Council to Weigh Downtown Paid Parking Changes
Eau Claire council members Aaron Brewster and Andrew Werthmann have proposed four changes to downtown paid parking ahead of the November 10 meeting.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Live Poll
Will Eau Claire's council approve any downtown paid parking changes by year's end?
Eau Claire council members Aaron Brewster and Andrew Werthmann proposed four changes to downtown paid parking, which took effect August 1, 2026. The proposals will be introduced at the November 10, 2026 council meeting with no action taken at that time.
Why it matters
More than 70 percent of 41 responding downtown businesses reported revenue and customer traffic decreases since paid parking began. Finance Director Kitzie Winters recommended against adopting any of the four changes at this time, citing a consultant's advice to evaluate changes after one full year.
Net annual revenue from the proposals is estimated at a $7,265 increase, while one-time implementation costs for all four changes are estimated at $18,570 to $50,430. The financial effect of the business-reported traffic declines has not been quantified in the city's estimates.
The players
Aaron Brewster
Eau Claire city council member who co-proposed the four downtown paid parking changes.
Andrew Werthmann
Eau Claire city council member who co-proposed the four downtown paid parking changes.
Kitzie Winters
Eau Claire Finance Director who recommended against adopting any of the four changes at this time.
The details
One proposal would eliminate the 50-cent-per-hour on-street zone, while Graham Avenue, S. Barstow Street and S. Farwell Street would remain at $1 an hour. Another would shift paid on-street hours to 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, a third would give drivers one free hour in city-owned parking ramps on Saturdays, and a fourth would waive on-street paid parking on Saturdays from the first Saturday after Thanksgiving through New Year's Day.
Timeline
August 1, 2026: Paid parking took effect in downtown Eau Claire.
October 2026: A DECI survey of downtown businesses about paid parking was reported.
November 10, 2026: The proposed changes will be introduced at the city council meeting.
Market Landscape
Downtown paid parking in Eau Claire is being judged against the consultant's advice to wait a full year before changing rates or hours. The debate pits business-reported traffic losses against the city's revenue estimates for the program.
Downtown drivers could see lower on-street rates, shifted paid hours, or free Saturday parking if the proposals are adopted. Shoppers and downtown visitors would feel any change directly in the cost and timing of parking.
The takeaway
Any change to downtown paid parking would be weighed against both business concerns about traffic and the city's revenue projections. The council's decision on November 10 will determine whether the proposals move forward.
What happens next
The proposed paid parking changes will be introduced at the November 10, 2026 Eau Claire City Council meeting, with no action taken at that time.
Further reading
For more on local storefront activity, see Openings & Closings coverage in Eau Claire.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Weau.
Live Poll
Will Eau Claire's council approve any downtown paid parking changes by year's end?
