HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/14/2024 Item 4a, Woske
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Lisa A. Woske <lwoske@calpoly.edu>
Sent:Saturday, May 11, 2024 3:47 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Parking fee discussion
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Hello,
I want to reiterate my feelings about the existing parking changes and the proposed study solutions outlined in the
Tribune.
Regarding public negative public feedback received, I cannot agree more that businesses – most importantly restaurants
– have been hit hard by people not wanting to pay the higher parking fees. Especially when the fees don’t end until 9
p.m. – to add a high cost of parking to restaurant bills that have had to increase their menu prices to begin with has hurt
the dinner trade.
I also don’t think that an hour of free parking in the structures truncates the time people spend downtime – if anything,
it helps them spend a little more time downtown, e.g., if they’re having a meal, they don’t have to rush to fit it into
under an hour because they can pay for just one more hour for a more leisurely meal and perhaps some shopping.
My concern is that the parking study is based on numbers and not the realities of residents and what they
can/cannot/won’t afford and is short-sighted in terms of the ongoing negative impact on businesses. None of the
solutions outlined seemed to adequately address this main issue.
— The structures should continue to offer one free hour and if ticket/traditional gates are returned, there should be a
pay with a credit card option at the end for however much time was spent *after* the first hour is deducted.
— Parking fees should be reduced to a maximum of $2/hour in the structure and $3/hour on the streets, maximum
parking time should be increased to three hours, and fees should end at 6 p.m., as they did before.
This is all particularly discouraging in light of dowtown Paso reversing their parking fees. Please get the shortfall/revenue
from some other place that doesn’t affect every person who wants to visit Downtown SLO. The cost of living here has
gotten so prohibitive on many levels – expensive parking shouldn’t be another price to be paid to enjoy our area.
Thank you for your attention.
—
Lisa Woske
Writer/Editor
Marketing
Consultant
Phone: 805/503-8562
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