Iowa City donation meters may be expiring soon

Iowa City officials want to remove donation meters in the downtown Pedestrian Mall because of declining donations for the homeless and the hassle of upkeep.

Since 10 purple meters were installed in June 2010, people have donated $2,915 by putting coins in the meters and through short-term drives at downtown businesses. During the first six months of use, the meters collected $815, compared to the most recent six months when just $104.67 was donated.

'It's steadily decreased,” Assistant City Manager Geoff Fruin said. 'The meters need maintenance and there needs to be messaging. We're not seeing the donations to sustain the effort.”

Fruin will propose in a memo to the City Council today the meters be removed in August.

The meters were installed in conjunction with a 2010 ordinance that prohibited panhandling near business entrances, crosswalks, ATMs and mobile vendors. No-panhandling zones since have expanded to include the entrances of the Ped Mall and streets with parking meters.

City officials talked about including donation meters in a public art campaign, with artists decorating each meter in a different style. But without a budget, the campaign didn't get off the ground, said Marcia Bollinger, the city's public art and neighborhood outreach coordinator.

To avoid visual clutter, city leaders opted not to post signs on the meters describing their purpose.

'They're kind of easy to forget about,” said Adam Sullivan, spokesman for the Crisis Center, one of six community organizations that share proceeds from the meters.

The Crisis Center has received $895 from the donation meters program since February 2011, with the money going to the food bank and emergency financial assistance for low-income people, Sullivan said. Other groups that share donations include the Shelter House, Free Medical Clinic, Free Lunch Program, Community Mental Health Clinic and United Action for Youth.

'Our couple hundred dollars a year is something we can put to use,” Sullivan said. However, he understands the city must balance maintenance costs with the benefits of the meters.

Denver, Colo., officials have chosen to enhance their city's donation meters, rather than ditch them.

The city of 630,000 installed meters in spring 2007 and has raised more than $200,000 since for charity, said Jamie Bradley, spokeswoman for Denver's Road Home. The majority of the money comes from $1,000-per-year meter sponsorships by Denver businesses.

Last year, the city swapped out coin-only meters for 35 meters that also accept debit and credit cards. The 'smart” meters were donated by several companies.

Iowa City businesses have supported the meters in a smaller way as part of the annual 'Small Businesses Have Big Hearts” campaign, which involves educating customers about the meters and collecting change from customers, said Nancy Bird, executive director of the Iowa City Downtown District.

The group backs removal of the meters.

'There is plenty of giving in this community, but there are more effective ways than plugging a meter,” Bird said.