Sarasota, Florida - People pulling into spaces along Sarasota's Main Street Wednesday got a pleasant parking present: no need to plug a meter.
Yun Namgoong's reaction? "It's free! We got lucky today."
Christian Cannatello also greeted the news with a smile. "It's much more convenient. You don't have to look for change," he said.
After just six weeks, time ran out on the controversial meters. On Tuesday, city commissioners voted to shut them down, at least temporarily.
The new pay stations were meant to help business by encouraging turnover in the shopping area. Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown says the parking regulation plan was created, because there'd been problems with shop employees using the prime parking spots.
"Turnover creates a lot of vibrancy and business usage," said Brown.
But instead of the meters helping business, dozens of business owners told city commissioners they killed it.
Ken Davis, the owner of the Barnacle Bill's restaurant, says his revenues for early-bird specials are down 55 percent compared to last year. Davis says his budget-minded customers didn't like paying a buck an hour or even just using the machines.
"95 percent them were aggravated, says Davis. "It was a confusing system they couldn't really operate. It didn't give a receipt, it wouldn't take an American Express card, which a lot of business people have."
Arlene Sullivan says she had problems with a meter. She put in her money, but it didn't give her a time slip. "It was not good. It didn't work."
After spending nearly $600,000 on the meters, it's hard to imagine the city bagging the whole program, but that's possible and city staff members are researching if the meters could be sold.
City officials and business owners will also meet to try and devise a better parking meter plan. Commissioners want some recommendations by October.
So for now, bright blue bags are a sign of this city's parking meter blues.