Year-Round Fees For Parking Go Before Council

The City Council tonight will consider a plan to charge year-round for parking in its three downtown lots.

The city’s parking commission drafted a plan to hire a lot manager year-round rather than just during summer months. A manager would provide security and maintenance through the winter and make police patrols of the 778 spaces unnecessary, said City Treasurer John Austin.

The lots are not monitored now during winter and sometimes are unplowed during storms, said Mayor Al Hassell.

The same daily rate structure would apply. In the summer those who park for more than two hours pay $1 for the third hour and 50 cents for each additional hour.

However, monthly pass prices would drop from $35 to $15.

In other words, for $5 more than they pay now, pass-holders could park year-round.

Diamond Parking currently manages the three lots in summer.

The company’s contract expires in September.

The new proposal is not expected to raise much additional revenue.

The city now makes about $100,000 profit a year by charging for parking.

Next year that’s expected to rise to about $108,000.

About 40 percent goes toward capital improvements and the remaining 60 percent goes for purchasing more parking, Austin said.

Last year the city spent $273,000 on a 51-space lot at Fourth Street and Coeur d’Alene Avenue.

Surveys of downtown employers show support for the proposal while employees seem less favorable, Austin said.

The council will host a public hearing on the parking plan at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 710 Mullan Ave.