HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/14/2024 Item 4a, Tuman
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Robert Tuman <bobtuman@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, May 9, 2024 5:22 PM
To:E-mail Council Website; SLO Editorial Letters
Subject:Downtown parking rates- Option B
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Permit me to provide comments prior to the May 14, 2024 City Council Meeting regarding downtown parking rates.
1. I was very happy when the Council returned the first hour of free parking in the structures. This is a great gift to
library patrons. I use this exclusively for a quick in and out of the SLO library. WHY NOT KEEP THE FIRST FREE HOUR?
Alternatively, how about selecting specific days for free i hour parking in the structures? Pardon my self-interest, but if I
know that, for example, every Tuesday and Thursday there is one hour of free parking in the structure, I will plan my
visit to the library around that day.
2. How about shutting down the meters at 6 pm? 9 pm is a disincentive to dining downtown. Parking costs add at least
$10-$12 to a leisurely meal. Were I to speculate, my guess is that folks looking to open a restaurant downtown are
factoring parking rates and parameters into their decision making. Did your consultants look at the financial pros and
cons of rolling back the meters to 6 pm vs. keeping them at 9 pm? If so, what were their findings?
3. Businesses depend on locals. Have you asked locals their opinions and recommendations? Again, my guess is that they
are patronizing businesses with free parking. I know we are, and I can say unequivocally that many of our senior friends
are making their dining and shopping decisions based on whether they park for free or have to pump a meter.
Parenthetically, one recent day I dropped 3 quarters in a meter near the library and got 8 minutes. I raced in and out of
the library. How are you going to cover the debt service on the new structure construction if fewer and fewer locals
patronize downtown businesses?
In closing, whether it is San Luis Obispo or another similarly small city, locals depend on local businesses and local
businesses depend on locals. Accordingly, I for one would have been delighted to diplomatically offer my opinion and
recommendations, and I believe other residents would have been happy to do the same.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Tuman
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