Davis approves paid parking for three downtown lots

The Davis City Council approved paid parking Tuesday in three downtown lots, moving a long-delayed parking plan from debate toward implementation and turning parking into a more immediate cost issue for downtown workers, shoppers and businesses.

The lots are the North F Street lot, the South G Street lot and the Amtrak Train Depot lot. The rate discussed was as high as $3 an hour, but the council amended the proposal so the final parking rate will be set later in a separate resolution.

If the council gives final approval, the changes are set to take effect Sept. 6. That would expand paid parking beyond the E Street Plaza lot, which already charges $1 an hour.

The three lots cover about 330 spaces, or about 16% of downtown parking. City staff said the meters could generate up to $50,000 a week for Davis.

The policy lands as Davis also loses some curbside parking because of California’s AB 413 daylighting law. City transportation materials say about 56 downtown spaces that were previously short-term parking must now become red zones, loading zones or bicycle parking, and the city is still working with the Davis Downtown Business Association and others on what to do with the converted curb space.

For residents and commuters, the takeaway is simple: some of the most-used downtown lots are headed toward higher parking costs while some curb spaces have already been taken out of circulation. Businesses may see changes in turnover, convenience and how long visitors stay.

Sources

• Sacramento Bee report on Davis paid parking approval
• City of Davis transportation page on AB 413 daylighting
• Davis Vanguard report on the parking ordinance