HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, O'Neill
From:Jeri O'Neill <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Comments on Parking Policies for Tonight’s Council Meeting
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Dear Mayor and Council Members,
The sustainability of our downtown is at a crossroads, please lower parking fees and make payment more user friendly.
If we are to continue as a welcoming city, we must entice our citizens and visitors to shop and stay in San Luis Obispo.
Please consider the following:
—Reduce the exorbitant parking fees to $2 per hour. That would boost the rate a bit over what was previously charged,
but would keep SLO more in line with other tourist towns, such as Monterey.
—Give downtown visitors a free hour of parking. Who can relax at a coffee shop when it costs more to park than to
drink an espresso?
—Return the parking enforcement deadline to 6pm rather than 9pm. Visitors feel like they are nickeled and dimed every
time they turn around. Instead of collecting parking ticket revenues, allow that money to be better spent at our stores,
bars, and restaurants.
—Bring back free parking on Sundays so that those going to church can worship without feeling hurried. It would also
encourage them to stay downtown for brunch, shopping, and going to movies. Likewise, it would extend that relaxing
Sunday “feeling” to everyone else to enjoy similar pursuits.
—Make payment user friendly. While we want to recognize it or not, we are still in a transition period regarding all that
comes with computer literacy. Apps aren’t in the realm of knowledge for many people and they can end up confused,
resentful, and angry when they can’t find a way to use the system. It should be possible to pay cash or use a credit card.
The kiosks can be frustrating, and they don’t always work. After a couple of bad experiences, some people would rather
go to the shopping center than do battle with a machine. Parking building attendants should be permanent, to humanize
the experience for those who are intimidated by electronics.
—At one time, downtown merchants would give one-hour parking permits to anyone, paying or not, who patronized
their stores. This would be another way to promote visiting the downtown. For entertainment and educational locales,
such as movie theaters, museums, and the library, perhaps longer, 2-hour permits could be given out. Maybe a
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system similar to a a gift card that can be reloaded would work. One card could be used over and over and would be
capable of insertion in the pay station.
I’m a rarity in this area—I’m a native of San Luis Obispo. I have seen many changes in our town. Change is inevitable, but
it is more successful when citizens don’t feel railroaded and can all work together to make changes that make our city a
better place in which to live.
I want San Luis to succeed, but it needs to return to being a place of hospitality, charm, and respect for everyone.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jeralyn M. O’Neill
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