Redmond outlines phased expansion of parking enforcement, new permit types and technology evaluation
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Summary
Police and parking staff briefed council on a plan to expand enforcement to Overlake and Marymoor Village (target ~04/01/2026), bring enforcement in‑house by mid‑2026, move to digital permits with low‑income and senior permit categories, and evaluate technology (including license‑plate readers and other curb‑management devices). Staff will return with vendor recommendation, fee study, and additional touchpoints in Q1 2026.
Chief Daryl Lowe and Parking Administrator Jacob Lasser presented a citywide parking enforcement and management plan that would expand enforcement coverage, improve permit management, and move enforcement operations in‑house.
Key elements and timing: staff said the target for initial enforcement coverage in Overlake and Marymoor Village is April 1, 2026 (aligned with light‑rail openings) and that the city anticipates completing in‑house enforcement operations by July 1, 2026. Staff described a two‑phase vendor arrangement: an initial contract (six months plus possible short extensions) to maintain continuous enforcement during vendor setup and a later permanent platform selected through an RFP and evaluation panel.
The proposed Parking Management Platform would support citation issuance and management, permit administration (online sales, billing, multiple permit categories, and digital permits), towing coordination, and a customer portal. Staff said they intend to introduce permit categories such as low‑income/senior permits, business permits, and standard permits and to transition away from physical permits. Proposed enforcement expansions include additional downtown managed spaces, municipal campus locations (city hall, municipal garage, senior/community center), Fire Station 11, Hartman Park, and select parks; downtown would include 442 spaces (375 designated as permit), Overlake 101 (85 permit), and Marymoor Village 49 (41 permit), per the presentation.
Technology and policy: staff told council that many enforcement systems rely on license‑plate‑reader technology for geotagged and time‑stamped enforcement, and that several technology options (including in‑street sensors) are under evaluation; specific technologies will be defined after vendor selection. Council members requested further information on fee impacts, low‑income permit eligibility criteria, how the plan will integrate with shared‑parking work and future paid parking, and towing vs. ticketing policies; staff said tow fees are established by the state and that they will conduct a fee study and return with recommendations.
Next steps: staff expect to recommend a vendor in early 2026, conduct a fee study, define permit categories and eligibility, bring future contract authorizations to council, and schedule additional Q1 touch points to review technology and policy details.