The City of Santa Cruz is implementing three downtown parking price changes that were approved by City Council in 2018 to: reduce/sunset the Parking Deficiency Fee paid by businesses; increase hourly and permit parking fees; and use parking funding for alternative transportation options in alignment with the Go Santa Cruz program.

The current Deficiency Fee paid by businesses has been reduced 20 percent per year. This started on Jan. 1. The fee will be fully eliminated by Jan. 1, 2023.

Monthly parking permit rates will increase to $45 per month.

Regarding user fees, hourly and daily parking rates in lots and garages will increase to $1 per hour on Feb. 1. The daily maximum fee will increase to $8 per day.

Parking rates at parking meters other than Pacific Avenue will increase on Feb. 1 to 75 cents to $1.25 per hour depending on location.

New parking meters will be installed on Pacific Avenue Jan. 28-29 with a performance-based-pricing feature to encourage more parking turnover and provide easier access to businesses for downtown visitors. The new meters will accept credit cards, but not ParkCards (for proprietary reasons). These meters will have new parking rates: $1.50 for each of the first two hours and $3 for each hour thereafter, but may be adjusted up or down to achieve optimum occupancy.

The new Pacific Avenue meters will be installed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. along the east side of the street on Jan. 28 and along the west side of the street on Jan. 29. “No parking” signs will be posted during installation. These signs will be removed and spaces opened up for public use a few at a time as the installation process moves along the avenue. The City apologizes for any inconvenience this installation may cause.

The City will be expanding Go Santa Cruz programs that are available to downtown employees who choose not to drive to work. These options include transit, bike, carpool and other incentives. The Downtown Commission will be discussing these programs at their public meeting on January 24 at 8:30 a.m. Please visit www.cityofsantacruz.com for more information.