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Committee backs one-year reduction in monthly Spiker Garage permit fee to $30
Summary
The Finance Committee recommended a one-year, trial reduction of the monthly permit fee at the Jack C. Spiker parking structure from $45 to $30 to increase garage usage and improve perceived safety; city treasurer estimated an annual revenue decrease of $73,305 based on the current permit count.
The Finance Committee on May 20 recommended City Council approve a one-year temporary reduction in monthly parking permits at the Jack C. Spiker parking structure, lowering the fee from $45 to $30 per month for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Dr. Michelle Aldrich presented the resolution and said the change responds to downtown business concerns over garage safety and public perception. City treasurer Robin Lochman provided an estimate that the fee cut would reduce annual permit revenue by $73,305, calculated from 4,887 active paid permits reported on May 12 multiplied by the $15 monthly reduction. Aldrich said the experiment is intended to increase garage usage, foot traffic and the perception that the garage is safer with more activity; the reduction includes a 12-month sunset and will be reevaluated.
Council members asked who holds existing permits and whether the permits are predominately for downtown employees; staff said there are 4,442 monthly permits but an unduplicated count of permit purchasers was 1,187 or 319 (two different counts were provided during discussion), and that the inventory of off-street private lots and leases would require follow-up. Downtown business owners on Zoom expressed support for the trial and described local efforts to encourage on-street parkers to use the garage. The committee voted to recommend the one-year reduction to City Council.
