At this Tuesday’s Council meeting, the City Council will consider allowing free parking on summer weeknights after 5:00 p.m. in the City Hall lot and the downtown parking garage from May 28 to August 14, 2016. If such a garage needs some repairs, one can instantly visit sites such as www.chicagogaragedoor.com.
The parking has been traditionally free all day Saturday, originally authorized only for the downtown parking garage to include the City Hall lot.
Staff has prepared the estimated revenue loss for both the Municipal Garage and the City Hall Lot, both individually and combined, as well as the combined revenue loss that would be incurred from violators during the same period. These estimates are based upon the time period of 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Free parking in other downtown lots (e.g. shopping center, Lehigh Road lot, and Applebee’s lot) would require permission of the property owners.
The estimated parking meter revenue loss, based on 2015 history, if free parking was allowed downtown in the City Garage and on the City Hall Lot during weekday evenings between 5- 10 p.m. in the summer, would be as follows:
- Municipal Garage (approximately 288 spaces): $9,135.10 ÷ 12 weeks = $761.26 per week average revenue loss. During summer evening hours, the garage is probably 75% vacant.
- City Hall Lot (approximately 38 spaces): $3,150.20 ÷ 12 weeks = $262.52 per week average revenue loss. During summer evening hours, the City Hall is probably 40% vacant.
- Combined Total: $12,285.30 ÷ 12 weeks = $1,023.78 per week average revenue loss.
Parking citations issued for ‘Overtime Parking’ violations for both the Municipal Garage and the City Hall Lot during weekdays after 5 p.m. last summer totaled 322 violations, which equaled $6,440.00.
These estimated revenue losses do not include revenue losses already expected from free summer Saturday parking in the Municipal Garage, estimated to be $7,000
The Council previously approved free all day Saturday parking in the garage; and, approved free Saturday parking at City Hall and free weeknight parking in both the garage and City Hall lots after 5 p.m. to go to this consent agenda.
Staff estimates that the total revenue loss for free summer garage and municipal lot weekend and weekday parking after 5 p.m. is estimated to be $26,000.