ANALYSIS:
As a new municipal parking garage, the parking fee schedule for this new facility is established by ordinance and approved by the Mayor and City Commission. The proposed parking fee schedule is as follows:
Convention Center Garage:
Transient rates:
0-1 hour 2.00
1-2 hours 4.00
2-3 hours 6.00
3-4 hours 8.00
4-5 hours 9.00
5-6 hours 10.00
6-7 hours 11.00
7-8 hours 12.00
8-15 hours 15.00
15-24 hours 20.00
Lost ticket charge: Parkers who cannot produce a parking entry ticket will be charged the maximum daily rate of $20.00.
Monthly parking: $100.00 per month, per permit, plus applicable sales tax. ($70.00 per month for residents)
Event flat rate: $20.00 per vehicle.
These hourly rates are consistent with other city owned garages in the area. The only notable exception is the event flat rate of $20 compared to $15 at other city owned garages. This is recommended in order to establish a premium for the most convenient self-parking (attached to the MBCC structure) as compared to other garages in the close proximity.
A survey of Convention Centers in the Florida including the James L. Knight Center, the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, the Palm Beach Convention Center, the Orange County Convention Center and the Tampa Convention Center, have a self park flat rate of up to $15 per vehicle.
VALET PARKING USER FEES
We anticipate demand for valet parking services for a variety of events including conventions, consumer shows, and a variety of food & beverage events at the facility’s ballrooms. In the menu of parking options, valet parking is the highest level of service and user fees should be at premium which is commensurate with this level of service. However, as a new convention center with markedly improved facilities and services, we anticipate an uptick in valet parking demand. Each event may have different characteristics and modes of travel by attendees. Event attendees may use a variety of modes of transportation to the facility, including charter bus, ride share, black car service, self-park, and of course, valet parking. We anticipate high end events such as galas and related ballroom events to have high valet parking utilization.
The Convention Centers referenced above were also surveyed regarding their valet parking rates. While the center’s do not offer valet services, the events booked at these venues provide valet parking with a valet parking user fee ranging from $15 to $20 per vehicle. A notable exception is the James L. Knight Center where valet parking is provided by the Hyatt Regency Miami valet parking service at the hotel guest rate of $50 per vehicle.
Therefore, the Administration recommends commencing with a valet parking user fee of $25.00 per vehicle to be established in the Valet Parking Concession Agreement (to be approved by Resolution upon the Manager's recommendation) and with the potential for future increase subject to the Manager's approval.