HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, Fernandes
Traci Fernandes <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Parking- Nov 7th Meeting
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Dear Council Members,
I am hoping to express my concerns/frustrations with the changes to downtown parking
over the last few years.
As a resident of the area for 20+ years, I have always greatly enjoyed going downtown
and supporting the small businesses and local restaurants. I have enjoyed the sense of
community and was proud of our unique, vibrant downtown.
The new parking kiosks, extended hours of operation, increased fees and hurdles to
registering to get the 1 hour free "local" parking (which I never figured out after multiple
attempts) have all combined to deterring me from going downtown almost at all. I have
taken the easy route and am utilizing big box stores and online options. The fun and
relaxation of a stroll downtown is gone. I am too concerned that I will get a costly
parking ticket and don't feel like wasting a bunch of money over-purchasing meter time
or needing to incessantly watch the time and making sure I don't get too distracted by a
great store or a chance meeting with a friend.
I miss the days when community mattered. For me, the amount of stress seems to have
outweighed the pleasure of going downtown. It appears that city revenues trump the
needs of the local businesses and the joy of the locals.
The city is spending a tremendous amount of money on local projects that seem to just
be making navigating around town and downtown more difficult. Newer drivers and
older drivers can not figure out all the complicated traffic, bike and parking
configurations. Less revenues from parking, less drastic changes to our roads would be
deeply appreciated.
This doesn't feel like the SLO I loved. I miss it. I wish I could still enjoy downtown, but
until there is change, I will be staying away. Our downtown is becoming a place that
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only caters to the visitors who can afford the expensive downtown hotels or who live
nearby and can bike.
Please consider your part to serve our local citizens. All of them. The cost of parking
really adds on to a $4 cup of coffee with a friend. We have young, old and many others
on a limited income. We can not all bike. I feel like there is a large sector that are not
being considered. Many of us feel like we are being excluded from the downtown we
loved.
Please consider more than just revenues when planning for our city. Please maintain the
small town feel. Please support the unique downtown area instead of exploiting it.
The council is supposed to be local people serving local people. Please let that guide you.
Kind Regards,
Traci F.
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