The San Diego City Council approved sweeping new parking regulations on Monday, which will introduce paid parking on Sundays, along with $10-an-hour meters near Petco Park and an increase in meters throughout the city.
City officials are also close to finalizing plans to implement fees for parking at the San Diego Zoo and in other areas of Balboa Park.
Still, decisions regarding parking for employees, volunteers, and residents of San Diego are yet to be determined.
In a notable shift, Mayor Todd Gloria’s aides have initiated talks with the state Coastal Commission about introducing paid parking in Mission Bay Park and city beach lots.
For the first time, the mayor’s staff has expressed interest in studying the potential for exemptions or discounts for city residents concerning the new parking fees at off-street facilities such as the zoo and Balboa Park.
This development stems from active lobbying by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who emphasized the significance of ensuring that residents are not subjected to the same parking fees as tourists.
“Residents matter more than tourists,” Elo-Rivera stated.
While these parking changes are anticipated to raise millions and help address San Diego’s substantial budget deficit, exempting residents or providing discounts could considerably diminish the expected revenue.
Council members encountered this challenge during a lengthy debate on the newly proposed parking changes.
Elo-Rivera highlighted the potential for the city to earn significant income from the new zoo parking fees, estimating annual revenue of $15 million to $17 million for both the city and the zoo.
The negotiations with zoo officials regarding revenue-sharing and other aspects are expected to be finalized by the end of July.
Randy Wilde, a senior policy adviser to Mayor Gloria, mentioned, “They’re definitely open to negotiations. We’ve had good discussions so far.”
The zoo, which encompasses 3,000 parking spots, was not included in the mayor’s initial projections of generating $22 million from paid parking in Balboa Park due to ongoing negotiations being required.
City Attorney Heather Ferbert pointed out that changes regarding paid parking at the zoo and Balboa Park need to be addressed separately from the parking policy reforms approved on Monday.
In an important change, the council repealed a longstanding law that prohibited paid parking on Sundays.
City officials have yet to determine which neighborhoods will have this new paid parking on Sundays, which will only affect metered spaces.
As part of a compromise, residents in neighborhoods where Sunday paid parking is introduced will have the opportunity to purchase residential permits for merely $9 a year.
Despite several concessions included in the parking reforms, Councilmembers Marni von Wilpert and Vivian Moreno voted against the package, which ultimately passed 5-2.
Von Wilpert voiced her apprehension over the implementation of Sunday parking fees, particularly stressing that her constituents from the transit-challenged northeastern suburbs rely on their vehicles to access places such as Balboa Park and Little Italy.
“It’s just the one day they don’t have to pay for parking,” she remarked.
Moreno echoed these concerns, stating that the parking modifications may pose a financial hurdle for low-income families wishing to visit the city’s popular attractions.
“If parking becomes a significant expense, it could restrict their ability to enjoy special outings with their families,” she cautioned.
The newly adopted policy will allow variable pricing for parking in certain sought-after areas, a proposal that generated less controversy.
The city plans to experiment with this variable pricing in the vicinity of Petco Park, particularly during events where they plan to charge $10 per hour, significantly higher than the typical meter rate of $2.50 per hour.
This increased rate will be applied to meters around the Petco Park boundary, which includes Island Avenue, 14th Street, Commercial Street, Harbor Drive, and Sixth Avenue.
While the policy change permits charging up to $20 per hour, officials are starting with a $10 rate.
Furthermore, neighborhoods will now have a simplified process for adding parking meters, having previously been required to establish a nonprofit community parking district.
They are also no longer bound to first implement two-hour and three-hour parking tests enforced by chalking tires before being allowed to install meters.
Additionally, a new fee will be imposed on developers whose construction projects eliminate potential revenue-generating parking spaces for the city.
However, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce has voiced opposition against this fee, arguing that it could dissuade housing developers.
Concerning the paid parking at city beaches, Wilde indicated that initial negotiations with the Coastal Commission are underway, and city officials are working to ensure they meet the commission’s requirements for approval.
He added that examples from other cities with approved paid beach parking have been provided by commission officials to assist Gloria’s staff in their planning efforts.
The proposal for parking changes was met with a stark division among council members, particularly regarding paid parking in Balboa Park.
Councilmember Stephen Whitburn signaled that proposals for parking fees must include a provision for free parking, especially for employees and volunteers.
Both Whitburn and von Wilpert have insisted that any revenue from paid parking in Balboa Park should remain in the park itself, where approximately $500 million in deferred maintenance is currently pending.
The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership has also expressed opposition to paid parking, arguing that it could deter visitors from spending extended time at the city’s essential cultural institutions.
Peter Comiskey, the partnership’s executive director, emphasized that a rush to pay for parking would hinder community engagement with the arts and culture opportunities available in Balboa Park.
Councilmember Raul Campillo shared similar sentiments, expressing skepticism over the installation of paid parking in Balboa Park.
“An attempt to collect more revenue could just backfire and lead to less revenue,” he said, highlighting potential repercussions on museums, small businesses, artists, schools, and employees.
Despite concerns highlighting revenue generation impacting low-income families and local enjoyment, Elo-Rivera remained optimistic about the forthcoming changes.
“I think this is a classic example of San Diego needing to be more confident in itself,” he asserted. “People are going to go to Balboa Park. It’s a beautiful park with incredible museums and resources.”
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