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Portland staff propose later meter hours and Sunday enforcement to close parking revenue gaps
Summary
Parking director proposed extending weekday meter enforcement by an hour (estimated +$541,000) and adding Sunday meters (estimated +$350,000) and raising garage daily maximums from $28 to $40; councilors requested justification, holiday-exemption confirmation and mitigation options for downtown workers.
Tony Werkas, parking division staff, told the Finance Committee that payroll and overtime account for much of his division's expenditures and that recent structural changes (including not operating the city impound lot) shifted contractual costs. To boost revenue, staff proposed three main changes: extend on-street meter enforcement Monday–Saturday from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. to 9 a.m.–7 p.m. (estimated +$541,000), add Sunday enforcement from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (estimated +$350,000; would likely require one additional FTE), and raise the daily garage maximum from $28 to $40.
Werkas said the street-meter changes address declines in monthly and hourly parking revenue and that increasing garage daily maximums remains well below market rates for comparable facilities. Councilors asked for more detail on maintenance and infrastructure costs to justify rate increases and stressed the need to preserve free parking on city holidays (staff confirmed holiday exemptions would remain).
Mayor Dion and others urged staff to consider mitigation for downtown employees who will object to losing free Sunday parking, suggesting options such as discounted garage programs for hospitality workers; staff pointed to an existing park-and-work discounted program administered by Portland Downtown and committed to public education about available alternatives.
No vote was taken. Staff said they would return with any requested cost justification and potential mitigation proposals.
