Raleigh may revisit downtown parking fees

City leaders on Tuesday night said they’re willing to work with a group of downtown business owners toward a compromise on recently-passed parking lot fees.

The Raleigh City Council in June approved a city budget that instituted a new $5 fee for drivers who want to access city-run downtown parking on nights and weekends. Access during those times is currently free, but the new fees will start Dec. 31.

David Meeker, who owns Busy Bee Cafe on Wilmington Street, led a group of about six downtown business leaders in asking the council on Tuesday night to start the fees at 9 p.m. on nights and weekends, rather than 6 p.m.

Meeker said his group recognizes the need to fund maintenance of the lots, but that the new fees would significantly hurt downtown restaurants because commuters wouldn’t want to pay to park.

The 9 p.m. fees proposed by the group will still affect downtown businesses, Meeker said, “but we’re willing to take that hit in the spirit of compromise.”

Council members said they were open to reconsidering the parking fee hours, and City Manager Ruffin Hall said his staff would work with the group of business owners.

“It’s certainly not anybody’s intention to hurt downtown businesses,” Mayor Nancy McFarlane said.

Meeker, the son of former Raleigh mayor Charles Meeker, said he spoke on behalf of several downtown restaurants such as Bida Manda, Bu Ku, Caffe Luna, Capital Club 16, Centro and those owned by Ashley Christensen.

He suggested the city acted hastily in passing the new fees and councilwoman Mary-Ann Baldwin agreed that important voices “weren’t heard” before the council took action.

The parking fees are of huge concern to downtown restaurants because owners make budgets and estimate revenues “to the penny,” said Christensen, who owns Poole’s Downtown Diner, Chuck’s, Beasley’s and several other venues.

Meeker echoed her sentiments: “Phasing fees in allows us to catch any big drop in sales without putting anyone out of business.”

Raleigh imposed higher fees in order to take better care of its parking lots, which some say have been vandalized by those who use them late at night.

A later fee start time makes sense because it would pull money from the crowd that prompted the need for additional maintenance, Meeker said.

“Dinner and lunch crowds should be encouraged,” he said.

Maureen Bowman, director of play programming at Marbles Kids Museum, said she feared the new fees might discourage low-income families from attending some of their most popular events.

Education programming should be available to everyone, “not just those who can afford it,” she said.

This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 9:30 PM with the headline "Raleigh may revisit downtown parking fees."