Santa Monica to Increase Parking Rates at 3rd Street Promenade

After months of discussions and deliberations, the Santa Monica City Council this week voted to raise parking prices in the downtown area.

Prices will increase at the nine lots from $7 to $9 a day with evening flat rates going from $3 to $5, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. Monthly rates will increase about $40, from $82.50 to $121. Daytime rates will include two free hours and the price hikes, expected to start July 1st, will not affect the library or civic center lots -- that's a choice by design in hopes to attract longer-term visitors to those lots, freeing up downtown spaces for short-term business customers.

The pricing change is the first "significant" one since 1997.