Want to park in Newport Beach? It could cost you more

As the busy summer season approaches, parking on Newport Beach streets may get more expensive under a new ordinance being considered by the City Council on Tuesday.

City staff estimate that raising meter rates by as much as 50 cents an hour would bring in an extra $924,000 citywide each year, which will help offset public safety costs, particularly for additional police on the Balboa Peninsula.

The city charges between 50 cents and $2.50 an hour for on-street and off-street parking. City staff estimate that the majority of meters — 98% — would go up by 25 cents or less.

The biggest increase would be reflected in the cost for the third hour of 65 city parking spaces. Instead of $2.50, the cost would be $3.

If approved, higher rates for off-street parking would begin June 24; on-street rates would go up Aug. 13.

City officials noted that the proposal is the first parking meter increase since 2010, except in Balboa Village, which has on- and off-peak season rates.

The ordinance would not affect the costs of parking permits. It would also not be applicable to rates in the Corona del Mar State Beach parking lot.

Tuesday’s meeting starts with a study session at 4:30 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m.

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Other council items

•A second reading of an ordinance that would restrict water jetpacks in Newport Harbor, where some have been critical of the amount of noise they create.

•Accepting a donation of $37,236 from the Newport Harbor Elks Lodge No. 1767 toward buying and training two police dogs.

•Accepting a donated statue from the Ben Carlson Memorial and Scholarship Foundation to the city and approving that the statue be placed at the base of the Newport Pier. Carlson, a 15-year lifeguard veteran, died while trying to save a swimmer in 2014. He was 32 and was the first Newport lifeguard to die in the line of duty.