Board to review ordinance making top two levels of Exchange Street garage free to encourage employee parking

Deputy City Manager Lance Speitzer presented ordinance O 26 29 to convert the top two open-air levels of the Exchange Street parking garage (Levels 3A and 3B) from paid secondary parking to free parking, with the stated intent of providing a benefit to downtown employees and increasing efficient use of the facility.

"The main point of this particular ordinance is to have those top 2 levels... be free from payment, but to really try to push that toward employees and to provide that benefit to them," Speitzer said. Staff noted occupancy sensors show 50–60% occupancy even on busy weekends and reported about 250–255 total spaces in the garage.

Directors asked for revenue-impact reporting; Director Webb requested that staff include revenue figures for the Exchange Street deck in the packet. Board members also asked how the city would communicate the change; staff said signage inside the facility would indicate free parking on Levels 3A and 3B and that the downtown rate-zone map on the city website would be updated. Enforcement hours and access questions were clarified: the paid enforcement window is counted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the entrance gate is closed from about 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., although vehicles already inside can remain overnight; staff said the elevator and restrooms are locked at 10 p.m.

The proposal was presented for review ahead of formal consideration on Aug. 4; board members voiced operational questions about potential spillover and communications but recorded no formal objection at the review meeting.