It's Free Now But is Paid Parking Coming To Downtown Yakima?

Paid Parking in downtown Yakima was supposed to start this month. But a plan to have you pay when you park is on hold. In December of last year the Yakima City Council decided to place a temporary hold on the proposal giving downtown business owners a chance to create a different plan to pay for upgrades in the downtown area.

THE CITY IS WAITING FOR A PLAN FROM BUSINESS OWNERS

The city is now awaiting answers from the business community placing a 6 month pause on the plan. Some business owners propose a Local Improvement District to finance the improvements to sidewalks and parking lots. Others suggest state grants or the implementation of a tourism tax. Joe Mann, owner of Ron's Coin and Collectibles and other properties downtown says business owners have been talking and haven't yet come up with a plan but they have ideas.

MANN SAYS ANY PAID PARKING DOWNTOWN IS A BAD IDEA

Mann says the concern is that paid parking in city owned lots and streets will scare away customers many who are becoming accustomed to online shopping after the COVID pandemic. Mann says business owners have been talking about free parking on streets and paid parking in downtown parking lots. But he says any talk of making people park downtown is a bad idea and not popular with downtown business owners.

IF YOU DO PAY YOU WON'T PAY ON SUNDAYS

So for now unless an alternative plan is found and implemented paid parking is expected to start in downtown in May or June depending on the decision of the city council. If and when paid parking starts the plan is for 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Saturday with free parking on Sundays. The cost is $1 per hour.
Yakima City Manager Bob Harrison says the city has no other option after a tax proposal to raise needed funds failed in 2020.

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