City staff: in-lieu parking fee now $25,000; downtown fund has limited revenue

Waters, a city staff member, explained the history and current status of the downtown in-lieu parking fund and the fee level.

"We just upped it to $25,000 last fiscal year. Staff had recommended 30, which would more come close to what the actual cost would be," Waters said, adding that the fund has collected only modest amounts in recent years and that a $1,000,000 contribution was made historically by a developer. Waters noted the city issued a refund in 2015 to a downtown business and that much of the in-lieu revenue has been used for small downtown parking efforts and a parking study.

Commissioners asked staff to report back with how much has been collected and how the money has been spent; one commissioner requested staff analyze whether the in-lieu program actually supported parking construction or was applied elsewhere.