Vancouver council approves downtown parking code changes, with study before expanding weekend enforcement north of Evergreen

The Vancouver City Council on May 19 approved an ordinance amending Vancouver Municipal Code (VMC) sections related to downtown parking, including higher maximum fees for on-street permits and meters, revised carpool-permit eligibility and hours, and removal of the Saturday/Sunday exemption for paid on-street parking in the initial enforcement area south of Evergreen Boulevard.

The ordinance implements parts of the council-adopted Downtown Access and Mobility (parking) Plan to manage on-street supply and turnover. Councilmembers said data show high weekend occupancy in the core downtown and asked staff to return with a written Phase 2 study, mitigation options and regular reporting before any weekend enforcement north of Evergreen is implemented.

Gabriel Montez, parking district manager, told the council the code package is intended to give staff flexibility to set rates and update permit rules while the city evaluates outcomes. Montez said the specific proposed code changes include lowering carpool permit qualification from four carpool days to two; changing permitted carpool hours to broaden eligibility (current morning peak hours were described during the hearing as 7 a.m.–9 a.m., with the proposal to allow a broader eligible window); raising the maximum carpool monthly fee cap from $30 to $100; removing the employment requirement for on-street permits and raising the maximum monthly on-street permit cap from $100 to $200; removing the weekend exemption so paid on-street parking can apply Saturdays and Sundays downtown; increasing the maximum hourly meter rate cap from $2.50 to $3.50; and eliminating payment transferability across blocks to encourage a “park-once” approach. Montez emphasized, “we are only asking for an increase of the threshold right now. This does not mean that we are going to move up the carpool fee… immediately.”

Public testimony expressed a range of views. Business owners and Main Street merchants said higher and seven-day rates would harm businesses already affected by construction and reduced curbside availability. A group of downtown vendors and the Vancouver Farmers Market urged carved exceptions or vendor parking solutions, warning that two-hour limits and stricter turnover would be impractical for multi-hour market operations. Adam Kravitz, director at Outsiders Inn, said weekend paid parking near St. Paul’s Lutheran Church would “force people to rush in and out to avoid tickets” and create barriers for shelter clients and staff; he urged the council to “reconsider alternatives to paid parking around Saint Paul’s.” By contrast, other speakers, including Taber Kelly, supported dynamic pricing and higher rates to improve turnover and make spaces easier to find.

Councilmembers discussed several mitigation and implementation items during the hearing. Staff reported targeted occupancy surveys showing many blocks south of Evergreen routinely exceed 80% occupancy—some approaching 100%—on weekend days, a level that, parking professionals say, indicates insufficient turnover. Staff said weekend enforcement would start in the high-occupancy area south of Evergreen and waterfront where the data support it; the data north of Evergreen are not yet sufficient to justify enforcement and will be studied further (Phase 2). Council asked staff to provide quarterly occupancy and financial reports, and staff said they plan to post parking occupancy and revenue data publicly as they improve internal data tools.

Councilmember Lauren Fox proposed an amendment to remove the code provision (VMC 19.13.0.01) that would strike payment-transferability; the council voted on the amendment and it failed on a 3–3 tie (Harless, Perez and Fox in favor; Paulson, Hansen and Mayor Anne McEnerney-Ogle opposed). On final passage, the council approved staff report 125 (the ordinance as written) by roll call vote, 6–0.

Council direction and clarifications recorded at the meeting include: staff will return with a Phase 2 implementation report and mitigation proposals before authorizing weekend enforcement north of Evergreen; staff will continue and expand occupancy data collection (weekends and weekdays) and invest in technology for more granular information; the parking fund is an enterprise fund restricted to parking-related operations and capital (meters, equipment, enforcement and related mobility projects); coin payments will remain available at on-street pay stations; ADA rules remain unchanged (drivers with state-issued ADA placards park free up to four hours where rules allow), and staff said they are planning additional ADA-accessible curbside spaces in the waterfront/downtown area.

The ordinance amends the following VMC titles and sections as read into the record: Title 19 and Title 9, including 19.04.070 (on-street permits and fees), 19.11.0.03 (parking meter fees), 19.13.0.01 (payment transferability), 9.92.010, 9.92.020 and 9.92.040 (carpool permit eligibility, hours and rate). The council also directed staff to report back with quarterly data and recommended mitigation strategies before any Phase 2 weekend enforcement north of Evergreen is implemented.

Implementation notes and next steps recorded at the meeting: staff will continue outreach to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, farmers market organizers and private lot owners about vendor and off-site parking; staff will continue conversations with C-TRAN about circulator or mobility partnerships; staff will post data publicly as feasible and return to council with a cadence for reporting, and staff will develop mitigation proposals for institutions serving vulnerable populations in Phase 2 areas.

Vote: Motion to approve staff report 125 (ordinance as read) — passed 6–0 (Harless, Perez, Fox, Paulson, Hansen, Mayor Anne McEnerney-Ogle). Amendment to remove payment transferability (VMC 19.13.0.01) — failed on a 3–3 tie.