HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB 61 LTR to DeSaulneir 20130613!� Y °�'
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ell OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
�0 / g O 990 Palm Street ■ San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 ■ 805/781-7119
June 13, 2013
VIA FACSIMILE ONLY 916-445-25
The Honorable Mark DeSaulnier
Chair, Senate Transportation and Housing Agency
State Capitol Building, Room 2209
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 61 (Gatto). Parking: parking meters. (as introduced)
NOTICE OF OPPOSITION
Dear Senator DeSaulnier,
The City of San Luis Obispo writes again to oppose AB 61 (Gatto), which would prohibit
local governments from enacting or establishing restrictions on inoperable parking meters until
January 1, 2017. This bill unnecessarily upends local authority to regulate parking meters, an
authority that cities have had since at least 1959.
Jurisdictions across the state have enacted ordinances related to parking meters, some
specifically speaking to broken parking meters. Last year, cities were pleased to work with you and
the sponsors of SB 1388 (DeSaulnier) to clarify that drivers are allowed to park at a broken parking
meter unless a local ordinance provides a different policy. In order to avoid additional confusion,
cities agreed to post any local ordinance that prohibits or restricts parking at a broken meter.
Cities use parking meters to facilitate parking management, promote local businesses, and
reduce congestion and pollution. But meters can be a magnet for vandalism. Several cities report
problems with intentionally jammed parking meters in high traffic areas, demonstrating a need for
enough flexibility in the statewide policy to address local problems.
Unlike AB 61, SB 1388 struck an appropriate balance between a statewide policy and local
control. There is no demonstrated need to reverse the agreement made just a year ago.
For the reasons stated above, the City opposes AB 61.
Sincerely,
Jan Marx
Mayor
cc: City Council �
Assembly Member Mike Gatto, fax 916-319143
David Mullinax, League of California Cities Regional Representative
Robert Horch