Proposed paid‑parking overhaul would shrink paid zone, simplify rates and remove employee permits

Deputy City Manager Lance Spicer presented a proposed substitute ordinance to significantly simplify and reduce the city's paid‑parking program. Spicer said the amendments respond to board direction to make rates predictable and the program easier to administer.

Key proposals in O26‑04 include: a single primary Central Avenue rate of $5 per hour with a four‑hour maximum session; a secondary zone (including Fountain Street, the Exchange Street parking garage and surface lots) charged at $2 per hour with no time limit; reduction of the overall paid‑parking footprint by roughly one‑third and repurposing some former paid stalls into unrestricted free parking; elimination of employee permits for 2026 while maintaining residential permits at one per residence (staff estimated roughly 7–8 current residential permits and proposed a $480 annual fee per residence); and repurposing existing kiosks and expanding mobile payment options.

Directors asked for clarifications: whether residential permits could be issued per resident or per residence (current proposal is one permit per residence), the expected number of free/unregulated spaces (staff estimated approximately 350–400 reclaimed spaces and said the total paid spots would be 749), and whether there are fees passed through when customers use mobile apps (staff said fees are user‑paid and the city only covers merchant processing). Spicer and staff said maps and a detailed board action request with counts and revenue projections will be in the Feb. 17 packet and that the item will come back for first reading and then a public hearing as required.

The board discussed procedural steps to bring a substitute ordinance to the floor for amendment prior to first reading.