KANSAS CITY, Mo. – City Hall reverses course on parking surge pricing in the River Market. River Market business owners feel "elated." They united to protest parking costs and now the city said it's removing surge pricing. It's a FOX4 follow up to a story we first told you about last week. City Manager Brian Platt said they had several conversations with business owners and residents that led to the decision. P&L Kansas City Royals watch parties: What to know “Parking for our employees and patrons is paramount,” Owner and Chef of KC Taco Co. Arthur Leduc said. When FOX4 first talked to Leduc last week, he said during events like KC Current matches, parking jumps from about a $1.50 to $30. He said more than 200 people signed the petition to stop the surge pricing in the River Market area. The city said as of Tuesday, surge pricing in the River Market area is no more. “We feel elated about that,” Leduc said. “I think the City Manager Brian Platt is putting his best foot forward to make sure our voices are heard.” “After ongoing conversations with residents, business owners and other stakeholders, we’re moving away from the surge pricing during special events, like KC current matches,” Platt said. “We’re realizing that maybe there’s a different approach.” The city said event-based pricing is gone in the River Market, but it will continue at power and light. There are no plans for event priced parking in the Crossroads, according to Press Secretary & City Spokeswoman Sherae Honeycutt. When will the leaves change colors in Kansas City? "One of the reasons we have parking rates in general is to preserve the parking spaces on the street closest to businesses for people trying to get to those businesses,” Platt said. Before the change, Leduc said people could pay $30 to park. “We've got a little ways to go,” Leduc said, “but we're headed in the right direction.” The city says, “in an effort to ensure turnover for small businesses, street parking rates have been slightly increased to include higher rates for full-day parking." Rates have been modified throughout the River Market, Crossroads, and Power and Light.The city said the last time parking prices increased was in 2022 and 2017. Leduc does not like the increases and wants it to stop. “It was about $1 an hour, now if you park here for 7 hours, it's about $21,” Leduc said. People now pay about a buck for the first hour. Then, depending on where you park and the demand. It could cost about $1 $3 for the second hour. Platt said the city is working on an employee discount program for lots and garages in the River Market area. “One of the things we've heard from business owners is it's hard for our employees to park. obviously and they're the ones that are not making a lot of money, and to charge a lot for parking would limit their ability to actually make money for themselves and provide for their families,” Platt said. “So, we're trying to find places where employees can park, while also keeping those on street parking spaces for customers and business owners.” Leduc said he would like to see free street parking for his employees for safety. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android “Now you have to walk up the street to park that's fine, but at the end of the night, when you're done, now you have people walking alone in a very, potentially very violent area," Leduc said. "Nobody should be walking alone after 12 o'clock." Platt also said they're also looking at adding metered areas in business districts in the greater downtown area, where parking remains a challenge. The city said it's not looking to make additional price increases going forward.