Ferndale to switch downtown parking from pay-by-space to pay-by-zone; week of free parking planned for rollout

City staff briefed the council on a planned transition of Ferndale’s paid parking system from pay-by-space to pay-by-zone (pay-by-plate), a change staff said will let the city integrate license-plate recognition for enforcement, reduce kiosks and modernize downtown parking management.

The presentation outlined how each block face will have a zone code displayed on new signs; motorists will enter a zone code and their license plate to start a parking session via the Park Ferndale app or at kiosks. Staff said the Park Ferndale app will continue to operate and that users will be asked to store their license plate once in the app to streamline future payments.

Kiosk replacements on the east side of Woodward Avenue are already under way; most existing kiosks date to 2014–2015 and will be replaced this year, with additional replacements scheduled for July. Staff said they will post street signs and deploy wind-master sidewalk signs and social-media messaging; the city will run a week of free parking during the transition so motorists have time to adapt.

Council members asked how enforcement will handle mistakes such as entering the wrong zone; staff said enforcement officers will see the plate and zonal mismatch and will not issue a ticket for honest errors. Council discussed time limits: on-street spaces will continue to have maximums while lot parking has no set maximum; staff said they could recommend future rate structures that allow longer stays at escalating hourly fees.

City communications and the Downtown Development Authority coordinated materials and accessibility feedback; staff said the accessibility and inclusion advisory commission reviewed signage for visual and neurodiverse accessibility.