HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/7/2022 Item 6a, Risner
Delgado, Adriana
From:Natalie Risner <natalier0811@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, June 6,
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Parking Increase Plan
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Dear San Luis Obispo City Council,
Hello my name is Natalie Risner and I have been a downtown business owner for the past 20 years. I am a local. I grew
up in downtown SLO in my mom's shop on Higuera that was opened in 1976. Our family has been a part of
downtown since that time. We are saddened by the direction away from the small downtown feeling that is currently
felt in downtown SLO. I am alarmed at the proposed parking rate, doubling the current rate is a bad idea. With the loss
of so much street parking to parklets and closing Monterey street and losing the parking over the past few years from
the huge hotels built in their footprints. I hear the hotels often park their guests' cars in the parking garages as well. It
leaves our downtown patrons with less and less choices and makes them feel quite unwelcome. To have it cost
someone $12 to come downtown and park in the parking garage for four hours is shocking in a small town like
SLO. Fewer and fewer locals come downtown and that is only going to hurt our community in the long run. We cannot
be sustained by tourists only; this is not healthy for a sustainable downtown economy. .
With the new Kiosks being implemented downtown we have seen a very large increase in customers coming in our
downtown ladies clothing store on a daily basis confused about parking and how to use the Kiosk. I personally help at
least one person everyday taking time out of my day to help them. They are frustrated and confused and complain they
won't be coming downtown anymore because it is too difficult. Have you tried to use one of these Kiosks? They are
very difficult to use, unless you have done it previously you will fail. THey time out so fast and it's not just the older
population it is difficult for everyone. I have had all types of people come in to ask for help. I often tell them "you
should go park in the garage" . I remind them they can get an hour free and no risk of a ticket. Many thank me for the
information. With this proposed increase we will see even fewer locals coming downtown to shop. Downtown SLO will
see a decrease in sales tax revenue with fewer locals patronizing the downtown.
Our downtown has suffered so much over the past few years with many empty shops sitting empty and large anchor
stores leaving ghost buildings to sit for who knows how long? What can be done to have less vacancies
downtown? Surely raising parking costs will not help.
I hope you will consider looking for funds to pay for your "Cultural Hub Parking Structure" in another creative way.
Thank you,
Natalie Risner
1
Owner @ Apropos Ladies clothing Store
2