City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 22, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: LEAH RILEY, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to amend and reordain Section 5-8-93 (PARKING METERS; HOURS AND DAYS OF OPERATION; MAXIMUM TIME LIMITS; RATES) of Article G (PARKING METERS) of Chapter 8 (PARKING AND TRAFFIC REGULATIONS) of Title 5 (TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of the addition of Sunday meter operations.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council take a final vote on the proposed ordinance.
BACKGROUND: Metered parking areas include Old Town along King Street and one to two blocks north and south, Carlyle and Eisenhower East, Potomac Yard, and Oakville Triangle. Meters are in effect Monday-Saturday, from 8 a.m. to either 6 p.m. or 9 p.m. depending on the location. With the exception of six blocks that have an all-day rate, parking at the meter is limited to 2-3 hours. See Attachment 4 for parking meter locations.
Section 5-8-93 of the City Code establishes the days for meter operation as every day of the week except Sunday and Federal holidays. Currently, no meters are in operation on Sunday, although residential permit parking restrictions and residential pay by phone restrictions are on some blocks on Sundays starting at 11 a.m. Additionally, all of the City’s parking lots and garages require payment to park on Sundays.
DISCUSSION: On April 14, 2026 Council was presented with a proposed ordinance to approve the collection of parking meter fees on Sundays. Council voted on April 14, 2026 to set the proposed ordinance for public hearing on Saturday April 18, 2026 and set it for second reading on April 29, 2026.
Council indicated during its April 21, 2026 FY2027 Budget Work Session that there is not majority support within Council to pass the proposed ordinance. Accordingly, this ordinance is now docketed for second reading (1) pursuant to Council’s April 14, 2026 vote to set it for second reading and (2) to provide closure in the form of a final vote on the proposed ordinance. A separate resolution is also being considered to increase the parking meter rate. This resolution excludes the addition of Sunday meter hours of operation.
FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact of excluding the addition of Sunday meters was discussed during the Council worksession and alternate funding options related to the parking meter rate and parking citation amount were discussed to offset this change.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance Cover
Attachment 2: Ordinance
Attachment 3: Map of Parking Meter Locations
Attachment 4: Map of Off-street Parking Options in Old Town
Attachment 5: Parking Meter Rate in Other Jurisdictions
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, P.E., Deputy City Manager
Cheran Ivery, City Attorney
Lindsay Dubin, Assistant City Attorney
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Katye North, Division Chief, T&ES, Mobility Services
Sheila McGraw, Principal Planner, T&ES, Mobility Services