Waukesha board approves modest parking rate increases, adds oversized-vehicle fine

The Waukesha City Board of Public Works on Dec. 5 approved revisions to parking rates and fines aimed at reducing operating losses in the city's parking utility and updating fees last changed in 2013.

Brandon, a city staff member presenting the item, said the parking utility has run at a net loss of a few hundred thousand dollars in recent years and staff proposed modest rate increases across on-street and ramp parking, an increase in the general nonpayment fine from $20 to $25, larger fines for 72-hour violations, and a new $60 oversized-vehicle violation for cars occupying more than one spot. "Part of that would be integrating increasing the parking rates to offset the expenses and the net loss that we've been operating under," Brandon said.

Board members questioned why the three-day street pass and the three-day lot pass differed in price and proposed making the three-day lot pass match street parking. Eric Payne suggested making the lot three-day pass $6 to match street parking; the board agreed to amend the proposal to raise the three-day lot pass to $6 and then approved the item as revised.

The motion to approve the revised rate schedule carried on a unanimous recorded vote (Cassens, Kevin Riley, Piper, O'Donnell, Payne recorded as aye). Staff said the cover sheet and attachment in the packet outline the proposed rates and fines and that transactions will be handled through the city's online payment system, which explains non-integer amounts for certain one-day ramp passes that incur credit-card fees.

Staff did not present new ordinance language; the action was to adopt revised rates and fines effective under the parking utility's administrative process. Staff said details and an attachments list the new rates and the city will update enforcement and online payment configurations to match the adopted changes.