Steep Zone M Parking Permit Hike Rejected by Mingus Mapps
Zone M spared from proposed dramatic fee increase
In an unexpected turn of events, Commissioner Mingus Mapps has opposed the proposed increase in Zone M Residential Parking Permit fees in Portland, going against the Northwest Parking District Stakeholder Advisory Committee's recommendation.
The committee's decision, reached in a May 17 meeting that included 30 minutes of public comment from neighbors vehemently opposing the proposed hike, was to raise the permit fees from $195 to $279 this September, and to $363 the following year. The committee had been on track to ultimately raise the permit fees to $1,200 per year.
However, in a direct challenge to the committee's decision, Commissioner Mapps, in his capacity as head of the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), has decided to forgo the proposed increase in rates.
In a memo released by Wendy Cawley, PBOT’s Interim Deputy Director, she wrote, "Thank you for your careful consideration of changes to Zone M permits and for hearing the constituent testimony given at your last meeting. Due to the focus in City Hall on minimizing costs to Portlanders, Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) Commissioner Mingus Mapps has decided to delay a surcharge increase at this time."
Cawley's memo also included details on the revised rate plan, which sees a modest increase in the base rate by 10% for cost recovery, leading to a 2023 permit cost of $202.50, up from the current $195. This amount consists of the $82.50 base rate plus a $120 surcharge.
The move by Commissioner Mapps to reject the steep fee increase comes as a relief to the residents of the neighborhood. By keeping costs down during these difficult times, it brings to light the city's commitment to easing the financial burden on its residents, and reinforces the importance of public input in influencing policy decisions. The modest increase in permit cost for 2023, although an increase, pales in comparison to the originally proposed fees, signaling a win for the community.
