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Committee backs fee schedule changes: once-per-day courtesy rule, pilots in Helena lot, Ortega discounts and a cheaper locals weekend permit
Summary
The Downtown Parking Committee recommended City Council adopt multiple fee-schedule changes for FY26, including clarifying the 75‑minute courtesy as once per calendar day per vehicle, a Helena lot pay-and-display pilot, reduced monthly pricing for one lot, adjustments to the 24/7 permit cap, and a reduced locals 'weekender' permit.
The Downtown Parking Committee on May 8 recommended City Council approve a set of fee-schedule changes that staff says will reduce misuse of the 75-minute courtesy, introduce pilots and discounts, and yield modest revenue improvements.
Staff (Ed) presented a list of recommended fee schedule updates and operational clarifications. Key proposed changes recommended to the committee were:
- Clarify the existing 75-minute courtesy: staff proposed adding the phrase "once per calendar day per vehicle" to the fee schedule to limit repeated free entries in a single day.
- Ortega/COTA/Certain monthly permits: reduce monthly parking in City Downtown Parking Lot No. 10 from $145 to $70 per month (to align with legacy COTA commuter pricing) and remove a separate restricted monthly-parking line for the Ortega Garage; staff said permit quantities will be managed to avoid exceeding lot capacity.
- Helena Lot pilot: run a pay-and-display pilot in the Helena Lot at $3 per hour with a $20 daily maximum; staff noted the pilot could later transition to pay-by-plate and that enforcement rules and code alignment may require additional adjustments.
- Facility user fee and refuse enclosure rental: increase facility user fee to $200 per day (for staged construction logistics and special uses) and raise refuse enclosure rental to $65.65 per month.
- 24/7 permit and locals weekender: set the 24/7 permit cap at up to $250 per month; reduce the locals weekender permit (for Santa Barbara County residents) to $80 for six months and expand Friday evening access operationally. Staff also proposed a $15 “fee-due” notice to inform permit holders parked outside permitted zones.
Committee members discussed enforcement and the chance that low violation fees could encourage noncompliance. Committee member Stahl asked whether violation rates and enforcement capacity would make some changes ineffective; staff acknowledged implementation would require adjustment and close coordination with the police department and that the pilot will likely be iterated after initial data are collected.
Committee action: Vice Chair Newkirk moved, and Committee member Melissa Brie seconded, a motion to recommend the fee-schedule changes as presented by staff. The committee approved the recommendation on a voice vote.
Why it matters: The package of changes is meant to reduce misuse of free parking, test alternative payment technology in the Helena Lot, offer discounts to targeted user groups, and give staff new operational tools to manage capacity. Staff said several items will require iterative enforcement steps and possible municipal-code clarifications for pay-and-display enforcement.
