Cda Seeks Plans To Run Parking Lots

The Coeur d’Alene City Council will ask for management proposals for its three downtown parking lots at its regular meeting tonight.

Diamond Parking’s three-year contract expires Sept. 30. And in March, the City Council voted to charge for parking year around, instead of from May 1 to Oct 1.

The price of daily parking in the lots will remain the same - free the first two hours, $1 for the third hour and 50 cents for each additional hour, with a $10 maximum for a 24-hour period.

But a monthly pass for downtown workers will drop from $35 to $15.

Passes will remain $35 for people who use the parking lot to get to the marina and other downtown facilities.

The city also decided to have a manager to watch the 778 parking spaces around the clock, 12 months a year. The manager will take better care of snow removal, litter, security and will be on hand to help motorists, city officials said.

The city wants a three-year contract, with the option for two three-year extensions.

The rate changes will only increase the city’s annual take from the lots from about $100,000 to $108,000 because winter tourism doesn’t generate much traffic for the lots, said city Treasurer John Austin. Tourists generate most of the parking revenue.

Downtown employers generally support the proposal, while employees are less enthusiastic, Austin said. But he believes employees will like it better “when they see the drop in the fee and the increase in service,” Austin said.

“It will be a well-kept lot, well-lit, and that will be an encouragement to park there rather than on the street,” he said.

The City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 710 Mullan Ave.

, DataTimes