff met with members of the downtown association in the fall and this spring to discuss the potential changes, which have since been supported by police, public works and economic and community development staff.

The memo said the current public perception is “that parking downtown is difficult and expensive” and “parking assets are hard to find.”

Officials said Tuesday that they don’t believe the perception of Lewiston’s parking is the reality, but agreed that its municipal garages could be better marketed and utilized.

The proposal calls for increasing the amount of time that the city’s five municipal garages are free to the public. If approved, the garages would be free for the first two hours. Anything after that is $1 per hour, with the garages remaining free on weekends.

Nate Libby, director of economic and community development, said the garages are difficult to locate due to poor signage and a lack of clear messaging. Part of the overhaul calls for new wayfinding signs and maps to be installed downtown, along with “highly visible” signage for garages.

Staff said the quarter-fed parking meters are an “antiquated” method of regulating parking. Libby said very few people have quarters on them anymore, and that the city’s meters are so old they have to find replacement parts on eBay.

Libby said staff believe the roughly $25,000 in revenue each year from the meters can be replaced with ticketed enforcement.

John Blais, deputy director of economic and community development, said he visited Portland on Tuesday and believes Lewiston should have similar large signage that clearly shows where public parking is located.

“We want to have that accessibility here, showing that Lewiston is open for business,” he said.

If approved, the meter removal is estimated to cost $20,000 and would occur late summer or fall.

Questions from councilors centered on concern for enforcement. Councilor Tim Gallant questioned how staff would be able to enforce all timed parking downtown by chalking and ticketing.

Most, however, appeared to support simplifying the parking system and the focus on the garages.

Councilor Scott Harriman said there’s “not really any signage for people who don’t know their way around.”

Councilor Josh Nagine said Lewiston’s downtown businesses “need support for creating a draw downtown,” and suggested the city also remove the painted parking lines on downtown streets in order to fit more cars.

The council memo said the plan would also deploy a social media and marketing campaign to “let residents, businesses, and visitors know that parking downtown, and accessing the many downtown businesses, amenities and events, is easier than ever before.”