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Committee examines expanding demand-based meter pricing near event venues; asks for further study
Summary
The Public Safety and Health Committee discussed expanding demand-based meter pricing to additional downtown venues on Oct. 23 and asked the Department of Public Works to return with a phased plan and footprint analysis.
The Public Safety and Health Committee on Oct. 23 considered a DPW analysis on expanding demand-based meter pricing beyond the Fiserv Forum footprint to other downtown venues and entertainment districts and directed further study before expanding citywide.
Alderman Michael Bergales, sponsor of the follow-up communication (file 250990), said privately run lots can charge $40–$50 for event parking while the city gets a small fraction of that in meter revenue; he asked whether the city can capture more revenue without compromising resident access.
Parking Services manager Peter Knox said the city—s existing demand-pricing model for the Fiserv footprint covers roughly 200 meters and generated about $330,898 in 2024. The department currently adjusts rates for events (e.g., $3/hour for lower-priced events, $4/hour for mid-range, $5/hour for the highest-priced events) and reported a plan to expand selectively to other venues, including the Baird Center, Riverside Theater, and other performing-arts sites.
Knox cautioned that software and setup constraints require a phased approach: city staff must pre-configure meter footprints and rates (the current system does not support ad hoc hourly toggles across many meters). The department also said it needs to coordinate enforcement staffing (meter enforcement on Sundays would require expanded staffing) and recommended starting with a limited footprint and studying outcomes before wider rollout.
Committee members asked how demand meters would affect downtown affordability, how long rates would be in effect for events, and whether $5 an hour would be sufficient relative to private lot pricing. Knox said event meter periods typically extend beyond the event to cover pre- and post-event parking activity and that the department can set multi-hour maximums for event days.
The committee voted to hold the file to the call of the chair for additional analysis and a phased implementation plan.
Quotes are drawn from committee testimony and attributed to the city officials who spoke on the record in the Oct. 23 meeting.
