Annual Hearing on Parking & Busing Policies, Budget and Capital Improvements
Thursday, March 19, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
CSU 238
The Annual Hearing on Parking Policies, Budget and Capital Improvements was held Thursday, March 19, 2026 in CSU238. A "Docket" or "agenda" was prepared dealing with the items we have discussed, chief among them is the proposed rated increase, which was lowered on 2/13/26 by the Advisory Committee to roughly 6% per parking permit.
Final Parking and Transportation Related Recommendations for 2026-27
At Thursday's, March 19, 2026 noon public hearing, 15 were in attendance in the Nickerson Conference Room (CSU 238). All present were engaged in the discussion as proposed permit rates were reviewed and spending changes debated. The proposed 6% across-the-board increase for each parking permit was adopted recognizing that a way had to be found for this self-sustaining program to address the rise in negotiated salary costs and fringes benefits (like management provided insurance for employees), as well as other inflation sensitive items. The $1,975,000 income plan and $1,929,000 spending estimates were considered and recommended. Included within the spending estimates is at least $250,000 for pothole repair and patching and a strong commitment to continue to fully support 7 FTE positions assigned to Security historically funded from Parking funds.
|
Permit Type |
2025-26 |
CHANGE |
2026-27 Post Hearing Recommendation of Advisory Committee 3-19-26 |
Parking & Transportation Advisory Committee - Observations and Comments - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Platinum |
$411 |
$25 |
$436 |
$25 Amounts to $2.08 a month addition for this 12 month permit. Rate change attempts to reflect predicted personnel costs and other inflationary pressures. 21 buyers x $25 increase each = $525 new revenue. Predicted 21 sales x $436 = $9,15 |
|
Gold - 12 Month Coverage |
$411 |
$25 |
$436 |
$25 Amounts to $2.08 a month addition for this 12 month permit. Rate change attempts to reflect predicted personnel costs and other inflationary pressures. 1,100 buyers x $25 increase each = $27,500 new revenue. Predicted 1,100 sales x $436 =$479,600. |
|
Purple |
$262 |
$16 |
$278 |
$16 Amounts to $1.77 a month addition for this 9 month Academic Year permit. Rate change attempts to reflect predicted personnel costs and other inflationary pressures. 1,000 buyers x 16 each = $16,000 in new revenue. Predicted 1,000 Sales x $278 = $278,000. |
|
Orange Discount Sale |
$70 sale $35 Per Semester |
$0 |
No Change $35 Per Semester |
Most attractive and lowest permit rate. "Sales Rate" kept low to minimize contamination of Free parking areas which temporarily expand (in late August until Nov. 1) by 180 stalls in Lot 22 South to take care of initial Fall surge. Targeted group includes employees who park in free parking stalls found in Lot 23 North and South. FY'27 estimated Sales = (300 buyers Lot 21 South (266) stalls x $70 = $21,000; Lot 22 North 30 buyers x $70 = $2,100) |
|
Residential Community Light Green Closer-In |
$340 |
$20 |
$360 |
$20 Rate increase amounts to $2.22 per month for this 24/7 close-in 9 month permit. 530 buyers x $20 = $10,600. Predicted 530 buyers x $360 = $190,800. |
|
Residential Community Dark Green |
$263 |
$16 |
$279 |
$16 Amounts to $1.77 a month addition for this 9 month permit. Rate change attempts to reflect predicted personnel costs and other inflationary pressures. 1,200 buyers x 16 each = $19,200 in new revenue. Predicted 1,200 Sales x $279 = $334,800. |
|
Silver - Motorcycle |
$78 |
$5 ($0.42 a month) |
$83 |
$5 Rate increase amounts to $0.42 a month for the nine-month permit. Motorcycle permit sales (50 x $5 = $250 in new revenue). FY'26 Predicted 50 sales x $83 = $4,150. |
Other recommendations were "housekeeping" in nature and included:
-
Update Pay Lot rates to make current per hour rate match that of what curbside "Flowbird" stall rates are. Change to "$4 first hour/$3 per hour thereafter" from existing "$4 first hour/$2 per hour thereafter".
-
Visitors Pay Lot enforcement to end at 4 PM instead of existing 6 PM.
-
Postpone a replacement vehicle for Security and commit savings to improve existing CCTV camera imaging capability to capture 360 degree panoramic ($15,000), and support for replacement of Bobcat ($15,000), both are part of larger requests within the Institutional Equipment Committee's package of requests for 2026-27.
-
Change McElroy's Lot 15 Flowbird stalls to have an enforcement coverage of 6 AM to 6:30 PM (or 4 PM Fridays) instead of existing 6 AM to 2 AM.
-
Formally register Parking & Transportation Advisory Committee's support of a proposal for MSU to ask the MinnState System's Board of Trustees to raise the existing $20 per student per semester Sustainability Fee cap. MSU's Sustainability Fee ($1.53 per credit hour; $19.92 per semester) is used to cover busing costs and it is likely that the Mankato Transit System will negotiate with MSU to cover its higher costs. $60,000 of $600,000 annual busing bill (40% of City's costs) is now picked up by Parking Funds.
Other topics raised during the public hearing included:
-
the need for future planning for any large repairs for Lot 23 (Free Lot), and
-
changing the current 2 AM to 6 AM parking ban to 2 AM to 5:30 AM. These two ideas will be address at later sessions of the Advisory Committee.
Facilities Services Director and Parking & Transportation Administrator
WC 358 Wiecking Center
Minnesota State University, Mankato
David Cowan
david.cowan@mnsu.edu
