PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Portland leaders are revisiting one of the city’s more contentious parking policies: whether residents should pay for metered parking after 7 p.m. City Council members are now considering rolling back a rule that extended paid parking hours until 10 p.m.
How the Change Happened
The debate began last spring, when Mayor Keith Wilson introduced his proposed budget. His plan included two parking-related measures: raising fees and expanding paid parking hours.
The City Council approved the fee increase but rejected the hours extension. Wilson, however, moved forward with the change anyway, implementing extended hours through an administrative rule rather than a Council vote.
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That decision has since stirred debate over both the policy itself and the mayor’s authority to act without Council approval.
Push for Repeal
During a City Council meeting on Thursday, Councilor Eric Zimmerman urged his colleagues to revisit the issue. Zimmerman opposed both the fee hikes and longer paid parking hours earlier this year and argued that Council should reclaim its authority.
“I think a parking hours discussion is a fair discussion to have, like we did with fees or the price. I lost that, but I think it was a fair conversation,” Zimmerman said. “We have a moment here where the legislative body can undo, I think, an administrative stretch and return to 7 o’clock in the evening parking hours.”
Divided Opinions on Policy vs. Process
Not all Council members objected to extended hours as a policy. Councilor Mitch Green voiced support for keeping paid parking until 10 p.m., but agreed with Zimmerman’s larger point about legislative oversight.
“I do think you are raising a very important point about the legislative authority that we have to codify law,” Green said. “I happen to like the extended parking hours, but I think this body should decide.”
Councilor Olivia Clark took a more cautious approach. She said she would like to see a financial report on how reverting back to 7 p.m. free parking could affect the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) budget before making any decision.
Budget Implications
Extended parking hours were originally introduced in part to boost PBOT revenue at a time when the bureau has struggled with funding shortfalls. The additional evening hours brought in more revenue from popular entertainment and dining districts, helping offset budget gaps.
Rolling back the hours could reduce that revenue, forcing PBOT to seek cuts elsewhere or request additional funding from the city. Council members acknowledged that any decision will need to weigh the trade-offs between financial stability and public convenience.
Next Steps
The discussion is still in its early stages, with no formal repeal yet on the agenda. Councilors indicated that further debate and financial analysis are necessary before a vote.
The larger issue of governance — specifically, whether the mayor should have the authority to unilaterally extend paid parking hours — is likely to remain at the forefront. Even those who favor the policy itself have expressed interest in ensuring such changes go through the proper legislative process.
For Portland drivers, the outcome could determine whether evenings out on the town continue to include parking costs or return to free after 7 p.m. As the Council deliberates, the balance between budget needs, public trust, and civic authority will be tested once again.
