The issue arose when “a new hotel ownership group” implemented paid parking on the lot unexpectedly and without coordination with the city or area businesses, according to a statement from Ogden City. Ownership of the lot is divided, with the hotel group owning a 5-acre parcel extending northward to 24th Street and Ogden City owning the portion to the south.

Several businesses also expressed their dismay about the change via social media.

“Ogden! We are so sorry about this addition to our parking lot. The Marriot (sic) has decided to go for paid parking throughout their parcel. We were not involved in the process and do not get any profit sharing from the hotel,” a post from Slackwater Pub & Pizzeria read. “We are trying to see if there is anything to be done and are continuing to work out the details as we just like you were surprised by this yesterday.”

Following the initial uproar, the decision was made to postpone paid parking at the lot, a popular parking area for visitors to Historic 25th Street and the surrounding area.

“Diamond Parking Services has updated information that parking signs that have created some confusion in the Electric Alley area will be removed until parking stalls are numbered and clearly painted, clearly indicating which stalls are paid parking,” an update from the city read. “This is expected to happen over the next several weeks.”

The city noted that updates would be made available as they come forward. In the meantime, notices stating that metered parking would not be enforced have been placed on the signs.

“We are committed to working with the new hotel ownership to reach solutions that work for the business community, our visitors and patrons of downtown to reach collaborative solutions,” the update stated.

Paid parking has been a hot-button issue in downtown Ogden recently, with the city putting on hold its own plans to implement the practice last fall.

“There was a disconnect between some businesses and the city that I want to fix — certainly not all,” Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski told the Standard-Examiner in November. “I’ve learned that everybody feels that we have a parking issue. Everybody believes that we’ve got a problem. We all believe that we need to manage parking. How it is managed is what has to be decided and discussed.”

In response to the Electric Alley confusion, the city’s initial statement noted that the situation highlights “the need for a well-managed downtown parking plan.”