The Falcon Heights City Council voted Wednesday to create temporary paid parking zones during the Minnesota State Fair.
The pay-by-mobile parking program will turn select city streets east of Snelling Avenue into paid parking zones, providing around 1,000 parking spots near the Fairgrounds, for a fee, according to a news release from the city.
The program, which has a one-year agreement with ParkMobile, will charge a flat fee of $25 per day for vehicles to park between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the 12 days of the Fair. As part of the program, the city will also hire trained ambassadors to give directions, answer questions and enforce parking.
The affected streets north of Larpenteur Avenue include: Asbury, Arona, Simpson, Pascal, Holton, Albert, Ruggles and Crawford.
Affected avenues to the south of Larpenteur include: California, Idaho and Iowa.
“Pay-by-mobile parking provides an excellent solution to promote safety for our Falcon Heights residents and the hundreds of thousands of visitors we welcome to our city during the Minnesota State Fair,” said Falcon Heights Mayor Randy Gustafson in the release.
If you’re determined to find free parking and your go-to street now has a fee, Falcon Heights City Administrator Jack Linehan suggests trying the free park-and-ride options the Minnesota State Fair offers.
As for residents who live on streets that are designated as a parking zone, they will receive one free parking pass delivered by mail starting in July with the option to request additional passes. The city estimates around 600 properties will be eligible for these passes.
Attendees will be able to pay online via website, app or automated pay-by-phone line and enforcement will be tied to the vehicle’s license plate. Should drivers fail to pay, parking violations will set them back $100 from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15, which is double the normal rate of $50, Linehan said.
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Falcon Heights will receive an estimated 80% of the parking fees, which the city anticipates could range from $100,000 to $200,000, Linehan said. The city will use its proceeds to support the ambassador program, cover fair costs and invest in its roads and infrastructure.
“We heard from our residents during this process on how we could improve the plan, and we believe the version adopted by the City Council will meet the needs of our community,” Gustafson said in the release.
Temporary parking zone signs will be installed before the start of the Fair and removed after Labor Day.
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