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UPDATE: The Rapid City council Monday night decided
to delay a vote on raising the parking fees.
Ward 4 alderwoman Amanda Scott proposed
holding off on the vote to give due diligence to the businesses involved.
Other council members agreed it would be a
good idea for background research on how much parking fees should cost.
The proposal up for a vote would increase the
parking rate on 766 spaces by $10 a month.
Those spaces already range in price from $20
to $40 a month.
The issue will next be taken up at the Legal and Finance committee
meeting on March 13th.
Original story:
The Rapid City Council is hours away from voting on a contentious leased parking hike.
The proposal would increase the parking rate on 766 spaces by $10 a month. Those spaces already range in price from $20 to $40 each.
City Finance Officer Pauline Sumption says the increase is needed in order to make payments on a $2 million bond for the downtown parking ramp. While some business owners say they understand the need for a rate hike, they say they were given short–notice that they'd likely have to shell–out hundreds of dollar more each month.
"With us being the largest lease of parking spaces, we have 78 parking spots with the City," said Wade Lampert, general manager of the Hotel Alex Johnson. "And with that by an increase all at once it's going to be substantial. With taxes it will be $800 a month with taxes additionally to what I pay."
"My recommendation was to actually have the rates effective March 1, but we are now looking at July 1 instead which is something that is doable," said Sumption.
Sumption says the city hasn't raised parking rates since 1997. Monday's city council meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
