Virginia Beach staff propose $50 annual resident parking voucher and progressive oceanfront pricing

City staff on Monday proposed a $50 annual digital resident parking voucher and a new progressive pricing structure for the oceanfront, saying the plan would make short visits cheaper while encouraging long-term parkers to use garages.

Mister Hanson, a city staff member leading the presentation, told the Virginia Beach City Council staff were responding to a council request to investigate free or discounted oceanfront parking for residents. Hanson said the voucher would be limited to an oceanfront service zone roughly between Pacific and Atlantic avenues (including the 25th Street garage) and would be renewed annually with proof of residency. "That voucher would have credits usable at the locations and on-street spaces identified as the oceanfront service zones," Hanson said.

The plan pairs the voucher with a progressive on-street hourly schedule intended to increase turnover: $1 for the first hour, $2 for the second, $3 for the third hour, $6 an hour for hours four and five, $7 for hours six and seven, and $8 for hour eight and above. Garages and surface lots would charge $3 starting in hour three with a daily maximum proposed at $24. Hanson said the structure would make short visits cheaper for residents while providing a financial incentive for longer-stay drivers to park off-street.

Council members heard several specific operational and rate changes staff recommended to keep the parking fund solvent. Staff proposed eliminating the $3 after-5 p.m. resident discount and removing the three-hour on-street limit (the latter requires a city code amendment). Staff also recommended raising the unreserved monthly rate (proposed from $60 to $100), the reserved monthly rate (from $100 to $150), and seasonal lot permits (from $70 to $100 while eliminating the second-permit discount).

John Crawford, the new parking administrator, said staff plan to implement the voucher via a mobile-payment app or a voucher/wallet approach supported by common providers. "We're evaluating two or three different providers, but we know that they can all support this type of program," Crawford said. He gave a rough estimate of the program's revenue effects, saying, "I would think that in the long run, we'll collect more money... it would be somewhere around 200, 225,000 minimum added to the program from that, but it could be considerably more."

Hanson told council staff would request a single additional full-time equivalent position paid from the parking fund to manage enrollment, annual residency verification and customer help. He also said staff would bring an ordinance modification to amend city code sections 21322 and 21323 to remove the three-hour on-street cap if council directs staff to proceed, and proposed a program start date of April 1, 2026, with registration opening at an unspecified date in 2026 to allow time for backend technical work.

Council members were broadly receptive and asked clarifying questions about opt-in mechanics and accessibility. A council member asked whether the program is opt-in; Hanson confirmed residents must enroll to receive the voucher. Another council member raised digital-access concerns for residents who are less comfortable with apps; Crawford said staff would evaluate the easiest rollout method and offer assistance.

Several council members urged clear communications and welcomed the plan as a way to support oceanfront businesses and encourage resident visits without denying access. Council member Amelia said the program "will be good for all districts" and asked the communications office to explain how the program would work. Council member Jennifer called the turnover approach "really creative," saying it preserves access while incentivizing shorter stays.

No formal motion or vote was recorded during the presentation; staff said they will return with ordinance language and implementation details if directed to proceed. The council did not adopt any ordinance during the meeting; next steps would be technical work, drafting ordinance changes, and returning to council for any required approvals.

The presentation included specific lists of included lots and garages (2nd Street, 4th Street, Rudy Loop lots; 9th Street, 25th Street and 31st Street garages) and a statement that the program would not cover Sandbridge, Croatan or Atlantic Park.