The city is again offering free two-hour parking in the North Parking Garage from now through Aug. 31.

The North garage is located at the corner of 1st Avenue North and 4th Street North.

The first two hours of parking in that garage are free, after that, it’s 50 cents per hour.

Free holiday parking downtown; city continues looking at parking usage, maintenance costs [2024]

Other parking policies remain in effect in the downtown parking district:

• parking in both the North and South parking garages is free after 6 p.m., on weekends, and on city holidays
• on-street parking is free after 5 p.m., on weekends, and on city holidays

The free parking for the summer does not apply to those with monthly garage parking passes.

Downtown parking use increased this summer, per city data [2024]

“City staff and the PAC remain cautious about expanding subsidized parking; however, they also recognize that offering short-term relief at the North Garage is a practical, positive step that supports users while the city works to modernize equipment and improve the overall experience, helping to raise awareness and increase activity at this key downtown facility,” according to the city.

The normal rate in the North Garage is 50 cents per hour, capped at $5 per day, or $51 per month. Monthly permits are also available.

With the free summer parking, the city is saving garage parkers $1 per day.

City’s free garage parking pilot has slow start [2024]

The city offered the same program in the North Garage last summer as a trial.

City staff said last fall that they’d seen an overall increase in daily users during the trial period, which ran from June 1 to Aug. 31.

For daily users, the summer numbers were:

• 630 in June, up from 329 in 2023
• 857 in July, up from 302 in 2023
• 949 in August, up from 359 in 2023

Overall, that was a 114.8 percent increase in daily users.

Free two-hour parking in city’s North Garage starts June 1 [2024]

Daily fees in the north garage decreased over the summer by $896.36, or 22.3 percent for the summer of 2024 from the previous summer.

Police calls to the garage decreased from 18 last summer to six in 2024, according to staff, which could be attributed to more people using the garage, increased patrolling or the chain blocking access to the upper decks at night.

City approves summer test of free parking in one garage [2024]

For the three summer months of 2024, total parking program revenue, which includes garage fees and permits, meters, kiosks, surface lots and the Passport app, was up $3,191.99, or 2.7 percent, according to city data.

Earlier this year, City Commissioners approved the use of up to $50,000 in downtown tax increment financing funds toward signage improvements for the North Garage.

The proposed improvements include new entrance signs, stairwell signage and wayfinding signs to guide visitors to the garage.

City considering appointments to parking board [2024]

Staff wrote in their agenda report that “community feedback often highlights concerns about the availability of downtown parking” and the signage would increase visibility.

The signage package, as proposed, includes an entrance sign, directional signage to the 1st Avenue North entrance, two large wall signs visible from Central Avenue and 1st Avenue North, a flag mounted sign directing traffic from 4th Street and permanent signage for the stairwells.

Staff has not yet presented a signage proposal and commissioners have not awarded a contract.