The donation stations were installed in early June shortly before the new panhandling ordinance took effect June 9. The measure bans panhandlers from soliciting within 20 feet of an ATM, 10 feet of a building or vendor, and 15 feet of a crosswalk or other panhandler on the Pedestrian Mall.
Since then, each of the nine meters has collected an average of nearly $1 per day.
If donations continue at the same rate, the meters will bring in approximately $1,440 in total after six months.
“After six months, we plan to see how it is going, look at the feedback we have gotten, and make any necessary changes,” said Linda Severson, the human-services coordinator of the Johnson County Council of Governments.
The city installed the meters with the money collected to be equally distributed among six local nonprofit organizations and programs, including the Shelter House, the Free Medical Clinic, and the Crisis Center of Johnson County.
Iowa City is one of a number of U.S. cities that has installed parking meters designed to take donations for services for the cities’ homeless — others include Denver, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Baltimore, Ohio.
Denver installed 80 meters and collected around $8,500 in its first six months and close to $15,000 after its first year. Baltimore collections range from $2,400 to $4,800 annually.
But some worry the money does not directly help would-be panhandlers.“It is not fair, especially since they put up the meters,” said Leslie Barbara, who still panhandles on the Ped Mall.
Barbara said she believes the meters are a form of panhandling, because they solicit money as well. She thinks meters take away from people who really need it, such as her.
“[The installation of donation meters] has affected me significantly,” she said. “It is another limitation on us, and it is making it hard for everybody.”
Acknowledging the controversy, City Councilor Susan Mims said “this is a balancing act.”
“Businesses downtown asked for this because they felt certain behaviors were unacceptable, but we wanted to protect the First Amendment as well,” she said.
Since the panhandling ordinance, there has not been a dramatic difference in law enforcement — although there seem to be fewer panhandlers than before, said Iowa City police Sgt. Mike Lord.
“There are more people obeying the ordinance now that were not before, which is what we expected,” he said.
“The idea to give people who panhandle an alternative source — rather than going from person to person — is a good one, in my opinion.”
And city officials said they are pleased with the amount of money collected thus far.
“We do not expect [the meters] to be huge moneymakers, but any little bit helps,” Mims said.