HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, Koberl
Patricia Koberl <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Parking in slo/ adjustment to rates including first hour free.
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Dear City Council,
As a small business owner in the heart of downtown I would like to voice my support for a change in the
parking situation in San Luis Obispo. I fully support the reduction of the fees for the structures including first
hour free. The stores,restaurants and miscellaneous services are all suffering a reduction of revenues.
Speaking to the opposition not all individuals are able to ride a bike or walk or take public transportation to the
their desired destinations. The city is excluding the elderly with every change. The cost is one thing the
accessibility is another. I often hear oh we never go downtown difficult to park harassed by the unhoused etc.
The employees in businesses are paying 12 dollars a day to work a minimum wage job. I pay for a parking
spot as part of my rent and for that I am most grateful. As a 64 year old woman on the petite side I would not
feel safe parking in any of the parking structures. I am capable of figuring out the meters but many just give up
and stay out of town. I am curious how much revenue you have generated from the parklets over the last year.
We would have loved to have kept ours but the location on the corner and the Trolley made it impossible. I
would really like to know how much revenue has been generated since you began charging for the parklets. I
thought that money was to offset increased parking fees. I would imagine if would be a good amount based on
the square footage rates quoted. I really hope you listen to all the comments from so many owners and patrons
of downtown slo because I am afraid we will begin to see many more vacant storefronts and long established
businesses being replaced by chains selling the same thing in every town. I will not attend the city council
meeting tonight I will be working at our business as I have for the last 19 years. Please let's not lose sight of
our town we must be welcoming to tourists, locals, workers, college students, businesses and helping our
elderly to feel included and not isolated. Take away the ability to drive and park safely will only create isolation.
Thank you,
Patricia Koberl
Koberl at Blue Restaurant
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