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Downtown parking changes yielded modest occupancy shifts; staff recommends monitoring and minor adjustments
Summary
City transportation staff reported results from the downtown parking changes adopted last year: increased garage and lot use, a rise in mobile-pay transactions, improved public experience metrics and the need for ongoing outreach and small operational tweaks; staff recommended retaining the current structure and continuing to monitor.
City transportation staff presented data on the downtown parking changes the commission adopted in 2024 and recommended keeping the current structure while making minor operational adjustments and continuing outreach.
Staff said the August launch and September enforcement resulted in more turnover in core, on‑street spaces and moved longer‑term parkers toward lower‑cost periphery lots and the garage. The program generated roughly $411,000 in the August–February period; 90% of transactions used mobile payment. Staff added pay stations in key locations but said some pay stations underperformed and may be relocated to improve access.
Survey responses (nearly 400 respondents) showed more people reporting they could find a space within 0–5 minutes compared with a 2023 baseline. Free parking remained the most preferred option, but the 50¢/hour paid on‑street option in the downtown core was the second preference. Staff noted some confusion about signage and zone numbers for mobile pay and said it planned to add QR codes and clarify signage.
Commissioners discussed nighttime visits and the two‑hour time limit in the core. Staff has added a 30‑minute extension option for core spaces and said it can consider additional adjustments (for example an hour extension or targeted 4‑hour areas) as part of ongoing monitoring. Commissioners also urged staff to further brand city-owned lots and communicate the lower-cost city options more clearly to drivers.
Staff said outreach to downtown businesses and employees will continue; additional on‑street spaces (about 34) are under construction to be completed in the summer, and staff plans annual reporting to the commission on downtown parking operations.
No public speakers signed up on the item, and commissioners praised staff for data collection and recommended ongoing monitoring and targeted tweaks to time-limits and signage.
