Council weighs fixes to make City Hall parking fund whole amid lost validation revenue

Stephanie (parking program staff) summarized City Hall parking operations and year‑to‑date revenue: employee garage payroll deductions had generated roughly $31,000 so far in 2026, and staff estimated about $182,000 in lost validation revenue in 2025 tied to gate and validation system issues.

Staff presented a set of options: maintain paid parking and improve validation processes; create periodic free parking windows (for example, council‑meeting days or Saturdays) while directing long‑term employee parking to nearby free lots; or transfer about $168,000 from the general fund to make the parking fund whole. City manager staff noted the transfer would be a budget decision and that departments currently cover validation costs from their budgets.

Council members raised operational concerns: employees and official vehicles occupying paid stalls, ensuring victim and witness access (particularly for police and municipal court cases), media validation codes, and whether free alternatives near City Hall (Rounds & Porter lot) could be better signed and communicated to visitors. Several members supported a short trial of targeted free parking or redirected visitor parking while staff finalize signage and communications.

Next steps: staff agreed to refine signage and validation processes, explore pilot free‑parking options near City Hall, report on how employee parking is being used, and include any proposed general‑fund transfer in the manager's budget proposal if council wishes to pursue that option.