HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, Englert
From:Jesse Englert <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Agenda Item 6a
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Dear City Council,
I'm writing to oppose the staff recommendation to reinstate one hour of free parking for all users and encourage council
to keep parking program rates as they are.
SLO County residents can currently get one hour free parking through the Park Local Program. Providing one hour of free
parking to all users would therefore be a subsidy for visitors & tourists who are likely going to park based on
convenience rather than price and would only result in losing the City $1.42M per year. The $1.42M per year is parking
revenue could be used for the items discussed in the transit study in agenda item 7a.
After reading the report I could not find any data to support subsidizing parking other than sentiment and anecdotes
from downtown businesses. Can we say for sure that parking is the main driver for negative impacts on downtown
business revenue? The report says that "the period between July through October (2023) shows the number of parking
sessions are up by 25% since the previous year (2022)" so it seems like people are continuing to park downtown
regardless of the rate increases.
What would this say about the City's commitment to vehicle infrastructure over transit and active transportation if it
reinstated this one hour free parking subsidy?
Why would the City be willing to make a quick data-less decision to support vehicle usage while it takes years to make
streets safer for those outside a vehicle?
I know that there is a lot of opposition to these parking changes and that there is pressure to reverse them but wanted
you to know that not everyone feels that way and that you have support for your original parking rate increases made in
2022.
Good luck tomorrow night and thank you for all that you do!
Sincerely,
Jesse Englert
1
San Luis Obispo Resident
2