Consultant urges parking “reset” for downtown Eau Claire as council prepares to consider study

City leaders and residents heard a public discussion Feb. 10 on a newly completed downtown parking study that recommends a “reset” of parking policy, new leadership for parking operations and changes to pricing and management to better match on‑street and off‑street supply with demand.

Deputy City Manager Dave Solberg introduced the work and said the council resolution to be considered the following day asks only that council accept the study as complete; acceptance would not implement recommendations automatically. “This simply says the document of the study was done to our satisfaction,” Solberg said. If council accepts the document, staff will begin stakeholder outreach and planning for possible policy actions that could be included in the 2026 budget process.

John Forrester, the consultant with Fishback Incorporated who led the study, told council that current pricing creates an “inverted price paradigm” in which premium on‑street spaces are the least expensive option and therefore over‑used. “Your premium spots, your on street spots, are also your least expensive,” Forrester said. He recommended a strategic rate structure to open on‑street spaces for short visits and move all‑day parkers to lower‑priced off‑street facilities.

Among key findings…