Title
Downtown Parking Management Pilot
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhancing Quality of Life and Operational Excellence
2.5: Implement “Smart Cities” approach and digital technologies
MEETING DATE: May 19, 2026
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning and Engineering
CONTACT: Lucas Raley, Director of Planning
Gary Graham, Director of Engineering
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Provide feedback to City Staff on the proposed Pilot program
ITEM SUMMARY:
• City Staff have been working with AMSYS to create a pilot program to manage downtown parking using smart cities technologies. The goal is to obtain real-time parking availability data through computer-vision technology to understand the occupancy of two high-volume surface parking lots and the Chestnut parking garage. Once baseline conditions have been established, digital signs will be installed at the high occupancy S Kentucky and Cloyd Lots that will direct drivers to spots at the Chestnut Garage, which will have an exterior display showing the number of available spaces.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• City Staff have traditionally conducted parking studies every five-years to gain insights into the occupancy rates of public parking downtown. Traditionally, the study shows that there are available spaces in the downtown, even though public perception still voices a lack of availability. While there may be a lack of spaces in the southwest quadrant of downtown, the Chestnut garage is typically available, and a 7-minute walk from the S Kentucky parking lot, the most southeast public lot.
With the addition of parking space availability data, staff hopes to create behavior change in drivers that will reduce circling traffic for drivers and better utilize the Chestnut garage.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• The anticipated costs for the Pilot Program are between $100,000 and $150,000. Staff proposed to utilize funds from the TIRZ 1 fund balance to fund this project, as it supports the goals of the zone, aligns with the Pilot and Innovation Projects category in the project plan, and is located fully within the TIRZ 1 boundary.