Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
Rochester parking ramps and street meters will be slightly more expensive next year.
The city council voted on Monday for a package of rate increases that tacks $4 to $10 more on the price of a monthly parking ramp contract, and 20 cents per hour more to park at most street meters.
The higher rates are intended to help the city’s parking enterprise, which operates as a stand-alone business, raise money to build new parking facilities and maintain existing ones.
All of the city’s current ramps were built using tax increment financing to pay for them. State legislative changes to TIF have effectively removed that as a potent tool for city projects.
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The rate increases are part of a seven-year plan proposed by Walker Parking Consultants, a firm hired last year to examine what rates may be necessary to preserve the system without pricing users out of using it.
Further rate increases would be scheduled for 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Examples of some of the increases include:
- The hourly rate at 90-minute parking meters will rise to 70 cents from 50 cents.
- The day rate to park at the Mayo Field parking lot will rise to $1.75 from $1.50.
- The monthly contract to have a reserved parking space in the Second Street Ramp will rise by $5, to $80. At the Center Street Ramp, the rate will rise by $3, to $110.
A complete list of the new rates is posted at the city web site.
On the web:
http://www.rochestermn.gov/departments/citycouncil/councilmeetings/2008/11November/111708/111708_agenda_D17.pdf
