The public will pay $1 an hour or $8 maximum to park in the new garage west of the state Capitol, under an agreement by the Legislative Council reached Thursday.

Weekly and monthly discounts of 25 percent off the maximum daily rate also will be available.

State employees will park at no charge.

The number of spaces set aside for state employees and those that will be available to the public is still being decided, Paula Tackett, director of the Legislative Council Service, said.

"There's going to be a mix of the public, state employees and session folks," she said. "We are trying to make sure we have space for the public. That's a key point and in all of the detailing, we'll keep that ever present in our minds."

Fees in the lot have been waived since the garage opened in early October.

The $13 million garage has about 580 spaces and is bounded by Paseo de Peralta and Manhattan Avenue, Don Gaspar Avenue and South Capitol Street.

It has two levels above ground and one underground, and Territorial-style architectural elements.

The project was originally set to be completed for the 2009 legislative session, but delays forced the opening date back.