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Council sets May 20 hearing after months of parking planning; staff recommends $3/hr maximum and $20 annual resident pass
Summary
City staff presented a sweeping fee schedule that includes new paid parking, resident and county parking permits, and one-day contractor and reserved-space permits. Using new aerial data, staff estimated significant summer revenue potential; council directed staff toward a $3/hour maximum and scheduled a May 20 public hearing.
City staff presented a detailed parking-management and fee proposal that spawned extended council debate about resident equity, enforcement and revenue on May 6.
Planning & Community Development Director Jason Welker told council that updated GIS imagery and a recent peak-day count showed City Beach’s main lot had 300 official vehicle stalls and 343 vehicles on a sampled July day — "zero of those were vacant on this day. Literally not a single one," he said — with about 30 vehicles circulating looking for spots. Using turnover and duration assumptions carried from the city's 2022 parking study, staff estimated that $2 per hour at City Beach over a 99-day peak period could generate approximately $150,000–$181,000 depending on the percentage of resident-permit holders.
Staff proposed: an IPS-managed annual resident permit (city residents ~ $20 after IPS verification fees), a higher fee for county residents (~ $35 to cover verification), one-day reserved downtown parking for events ($25/space/day), contractor daily parking permits ($10/day), new hourly parking in downtown and waterfront lots, and targeted overstay penalties to encourage turnover in two-hour street zones.
Council direction and concerns: several council members favored simplifying seasonal rates (remove peak/off-peak) and set direction toward a citywide maximum hourly rate of $3 for the first year; they also recommended setting a higher maximum overstay penalty (council discussion indicated support for up to $5 maximum for overstay enforcement) to push turnover in short-term spaces. Council discussed tradeoffs as well: raising hourly rates could push casual parkers to paid lots that residents buy into, potentially reducing availability for residents who pay for annual passes. Staff recommended an initial public-education period at kiosks and a phased enforcement launch to allow residents time to obtain permits.
Resident-permit verification and alternatives: staff explained IPS charges a verification fee (approximately $6) that makes a true cost-per-permit near $19–$20; the council discussed alternatives (an internally administered sticker program for a single free City Beach sticker per household) but directed staff to pilot the IPS-managed permit for clarity and enforcement ease and to consider local sticker approaches for future refinement.
Decision and next steps: Council voted to schedule a public hearing on May 20, 2026, to receive public testimony on proposed new fees and fee increases above 5 percent. Staff will publish the proposed fee schedule, run a launch/education program for kiosks, and return with final enforcement and rollout details after hearing public comments.
Ending: The council passed the motion to schedule the May 20 hearing by roll call; implementation details (rate settings, permit caps, enforcement policy) will be refined following public testimony and further staff analysis.
