50-cent increase in parking rates proposed

SEATTLE—Parking fees at single-space electronic meters will be increased from the current $1 to $1.50 an hour over the course of 2004, according to the 2004 budget proposal of Mayor Greg Nickels.

Nickels said the 50-cent increase address inflation over the last 13 years, when meter rates were last increased. It also helps manage short-term parking and reduce incidents of meter feeding, as well as reduces congestion in travel lanes caused by drives seeking on-street parking.

The 50-cent increase in parking fees, which is estimated to generate $1.8 million in additional revenues, is one of the fee increases proposed by Nickels in his 2004 budget. Other proposed increases:

• Utility-cut-restoration fees will increase an average of 6 percent, in line with projected cost increases. The fees cover restoring pavement after it has been opened by private or public utilities and are set at a level designed to recover actual cost. The increase is expected to generate $270,000 in additional revenues.
• Street-use fees will increase to recover the cost of permitting, as well as discourage prolonged use or occupation of the right of way. The permit fee will increase to from $79 and $94 to $135 or $165, depending on the type of permit. The hourly rate will increase from $123 to $150 per hour while a daily fee will be charged based on square foot usage. The increases are expected to generate $1.2 million in additional revenues.
• Alarm monitoring companies will pay a $40 annual license fee for monitored burglar alarms; a $320 annual fee for monitored fire alarm systems required by the fire code, such as for hospitals and schools; and an $80 annual fee for monitored fire alarm systems not required by the fire code, such as those in private residences.

"These are tough times and they require making tough choices,” Nickels said. “My 2004 proposed budget continues to protect basic services as much as possible. In order to do that, I took a hard look at the fees the city imposes and made some adjustments."

Nickels will deliver his 2004 proposed budget to the City Council on September 29.

Office of the City Mayor release, September 22

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