Ventura council introduces parking-code overhaul: mobile payment, one-hour free, new permits

The Ventura City Council on April 14 introduced an ordinance to update the city's parking code, adding mobile payment options, allowing one-hour free parking sessions, and revising the existing permit program.

An ordinance amending Section 16.215.030 and Chapter 16.225 of the San Buenaventura Municipal Code received its first reading; council waived the reading in full and directed staff to set the second reading at the next available meeting where notice can be given.

According to the April 14 agenda packet, Public Works Director Charles W. Ebeling brought the recommendation as part of a Downtown Parking Improvements project update.

That packet did not include the dollar value of the changes, the mobile payment vendor to be used, the geographic boundaries where one-hour free parking would apply, the specifics of the permit program revisions, or whether mobile payments would supplement or replace existing meters.

For implementation, a second reading and adoption are required before any of the parking-code changes take effect.