Chico ups parking fees

Parking will be more expensive in certain parts of downtown Chico starting mid-December. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting (Nov. 19), the panel approved a final reading of an ordinance changing the fees. Drivers will pay $1 per hour for spaces between First and Fourth streets and Normal Avenue and Wall Street.

Enforcement hours will be reduced to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday (as opposed to starting at 7:30 a.m.). The city also will install signage to help motorists find spaces and deploy a mobile license plate recognition unit for enforcement. To complete this work, outlined in the Downtown Access Action Plan, the city hired consultant Dixon Resources Unlimited for $80,000.