BELLINGHAM, Wash. – It’s getting more expensive to park in Fairhaven and downtown Bellingham.
The City Council voted Monday, January 24th, for the first downtown parking rate increase since 2008.
They also voted to start charging for parking for the first time in Fairhaven.
The proposed ordinance would have set the rate at $1.50 an hour, up from the current 75 cents downtown.
But councilmember Michael Lilliquist suggested that was a little too steep.
“I’m still worried that this doubling in the parking rate will be a difficult adjustment at time when the downtown community is just getting back on its feet,” said Lilliquist.
The council voted in favor of his amendment to set the new rate at $1.00 per hour.
But that will change next year when the hourly rate will start at $1.50 then increase progressively for longer stays.
The goal is to encourage long-term parkers to use off street parking and to help pay for the city’s parking operations which have been running at a deficit.