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Downtown Parking Rates

At a glance

  • What: Staff proposed raising downtown garage and meter rates in steps through 2030, plus an employee discount and free Convention Center Garage parking. After deferrals from June, August and September 15, Council adopted a modified package on September 29.
  • Where it stands: Resolution RES2026-308 adopted 7-3-1 on September 29, 2026, built on a memorandum from Councilmember Tordillos. Two earlier motions failed 5-5-1.
  • Next: Staff must return with a revenue-sharing policy during the FY27-28 budget process, a long-term parking revenue framework, and an annual utilization analysis. First rate changes took effect October 2026; $3 meters start July 2027.

What the package does (as adopted)

  • Garage special event flat rate of $15 to $35 (staff proposed $13 to $35), effective October 2026.
  • Daily incremental garage rate of $1.25 per 15 minutes at the Market/San Pedro Square, Third Street, Second/San Carlos, Fourth Street, Third/Santa Clara (The Globe) and Convention Center garages, effective October 2026.
  • Downtown Employee Discounted Permit Parking Program: 50% off the Global Monthly Permit for employees at businesses in the meter districts who earn no more than 50% over the city minimum wage (gratuities excluded), effective October 2026.
  • 90 minutes of free parking at the Convention Center Garage on non-event days, September 2026 through June 2027.
  • Meters at $3 per hour Monday to Saturday from July 2027 in the Downtown district (1a), and under the memorandum also in the East Santa Clara, Japantown and First and Younger districts (2, 3, 4); $3 on posted days and times in South First Street/University (1b) and Arena/Diridon (5).
  • The staff schedule also included 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. meter hours from July 2028 and $4 meters from July 2030. The minutes reproduce the staff text and the memorandum text together, so which later-year steps survived is not clear from the minutes alone; check the resolution.

Direction to the City Manager

  • Return in the FY27-28 budget process with a policy returning part of parking meter revenue to infrastructure or community improvements in the areas where it is collected, such as Business Improvement Districts with City-operated meters.
  • Return with a long-term parking revenue framework sized to operations, maintenance and capital needs, and reducing the Parking Fund's ongoing contribution to the General Fund once it is right-sized.
  • Report annually to the Downtown Parking Board, cross-referenced to Council, with a utilization analysis (turnover, utilization, customers, revenue for special events, meters and paid garages).

Public comment

About 18 speakers addressed Council (in person and virtual), including Ted Scarlett; the minutes list names but not positions. Ted Scarlett also spoke in open forum that day about audio speakers at an interim housing facility. Transportation Director Ristow, the Deputy Director of Transportation and Budget Director Shannon presented.

Votes, September 29, 2026

  • Motion by Councilmember Tordillos (second Councilmember Cohen) to approve his memorandum: failed 5-5-1. Noes: Councilmember Ortiz, Councilmember Doan, Councilmember Candelas, Councilmember Campos, Councilmember Casey. Absent: Mayor Mahan.
  • Motion by Councilmember Campos (second Councilmember Casey) for a joint meeting of Council and the Downtown Parking Board: failed 5-5-1. Councilmember Cohen asked for a friendly amendment adding memo recommendations 1.a, 1.c and 1.e; the maker declined. Noes: Councilmember Kamei, Councilmember Cohen, Vice Mayor Foley, Councilmember Tordillos, Councilmember Mulcahy.
  • Motion by Councilmember Tordillos (second Councilmember Mulcahy) to adopt the staff schedule with memo recommendations 1.a, 1.b, 1.c, 1.f, 2.a, 2.b and 2.c: adopted 7-3-1 as RES2026-308. Noes: Councilmember Ortiz, Councilmember Doan, Councilmember Casey. Absent: Mayor Mahan.

Sources

Log

2026-09-29 - City Council

After two failed motions (both 5-5-1), Council adopted the modified rate schedule 7-3-1 with three directions to the City Manager. The item had been deferred from June 23, August 11 and September 15, 2026.