Changes to Fees and Fines

In order to charge the right price to encourage turnover, hourly rates (which have been unchanged from 75-cents per hour since 2008) and fees need to increase. The proposed new hourly rate is $1.50 per hour. Additionally, a progressive rate structure will be implemented by the end of 2022 to allow longer periods of on-street parking at a higher cost per hour. With a progressive rate structure, the first two hours are at the $1.50 rate, then each additional hour beyond increases in cost. This allows people to park for longer periods of time.

Parking fees are used to support the city's parking operations but are also used to reinvest in the business districts. The reinvestment increases cleaning, landscaping, and graffiti removal services, economic development services, and events, marketing, and promotions.

Additionally, increasing the cost of expired meter parking tickets helps encourage drivers to pay for their parking. The proposed increase to $41 will match the parking fine rate on the Western Washington University (WWU) campus.

Enforcement for unpaid parking fines is resource-intensive. In 2022, changes will be proposed to add the use of tire boots (an immobilization device placed on a vehicle with multiple unpaid parking infractions) as an additional and more effective tool. Tire boots are less expensive for both the City and the vehicle owner. This type of program helps residents pay down their fines rather than continue to increase and build up the fines. It protects enforcement officers from situations that have the potential to become hostile. It also helps the city collect on unpaid fines; for example, WWU has a 100% compliance and collection rate using the booting program.