Visitors to Huntington Beach might want to throw a little more change into their pockets come Feb. 21. That’s when metered parking will increase from $1.50 to $2 per hour – a hike unanimously approved by the City Council on Jan. 22.
It’s been a long time coming: The fees were last increased in 1999. In 2015, the city boosted peak season rates – Memorial Day through Labor Day – by a quarter to $1.75 per hour.
Once the change goes into effect, metered parking will cost the same year-around, City Manager Fred Wilson said.
Most metered parking in the city is in the beach and downtown areas.
Parking increases will not affect the Huntington Beach Central Park Sports Complex, Wilson said, nor will it apply to lots with attendants rather than meters, such as the downtown Main Promenade parking structure.
Annual beach parking passes, available to residents and non-residents, will remain $150.
The increase is expected to add $600,0000 per year to the city’s general fund, Wilson said.
As a popular tourist destination, Huntington Beach has the advantage of drawing parking revenue largely from people who don’t live in the city.
“Most of the hourly revenue collected is from visitors,” Wilson said. “It is a good way to ensure that visitors who use the beach and downtown areas are contributing to the cost of city services that are required to maintain a clean, accessible and safe environment.”