New London — The city’s parking authority has approved rate changes that have incentives for Electric Boat employees to park in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood.

The city’s on-street permit parking plan for the Fort Trumbull neighborhood, with its $60-a-month price tag, has not lured as many employees out of the Water Street parking garage as first expected. The authority has decided to offer discounted rates for multiple-month purchases in the 300 available spaces: $50 a month for three months, $40 a month for six months and $30 a month for a full year.

Parking Director Carey Redd said the discounts are being made following research into EB parking habits and market rates. The city is also expecting an uptick in Cross Sound Ferry passengers this summer, which means more spaces are needed at the Water Street garage.

EB pays for about 250 parking spots in the Water Street garage and for a shuttle back and forth to work for its employees to the 50 Pequot Ave. facility. They had reserved an additional 150 spaces through April 1. The on-street permit parking plan was enacted as a way to relieve nearby neighborhoods of EB employee vehicles.

Perhaps the most notable change by the authority is a shift in rules at the newly constructed downtown municipal parking lot, where meters and kiosks are already in place for paid parking in the 200 spots there. Starting on April 1, the rate will be set at 50 cents an hour with a two-hour minimum and daily maximum of $8 for 12 hours.

There are special rates for events such as Sailfest, and a monthly pass will cost $30, up from $25. Parking is free on weekends and between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Redd said there hasn’t been paid parking in the downtown area in at least a decade and that the 50-cent rate is an incentive, not a deterrent, to visitors to the city.

The rates are reasonable for a reason, he said.

“Municipal parking is supposed to be affordable,” Redd said. “Our role as a parking authority is to support economic development. It says our doors are open. We're welcoming people to come in and actually spend their dollars … as opposed to being concerned about parking.”

Purchase of monthly permits has dropped from an average of more than 100 in 2012 to 44 in 2016 and just 28 last month.

In anticipation of the Coast Guard Museum being built in 2020 and other expected developments — a condominium complex or hotel — Redd said there will be more visitors in the city and a well-thought-out parking plan to accommodate them.

“They’re going to see us as a community that truly embraces tourists and visitors to the city," he said. "The whole issue of parking has been taken off the table.”

Redd said he presented the proposed rates to members of the City Center District and that overall they were well received.

Some have suggested higher rates at the downtown parking lot while downtown business and parking garage owner Bill Cornish said rates might be too low at the Water Street parking garage.

“There has not been a rate increase in 12 years, and I think that’s disgraceful,” Cornish said at a recent gathering. “I think we ought to get that up to market rate and maybe kick back something to the city, put something away for maintenance.”

Cornish and others also addressed some suggestions that residents should be paying less than visitors at the downtown parking lot.

Redd said while he is open to continuing conversation about rates, a flat rate as opposed to a tiered system “keeps the playing field level.”

g.smith@theday.com