The days of free parking in Portland could soon come to an end.

City officials are considering paid parking beyond the central city to help manage parking wars playing out in several bustling neighborhoods.

Transportation leaders say other big changes could be in the works, too, including higher meter rates downtown and, most notably, a potential permitting program for anyone who parks in Portland.

It's no secret that Mayor Charlie Hales and Commissioner Steve Novick - proponents of last year's ill-fated street fee proposal - want more money for street repairs and safety projects. But city officials insist their ideas are largely intended to manage parking demand and are only in some cases about increasing revenue.

"What can we do to address concerns about pressures in parking?" Novick said of neighborhood-level options. "And if some of what we do happens to generate some revenue, that's fine."

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is taking a sweeping look at city parking policies, with recommendations expected this fall. For now, Leah Treat, the city's transportation director, said it's too early to predict what will happen - particularly without hearing more from the public.

"We don't know where we're headed," she said.

Some residents are keeping a close watch, though, and worry that officials may dismiss more modest options in favor of dollar signs.

"I think the city's policy is to try to manage parking," said Allen Field, a Richmond resident on a parking advisory committee studying neighborhoods, "and they try to do that through financial means."

The most likely change appears to be an increase in downtown parking meter pricing. Hourly rates of $1.60 haven't increased since 2009.

Treat said on-street parking is in high demand, and data suggest a price increase is warranted. But officials won't propose a hike beginning July 1, the customary timing. Instead, she said, a proposal may emerge this fall.

It's merely coincidence that meter increases would correspond with growing costs, Novick and Treat said. Last year, city auditors found that Portland's credit and debit system - in frequent use at meters - doesn't meet industry security standards. Now the Transportation Bureau is on the hook for an estimated $4 million worth of fixes, according to budget documents.

"The fact that we are facing those costs would make it nice to have some more revenue," Novick conceded. "There's absolutely no denying that."

The most unlikely parking change, at least right now: a citywide permitting program, currently disallowed under state law.

The idea came up last year as Hales and Novick unsuccessfully tried to impose $40 million-plus in new annual fees or taxes to pay for paving and safety projects.

Originally proposed by a citizen, the idea of a permit earned a hard look from city officials in March. The concept: All vehicles registered in Portland, plus any metro-area vehicle parked in Portland, would require an annual permit.

Rates for passenger-vehicle stickers could run $34 the first year, according to city financial estimates obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive through a public records request.

That could net the city $11.5 million the first year, with revenues growing each later year, records show. And that's after adding more than 50 employees and spending $9 million to $10 million a year for staffing and enforcement.

"That would be real money," Novick said.

The city is lobbying to change state restrictions, Novick said. Any change, he added, could be included in a hoped-for transportation package in the Legislature.

Novick said the sticker option has merits because, unlike last year's street fee, which never could garner a third City Council vote, this option could be politically viable. Novick said he's more fond of other options. But, if nothing else, he likes it because city officials could put sizable charges only on commercial vehicles.

"We're hopeful," Novick said. "But we're not captured by irrational exuberance."

Treat said she likes the idea, too. It would do little to manage parking citywide, she said, but "it's a reasonable means by which we could get additional resources."

Officials are also considering paid parking in select neighborhoods.

Transportation officials are studying five areas -central St. Johns, Southeast Division Street, Northeast 28th Avenue, North Mississippi Avenue and the Hollywood District - in hopes of spotting trends and identifying options.

Consultants already completed parking analysis for 28th and Hollywood, and suggested options for the years ahead, including standardized time limits, strict enforcement or parking permits. They also suggest shared parking lots, where employers reserve spaces for workers in the daytime, then charge patrons to park after-hours.

A new report makes no mention of meters, but neither of the two completed study areas has become quite the magnet that Division and Mississippi have. And Novick, before winning a seat on the City Council in 2012, was particularly vocal about his desire for meters in busy areas such as Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard.

Novick said neighborhood parking is the top gripe he hears from residents. It's been exacerbated by city policies that encourage apartment buildings with limited parking requirements.

But the answer isn't mandating more parking, Novick said, because that would drive up housing costs and conflict with the city's goal of reducing carbon emissions.

Transportation officials say it's particularly important to devise neighborhood-level solutions as the city prepares to accommodate 120,000 new homes, apartments or condos over the next 20 years.

But so far, despite loud complaints about dense development, few residents have been willing to pony up money to discourage neighborhood parking.

Three years ago, city officials made it easier for neighbors to form a paid parking district with $60 annual permits to fight commuter parking. Since then, only two groups - one in Brooklyn, the other in Northwest Portland - have filed paperwork.

Neither got enough residents to vote. A third group of residents in Buckman recently submitted paperwork. Ballots are due June 5.

Novick said any changes to neighborhood parking rules would include public input. But he wouldn't rule out the city imposing restrictions, if necessary.

"Never say never," he said. "There might be some instances where we think it makes no sense not to have permits or meters. But what we are trying to do here is give people more options."

Gary Davenport, an Overlook resident and neighborhood advisory committee member, said he's hopeful solutions will emerge.

But he's also worried that committee members so far haven't gotten a say, asking something to the effect of "when do we get to talk?" at the end of an April meeting.

"We haven't had the opportunity," he said. "That's why I'm frustrated. There are tons of ideas."

Novick made it clear that no matter what happens, a street-fee-esque funding package is still his top priority.

And anything else that might be approved -- be it higher downtown meter rates, permits for busy districts or a citywide sticker program -- isn't Plan B?

"In a word," Novick said, "no."

-- Brad Schmidt

bschmidt@oregonian.com

503-294-7628

@cityhallwatch