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Flagstaff council adopts ordinance to delay Park Flag parking fee increases
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Summary
On Feb. 24 the Flagstaff City Council adopted Ordinance 2026-04 to amend the effective date for Park Flag parking fee increases. Staff said delaying the increase will not create an ongoing fiscal impact; staff estimated $240,000 in additional revenue if the earlier schedule had taken effect.
The Flagstaff City Council on Feb. 24 adopted Ordinance 2026-04, delaying the effective date for planned parking fee increases in the Park Flag district.
Management Services Director Rick Tatter told the council the delay was already accounted for in the Park Flag Fund and would not create an ongoing fiscal impact. Tatter said, “There isn't an ongoing financial impact to Park Flag Fund because we already intended on funding the first few months of the program with existing resources…So this was already planned.” He added that if the council had not delayed the increases, the city would have realized about $240,000 in additional revenue tied to the earlier fee schedule.
Council member Spence pressed on timing and suggested giving the downtown amenities contractor two months (March–April) to set up and demonstrate enhanced services before implementing a higher parking rate, proposing an effective date of May 1, 2026. Spence said the estimated $240,000 would translate to about $48,000 per month under the earlier schedule and urged choosing an alternate start date to allow the contractor to establish services.
Council member Matthews moved to read the ordinance by title for the final time and then moved to adopt it; the motion was seconded and the council voted to adopt the ordinance. The City Clerk read the ordinance summary, which amends Title 3 (Business Regulations), Chapter 3-10 (User Fees), section covering Park Flag district parking fees to change the effective date and include standard provisions (penalties, severability, clerical authority).
The delay affects the timing when higher parking rates would apply to downtown users while staff and the contractor deliver enhanced downtown amenities, a rationale city staff consistently cited during the discussion. The council recorded ayes and no recorded opposition during the adoption vote; the ordinance was approved.
What happens next: the ordinance language establishes the new effective date for the Park Flag parking fee increases; staff will oversee implementation and communications to downtown stakeholders and the public.
