Iowa City Council considers lower parking rates, new permits

The Iowa City Council is exploring proposals to reduce downtown parking meter rates and create evening and weekend parking permits in an effort to mitigate the financial impact on downtown workers after the city’s parking rates were increased in July. The proposed changes are designed to offer relief to employees who rely on evening and weekend shifts, as they grapple with the higher costs of parking in the wake of the rate hike. It’s also a response to complaints from downtown businesses, who say the price hikes discourage potential customers from visiting their establishments. In a bid to boost revenue, the city doubled its ramp parking rates in July, hiking prices from $1 to $2. Downtown metered parking saw a similar surge, with rates jumping to $3 an hour, up from $1.50. Even in outlying areas, where rates had been 75 cents or $1, drivers now face a $1.50 charge to park. At its Sept. 3 meeting, the Iowa City Council weighed several new ordinances, including the introduction of evening and weekend parking permits, the creation of an enforcement system for permit violations, and a reduction in downtown parking rates. “This (parking permit) would be a new addition, and we would set hours of operation, or hours in the administrative rules where people could park with this permit,” said Darian Nagle-Gamm, Iowa City’s transportation director, which would be from 4 p.m. - 9 a.m. on weekdays, and all day on weekends. “That would allow people who are either employees of the downtown businesses or are guests and visitors” to have an affordable option for a parking permit, she added. If approved, the ordinance would empower transportation services to issue citations to vehicles remaining in parking ramps past 9 a.m. After the time limit expires, drivers would be required to exit but would have the option to re-enter the ramp by pulling a new ticket and paying for additional parking. “They would just need to pull a ticket and pay for hourly parking services,” said Ms. Nagle-Gamm. Permits would be issued based on time-of-day capacities in the ramps, she added, and each permit would be assigned a specific ramp. “These things shift frequently throughout the year, so (it’s) something we have to consistently monitor,” she said, “but it's for that reason it became important to be able to issue a citation, because we need to make sure that the night and weekend permit vehicles are parking during the intended time when that capacity is known for those permits.” The proposed rate would be 75% the price of a daytime parking permit, and fines would be $30. “Currently, the city of Iowa City does offer parking permits in the ramps at $90 per month and parking lots for $70 per month,” said Ms. Nagle-Gamm, which would put the permit cost at $67.50 per month. The proposal would also update the rate for evening and weekend parking lot permits, setting that rate also at 75% of the cost of a full time parking lot permit, or $52.50 per month. Transportation services estimates the new permits will generate around $15,000 in revenue, based on the issuance of 25 permits. The council also considered a proposal to reduce downtown parking meter rates from $3 an hour to $2.25. The reduction would apply to key areas bordered by Clinton and Capitol streets to the west, Burlington Street to the south, Gilbert Street to the east, and East Jefferson Street to the north, according to Ms. Nagle-Gamm. These proposed changes were at the request of the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD), she said, and were based on conversations that ICDD had with the downtown business community and members of the organization. “We really think that this will further enhance downtown Iowa City in making it more welcoming and accessible for both residents and visitors,” said Betsy Potter, ICDD’s executive director. Council member Megan Alter expressed support for the new parking rate changes, stating that they strike a balance between keeping downtown welcoming while acknowledging the premium for street parking. She noted that it had been a long time since rates were raised and emphasized that the gradual approach helps avoid the shock experienced with previous increases. The Iowa City Council unanimously approved the motion granting the transportation services director the authority to create administrative rules for parking permits. A separate motion to set new rates for evening and weekend parking permits, reduce meter fees, and introduce fines for permit violations passed by a 6-1 vote. Both measures received their first consideration at the meeting.