Council Set to Make Final Decision Today on Eliminating 90-Minute Free Parking in City-Owned Parking Structures

Starting in July, drivers may not be able to park their vehicles in the city’s parking structures for free for the first 90 minutes.

The City Council on Monday will vote to eliminate the 90-minute free parking period in all applicable city-owned parking structures. The new parking fee schedule modifies the hourly rate structure to charge $1 for the first two hours, $2 for each subsequent hour with a daily maximum rate of $12 at city parking structures starting July 1.

The city owns nine parking garages throughout the Civic Center and Old Pasadena areas. The matter was taken up by the Municipal Services Committee earlier this month. The committee voted to implement the changes.

The council vote would also authorize the implementation of a validation system that would allow local businesses to purchase parking validations for use in the city garages at rates set forth in the city’s general fee schedule.

The change would be used to fund repairs to city garages. The city’s parking garage fund does not currently have the money available for these repairs. Fund 407 revenues have historically only been able to cover operating costs, and are insufficient to address larger repairs.

“The consultant’s report identified $12,150,427 worth of needed repairs throughout the city’s portfolio, with approximately $9.5 million of these repairs recommended to be completed by the end of FY 2024,” according to a staff report contained in Monday’s council agenda. “These short term costs are prioritized as more urgent based on the age of the current equipment needing replacement, or the urgency of the need for repair based on the future viability of the facility.”

Expenses in the city’s garages have increased approximately 3% per year over the past 20 years.

Fund 407 ended Fiscal Year 2021 with a fund balance of $429,186, which is down from approximately $5 million. Fund 407 is projected to end Fiscal Year 2022 with a negative fund balance of -$1,519,796.

Work that must be performed before the end of 2024 includes repairs and updates on the carbon monoxide exhaust systems at three city-owned garages, upgrading of aging elevator cars and systems at eight garages, installation of new rooftop coating at one garage, and improving the lighting systems at all nine of the structures.