HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/14/2024 Item 4a, Fredman
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Dan Fredman <dan@danfredman.com>
Sent:Saturday, May 11, 2024 6:35 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:5/14/24 City Council Meeting: Agenda Item 4.a.
Re: City Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Agenda Item 4.a.
Hello, San Luis Obispo City Council!
I realize that there aren’t many good options that will maintain the revenue necessary to put into the new parking
structure and theater in downtown SLO, but it’s plainly clear that something needs to be done to encourage people
(particular residents) to patronize downtown businesses. I was born and raised in the city and have never noticed so
many empty storefronts here, and other than the once-a-week farmer’s market and the downtown bars, it feels like one
could walk down the middle of Higuera or Marsh at 9 PM and not worry about getting hit by a car (maybe a delivery
truck around 6 AM, but that’s about it!).
As for doing my part, I shop downtown whenever possible, patronizing family-owned business and parking in one of the
structures to obtain the benefit from the one-hour of free parking for locals. This is not always practical and I have
contributed probably more than my fair share to the City’s coffers from my regular patronage of just one of the
businesses, The Center, a yoga studio on Higuera St.
The irony is that my usual parking purchase while attending class costs me about $6.35, and I’m there 4-5 times per
week, so roughly $30/week or $120/month. With my monthly subscription rate at The Center, I'm paying more to SLO for
parking than I do to The Center for the sessions I’m attending.
I realize that the numbers are the numbers, but the situation just doesn’t seem right. I’m not whingeing about walking
10 minutes from the one-hour-free parking to get to a workout, but it’s not like I’ve got a lot of extra time to arrive early
to get to the studio in time for the start of class. And trying to fit that extra time in, when I’m already being away from
work makes it just really inconvenient, and it’s not like I want any sort of plausible reason to blow off going to yoga.
ANYHOW, this is all a long-winded, roundabout way of saying that, having looked at the three options presented by
Dixon, I would prefer that you vote to support Option B, albeit with one change: the parking rate recommend by B isn’t
quite as onerous as it is now, but maybe you could consider stopping fees being charged after 7 PM. This at least gives
the downtown restaurants a fighting chance to compete with the godawful chain operations at the malls with the
parking lots.
And for what it's worth, I like the idea of consolidating the online parking companies into maybe just one, but
negotiating with them for a smaller per-transaction fee. Work out a smaller percentage of the revenue as payment for
their services, BUT DON’T CHARGE A SERVICE FEE TO THE CUSTOMER. 35¢ is not exactly going to send anyone into
bankruptcy, but again, it’s just something else that makes one feel as if the council is trying to mulct their constituents
out of every penny. And I know that’s not the case, but I’m in the PR world and perception becomes the reality,
particularly when the yahoos on Nextdoor get riled up. The City needs to shift the public awareness to the fact that
parking revenue needs to continue rolling in to pay for the new parking structure that’s needed to alleviate the parking
problem in San Luis. I think it’s important to stop appearing as if you’re doing things to alienate the downtown
businesses and property owners, and lowering the rates and continuing to come up with creative ways to keep people
coming downtown is the best way to do that.
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Sincerely,
Dan Fredman
—
Dan Fredman PR
PR & Marketing to the thirsty...
PH: 323.899.9463
dan@danfredman.com
Instagram: dwfredman
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