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Riverside Council approves six‑month downtown valet pilot with ACE Parking
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Summary
The City Council approved a six‑month Park Riverside valet pilot contract with ACE Parking (Jan. 1–June 30, 2026) to improve downtown accessibility and support local businesses; staff estimates a first‑six‑month net loss as the program ramps and will return with a status update at three and six months.
Riverside city leaders on Tuesday approved a six‑month downtown valet pilot aimed at easing congestion and helping restaurants and other businesses attract customers.
Public Parking Services Manager Eric Lu told the council the Park Riverside valet pilot resulted from a competitive RFP (No. 2452) and a five‑member evaluation panel that "unanimously recommended ACE as the award" to operate a Friday‑through‑Sunday valet service. The contract recommended by staff is $334,597 for Jan. 1–June 30, 2026, with two one‑year extensions possible.
Lu said the pilot will offer a white‑glove experience, flexible pick‑up/drop‑off points and text‑based account management through the city's existing Tez technology. Staff proposed a standard valet fee of $20 per vehicle and $30 for special events, and stressed the pilot will track real‑time metrics such as daily vehicle counts, revenue performance and customer feedback. "We're looking at a 6‑month cost of about $335,000," Lu said, and cautioned that an estimated net loss of about $190,000 in the first six months is possible as marketing and business partnerships ramp up.
Janice Penner, executive director of the Riverside Downtown Partnership, told the council the partnership would promote the pilot and contribute funds for outreach, and said restaurants reported canceled reservations when patrons couldn't find convenient parking.
Councilmembers asked about operational flexibility; Lu said the operator can scale staffing for busy periods. Councilmember Falcone moved to adopt staff's recommendation and Councilmember Robillard seconded. The council approved the pilot by unanimous voice vote and directed staff to return with a three‑month check‑in and a six‑month status report.
The pilot aims to evaluate viability and future parking strategies, and staff said the pilot is intended to be cost‑neutral over time if downtown businesses help promote the program. The council approved the contract and authorized the city manager or designee to execute the agreement.
