City staff propose managed parking, dynamic pricing for Convention Center/Sports Center lots starting in 2026

City staff briefed council on a plan to begin managing and charging for parking at the Virginia Beach Convention Center and Sports Center lots to reduce cruising for spaces, increase turnover and support investment in parking technology.

Manager Doheny introduced the briefing and said the facilities "support city council's initiative to transition our community to a year round resort" and noted the shared surface lots are especially challenged when events overlap. Director Hansen said the combined complex currently offers 2,372 surface spaces but is not a managed facility, which allows cruising, long-stay vehicles and spot abandonment. Hansen said the rationale for managed parking is not primarily revenue generation but space turnover and a funding source for enforcement, availability signage and future capital projects.

Staff noted an RFP for a parking deck at 19th Street and Parks Avenue was issued with responses due Oct. 20 and that managed parking in the convention/sports center area would be one of several tools to improve availability. Proposed elements include hourly fees with dynamic pricing, signage indicating available spaces, enforcement funded from parking receipts, and some contractual exemptions (for example, staff said charging during high school graduations would probably be problematic and needs separate handling).

Staff said a stand-alone managed zone could be implemented as a separate pricing district and proposed a tentative enforcement start date of April 1, 2026, with technology and signage phased in as funding allows. Council asked about fee levels, resident tracking and exemptions; staff said rates and staffing levels are part of the next steps and that license-plate data can indicate out-of-state versus in-state plates but cannot reliably differentiate local residents versus nearby jurisdictions without additional processes.

Councilmembers generally voiced support for the concept, noting managed parking encourages turnover, reduces cruising, and can be paired with incentives — shuttles and carpooling — to reduce congestion. Several members asked staff to return with clearer proposals on rates, resident accommodations and contract implications for existing event agreements. Staff said they will review CVB contracts and identify clauses that reference parking commitments and prepare signage/enforcement plans as funding allows.