The Redmond City Council will consider a resolution Tuesday that would merge the short- and long-term parking lots at Redmond Airport.

Looking ahead to a slowly rebounding economy and increasing numbers of airport customers, airport staff have proposed changes that would increase income and address a shortage of long-term parking slots.

“We’re starting to bump into utilization problems where we have more short-term parking than we need,” said Eric Fancett, deputy director of business operations. On average, the airport’s 352 short-term parking spaces experience 85 percent vacancy, while the long-term spots come close to capacity during peak travel periods, he said.

Redmond Airport’s parking lot has 731 spaces for long-term parking; the facility’s current lot configuration and number of spaces was created during two expansions, in 2005 and 2007.

The proposal would eliminate the short-term and long-term lot designations and create a pay scale based on length of stay, not location. Hourly rates would remain the same, the daily maximum would be a flat $10, instead of $8 and $12 as it is now, and a discounted rate for full-week users would be created, $60 for every seven days.

Fancett estimated that the changes would generate about $300,000 for the airport, based on usage statistics.

If adopted, the changes would require sign changes, software reprogramming and removal of a gate arm separating the two lots, at an estimated cost of $7,500. Removal of all curbs and medians between the two lots and reconfiguring the entrances is not being recommended, due to a cost estimate of more than $80,000.

Patrons would still have two gate-controlled entrances to the parking lot near the terminal, plus the entrances near Airport Way, but all four would lead to a single lot.

Fancett said staff hopes to increase safety in addition to creating more parking for long-term users.

“People get confused now. When you enter the airport there’s not much time to make a decision, and we’ve seen some unsafe behavior with people backing up because they think they’ve missed the parking entrance.” New signs and curb changes should help, he said.

The Redmond Airport Commission, which approved the change during a meeting Thursday, expressed some concern about the impacts for casual airport visitors who are accustomed to ample parking close to the entrance.

Fancett said a small amount of parking up front would remain designated for short-term stays.

“It will need to be enforced. Otherwise long-term parkers will figure it out pretty quickly and use those spots close to the terminal,” said Commissioner Carolyn Eagan. “But at the end of the day, we need to remember it’s not a very big lot, so even if you’re parked in back you don’t have far to walk.”

Parking rate comparisons

Boise Airport

75 cents per hour

Daily max: $9 long-term, $21.50 short-term

Medford Airport

$2-2.50 per hour

Daily max: $9 long-term, $15 short-term

Spokane Airport

$2 per hour

Daily max: $7.50-$9.50; weekly $52-66