Posted on: Friday, October 1, 2004

Parking fees may be cut

Advertiser Staff

Monthly parking fees may soon be rolled back at eight city-owned facilities downtown, at least temporarily, under a plan that won preliminary City Council approval Wednesday.

The City Council's Budget Committee voted to retract fee increases approved earlier by the council, and to require that signs announcing any future increases be posted at the facilities at least 90 days before another increase takes effect.

The council in June approved increases in hourly, daily and monthly parking fees to help pay for operation and maintenance of the city's on- and off-street parking. The increases went into effect Sept. 1.

Budget Committee chairwoman Ann Kobayashi, who initiated the fee increases, said they had caught many drivers off-guard and generated complaints. The fee at the city's Ali'i Place parking structure, for example, jumped from $155 to $235.

The other parking structures are Harbor Court, Marin Tower, Kukui Plaza, Hale Pauahi, Harbor Village, Chinatown Gateway and Kekaulike Courtyard.

City spokeswoman Carol Costa said the increased fees remain in effect because the rollback is awaiting a final vote by the full council next month.