La Crosse board approves expanding pay-to-park hours in ramps, staff cites revenue shortfall

The La Crosse Board of Public Works voted unanimously on Monday to expand paid parking hours in city ramps, moving the close time from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily and adding Saturday enforcement.

Parking utility staff explained the proposal and said it was intended to generate additional revenue to reduce an ongoing budget shortfall in the parking utility. Staff said they conducted hourly vehicle counts in ramps for two weeks in August and two weeks in September and concluded the changes could generate what the presenter described as "somewhere in the area of almost a quarter $1,000,000" in additional annual revenue (an estimate presented by parking staff). Staff said the utility’s operating gap in recent years was about $1,300,000 (not including depreciation) and that a monthly permit currently costs $40, with reduced rates available for part-time downtown employees.

Implementation would include working with mobile-app and kiosk vendors to update hours, a two-month informational rollout using digital signage and community outreach, and an expected start date of April 1 for the new fee structure. Staff said implementation costs would be minimal beyond updated signage.

Councilmembers asked how monthly permits work and whether frequent evening users could buy monthly passes; staff confirmed monthly passes are available. The board discussed impacts and equity considerations and asked for a general update from staff. Director Gallagher moved to approve the change and Director Train seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

The board directed staff to proceed with the rollout and community notice and to return with any additional information requested by councilmembers.

Implementation notes: informational rollout for ~two months; target effective date April 1; monthly permit fee confirmed at $40; reduced-rate options available for part-time employees.