Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Oceanfront Parking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City proposes $50 annual resident parking voucher and new progressive pricing for oceanfront
Summary
City staff recommended a $50 digital annual resident parking voucher for the oceanfront service zone, a progressive hourly pricing model to boost turnover, elimination of a $3 after‑5 discount, and one additional parking‑fund FTE; councilors asked about digital access and next steps include code amendments and a proposed 2026 start.
City staff proposed a resident parking voucher and a revised pricing structure designed to increase turnover and offer value to Virginia Beach residents who visit the oceanfront.
LJ Hanson, who led the presentation for the parking program, said staff’s recommendation is a $50 annual digital resident parking voucher that would be renewable annually with proof of residency and usable only within a geographically defined oceanfront service zone between Pacific and Atlantic. "Our recommendation to council at this time would be to introduce a $50 annual resident parking voucher, and that would be renewed annually with proof of residency," Hanson said.
The voucher would be a digital account (mobile app or wallet model) and would allow one paid reload during the year (pay $25 to receive an additional $50 credit). John Crawford, the newly hired parking administrator, described plans to host the voucher in a mobile app and evaluate multiple providers to make enrollment and validation as simple as possible: "We're evaluating 2 or 3 different providers… it will be through a mobile app situation," he said.
To offset revenue impacts, staff proposed pricing changes including eliminating the $3 after‑5 resident discount and removing the 3‑hour on‑street maximum (the latter would require a code amendment). Hanson detailed a progressive pricing strategy intended to move long‑stay parkers off on‑street spaces and toward garages and lots: first hour $1, second hour $2, third hour on street $3, hours 4–5 $6 per hour and higher rates thereafter; garages/lot rates would be moderated with a daily max.
Staff identified the specific lots and garages to be included in the zone and recommended adding one FTE in the parking fund to manage enrollment, verification and customer support. Hanson said the program aims to start on April 1, 2026, contingent on technical and code changes; city staff will bring any needed ordinance modifications to council (listed code sections included 21‑3‑22 and 21‑3‑23).
Council members broadly welcomed the idea but raised questions about access for less tech‑savvy residents and whether the progressive pricing and voucher would affect off‑season policies. Hanson and Crawford emphasized the program is opt‑in and that the progressive pricing offers benefits for residents who do not enroll as well. "If they choose not to opt in… for hours 1, 2, and 3 they're at neutral," Hanson said.
Next steps: staff will refine technical design, evaluate vendor options for the mobile platform, prepare necessary ordinance language and bring the item back for council direction and formal action.
