The Phoenix City Council approved an ordinance on Wednesday that will increase the cost of parking meters up to $4 per hour based on demand and extend meter hours of operation to 10 p.m. every day starting this fall.
Passed in a 6-3 decision, the “ParkPHX” program will keep meters running on weekends and holidays beginning in August, though a 30-day grace period will prevent those who do not pay during the new operational times from receiving tickets. Variable pay rates will begin in November and will change meter pricing from 50 cents to $4 per hour based on the demand of the parking spot.
The ordinance is expected to bring at least $1 million to $2 million annually in extra revenue for the city.
The ordinance was passed with two amendments from council members to make sure parking areas are well lit and to meet with ASU Downtown campus students about lowering their rates.
Undergraduate Student Government Downtown representatives from ASU will meet directly with the Street Transportation Department next week to work out possible discounted costs for students.
Hourly rate ranges will be based on geographic zones created by the Street Transportation Department. ASU’s Downtown campus is within three of the four zones.
Acting Street Transportation Director Ray Dovalina said this plan will help promote businesses downtown, which currently see little turnover after 5 p.m. when parking is free.
“From a business standpoint, you want some turnover,” he said.
Meters have been free during the evenings and weekends since 2012 after a unanimous city council vote to cut down hours of operation.
Councilwoman Kate Gallego said implementing this ordinance will not be easy, but that it will create a better downtown in the long run.
“We need that circulation if we’re going to have the businesses and restaurants that bring millennials downtown,” she said.
Councilman Sal DiCiccio, who voted against the ordinance, addressed the students present at Wednesday’s meeting regarding what he said is a failure on the part of the government.
“Now you get to see, unfortunately, what happens when the government takes more than it needs,” he said.
DiCiccio said he disagreed with the proposal because he had not heard about it until there was a budget issue, and he was concerned about giving meter pricing authority to the street transportation director, who he said “the public doesn’t know.”
Councilman Bill Gates and Vice Mayor Jim Waring also opposed the ordinance, and both councilmen said this proposal was driven by the city’s budget deficit.
“It’s a little frustrating to see it come to fruition like this,” Waring said.
Alison Richardson, a doctoral student in public administration on ASU’s Downtown campus, told the councilmembers in a public comment that students are a main driving force in revitalizing downtown.
“I had the honor of having (City Manager) Ed Zuercher come in to one of my classes last semester and he spoke about the value that people with degrees bring to cities. So please don’t punish the students right now; keep us in downtown,” she said.
Richardson said if meter prices are raised for students, they will leave right after class which will take away the business that downtown has gained from ASU.
Corina Tapscott, USGD vice president of services, will meet with city staff next Thursday to discuss the financial needs of students.
“With the variable pay plan, there is the option of decreasing the prices, so ultimately that’s what we want to work on,” she said.
Tapscott worked with Ryan Boyd, a member of the College of Public Programs Council, to mobilize students to attend Wednesday’s meeting. Boyd said he plans to work with city staff to ensure the needs of students are met.
“If they don’t comply, the next move is to work like we did this time and bother the council again,” he said.
A fact sheet from the ordinance can be found on the city of Phoenix website.
Contact the reporter at sajarvis@asu.edu
