Berkeley council adopts broad GoBerkeley package to shore up parking funds, extends meter hours and raises RPP fees

The Berkeley City Council on June 9 adopted a multi-part parking-management package aimed at stabilizing the city’s parking funds and managing curb demand.

The package repeals and reenacts Chapter 14.52 of the Berkeley Municipal Code to extend meter operating hours to 8 p.m., authorize Sunday operations in commercial cores, expand metered zones, pilot a transition to cashless hardware and pass transaction processing costs to customers as a $0.35 convenience charge. Council also approved a graduated Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) fee schedule to take effect May 1, 2027, and updated the parking violation fine schedule to better track inflation.

Why it matters: Staff said Berkeley’s combined parking program faces a projected deficit of roughly $1 million by the end of FY 2027 unless steps are taken. Senior planner Elliot Schwimmer told council, “Without action, the city’s combined parking funds are projected to carry a deficit of roughly $1,000,000 by the end of FY 27.” The measures are intended to increase turnover in busy commercial corridors, improve reliability of parking infrastructure and reduce long‑term operating costs.

What the package does: The city will (1) extend meter hours from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. to 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; (2) add Sunday enforcement citywide in high‑demand commercial blocks (9 a.m.–8 p.m.); (3) install roughly 30 new pay stations in commercial blocks that consistently exceed occupancy targets; (4) pilot tap‑to‑pay meters and phase a cashless transition over three to five years; (5) pass a $0.35 transaction service charge to card payers (displayed before confirmation); and (6) phase in a graduated RPP fee (first permit $100, second $125, third $150) and higher fines for many violations to reflect CPI increases since 2010.

Costs and revenues: Staff presented a package that they say would generate about $7.1 million in new annual revenue, $2.3 million in new costs and $0.5 million in cost savings for a projected net increase of roughly $5 million annually once fully implemented. Schwimmer estimated the evening and Sunday meter changes would generate about $1 million net in new annual revenue; RPP adjustments were projected to add about $615,000 annually while cashless‑meter savings and transaction fee pass‑throughs would reduce vendor and armored transport costs.

Council debate and public comment: Councilmembers pressed staff on equity, impacts on small businesses and enforcement plans. Vice Mayor Trego asked for careful rollout and targeted education for residents who rely on cash; staff and public‑works director Waheedah Miri said prepaid debit and reloadable options would be available and a pilot and community outreach would precede full roll‑out. Several business‑district representatives and farmers‑market and event producers supporters said targeted expansion of meters in high‑demand commercial blocks would improve turnover and support local merchants. Dozens of residents urged caution about Sunday enforcement; some councilmembers proposed narrower pilots for Sunday hours but the full package passed.

Vote: The council adopted the staff recommendation on a roll call vote (Yes: Casarwani/Taplin/Trego/O'Keefe/Blackaby/Luna Parra/Humbert/Mayor Ishii; No: Bartlett). The amendment to strike Sunday operations failed on a separate roll call.

Next steps: Staff will phase the changes with an initial sign replacement, pilot periods and expanded community outreach; the city will pilot cashless meters block‑by‑block with surveys and feedback before broader rollout. Council members asked for one‑year implementation reviews and further study of fine severity and targeted business outreach.