Elmhurst Backs Parking Fee Hikes To Erase Shortfalls

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst City Council voted Monday to increase parking fees for commuters to address shortfalls in the city's parking account.

One member dissented.

Since the pandemic, residents have been commuting less often to downtown Chicago, causing parking income to drop in the last few years.

As a result, the city has been using its main account, which receives sales and property taxes, to subsidize the separate parking fund.

Under Monday's measure, the daily commuter rate will rise to $3, from $2. Annual permits will increase to $600, from $400, and monthly permits to $55, from $35.

The city must get approval from Metra and Union Pacific for rates on parking lots that the city leases from those entities.

Other measures include cutting a second parking officer's position from the budget. It is unfilled now.

"We have $300,000 in revenue coming from parking enforcement," Alderwoman Noel Talluto said. "We did not feel we were going to get a second $300,000 from a second officer."

The council also agreed to allocate money from downtown tax increment financing districts for eligible parking expenses.

Alderwoman Marti Deuter, who is running for local state representative, voted against the changes.

"It's a big parking increase coming on the heels of a water rate increase," Deuter said. "It might be asking too much from residents."

She said she preferred continuing subsidies from the city's main account.

"If a parking fee increase is necessary to keep pace with inflation, then I would like to see the increase be phased in over time," Deuter said.

Alderman Mike Brennan said he pays the $2 daily fee two or three times a week when he commutes to Chicago.

"For 14 years, it's been $2," he said. "Even though I'd rather pay $2, I think it's very reasonable when you factor in inflation over 14 years."

The council voted 11-1 for the changes, with aldermen Rex Irby and Brian Cahill absent.