Consideration and Adoption Ordinance No. 2026-04: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, amending the Flagstaff City Code, Title 3 Business Regulations, Chapter 3-10 User Fees, Section 3-10-001-0010, Subsection A. Parking Rates - ParkFlag District to amend the effective date of the parking fee increase; providing for penalties, repeal of conflicting ordinances, severability, authority for clerical corrections, and establishing an effective date
 

At the October 21, 2025, Council Meeting, Ordinance 2025-21 was adopted for code revisions related to the Comprehensive Parking Management Program and establishing updated public parking rates and permit fees for the ParkFlag District.  Staff presented the ordinance with an effective date for the increased ParkFlag parking rates to begin March 1, 2026.  The intention at the time was to have the Downtown Flagstaff Enhanced Services begin 60 days prior to the start of the increased parking rates.  Staff has procured a third party contract to deliver the enhanced services.  The contract is not expected to be awarded until the Council Meeting on February 17, 2026.   

Therefore, staff is requesting that Council approves the change in effective date to August 1, 2026, to allow for the contractor to establish the service and provide two months of service delivery prior to increasing rates. This aligns with the original expectation of increasing parking rates after services have been established. 

The delay in collection of the increased parking fees will be managed within the ParkFlag 5-year plan.   There is an offsetting reduction of expenditures in the ParkFlag 5-year plan with the delayed contract implementation.  

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In April 2025, during the budget retreat, staff presented consideration of proposed parking rate changes to Council and received direction to proceed with a rate analysis and potential rate increase.  The rates were developed to support enhanced services in the ParkFlag District.

In October 2025, Council adopted changes to the Comprehensive Parking Management Program and approved parking rate increases to be effective March 1, 2025.

1. Approve the Ordinance to delay the parking rate increase to August 1, 2026 (Recommended action) 
2. Amend and approve the Ordinance to delay the parking rate increase to a different effective date
3. Do not approve the Ordinance and begin collecting the increased parking fee on March 1, 2026

High Performing Governance

• Serve the public by providing high quality customer service
• Maintain the organization’s fiscal stability through strong financial policies and best practices
• Implement and communicate innovative and efficient local government programs, new ideas, and best practices

Sustainable and Innovative Infrastructure

• Deliver outstanding services to residents through a healthy, well-maintained infrastructure system

Goal E&C.2. Achieve carbon neutrality for the Flagstaff community by 2030.
Goal LU.10. Increase the proportion of urban neighborhoods to achieve walkable, compact growth
Goal LU.12. Accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and private cars to supplement downtown’s status as the best-served and most accessible location in the region.

Decrease Dependence on Cars, DD-3: Encourage Flagstaff residents and visitors to walk, bike, roll and take a bus. 
This proposal supports the City’s Carbon Neutrality Plan by encouraging shifts to more sustainable modes of transportation.  Higher parking rates may motivate some downtown visitors and employees to choose alternatives such as biking, ride-sharing, or public transit.  ParkFlag will continue to offer the VIP Commuter Pass program, which provides free bus passes to downtown employees, and will also continue promoting carpooling and highlighting bicycle rack locations on the ParkFlag website.  These measures align with the City’s goals of reducing vehicle miles traveled and fostering a cleaner, more sustainable downtown.

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