Every paid parking transaction in Birmingham could cost a dime more under a proposal city commissioners discussed Monday, July 13, with the revenue earmarked for projects to cut vehicle-related carbon emissions.
Planning Director Nick Dupuis told the commission the 10-cent fee would apply to hourly meter parking, paid parking structure visits, monthly permits and valet parking in city-owned structures. Monthly pass holders would pay a flat $3 sustainability fee per month. The city's two-hour free parking would not change.
Birmingham recorded roughly 2.5 million parking transactions in 2025, Dupuis said. City estimates put the fee's potential annual revenue at $400,000 to $420,000. He framed the proposal as a way to fund goals in the Birmingham Green: Healthy Climate Plan, the city's first climate action plan, which targets a 25 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
"One of the goals in the plan is addressing the 25 percent of the city's total carbon emissions that come from vehicles," Dupuis said at the July 13 meeting.
He said potential projects include installing electric vehicle chargers, planting trees, building green infrastructure and monitoring air quality.
Commissioners push for specifics
Some commissioners questioned whether the fee is equitable for Birmingham residents who drive downtown. Dupuis argued it is fair precisely because it applies to all drivers and keeps the cost out of the city's general fund. Commissioners also pressed for measurable outcomes showing the fee would make a difference.
No formal vote was taken. The commission directed Dupuis to return at a future meeting with a detailed project list, defined metrics and goals demonstrating how the revenue would offset emissions. The specific return date was not announced.
How to weigh in
The Birmingham City Commission meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Residents can email commissioners at [email protected] or attend meetings in person, via Zoom or on the city's Vimeo channel.
