HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/19/1989, 6 - CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING POLICY TO ELIMINATE SUBSIDIZED PARKING FOR USERS OF PUBLIC PARKING FACILI MEEnNG DATE
City Of San LUIS OBISPO September 19, 198
saw COUNCIL AGENDAT 'ted NUM8ff1:
REPORT
FROM: cc
Dave Romero Wayne r Prepared by.\ eith Opalewski
Public Works City Engine Parking Program Coordinator
SUBJECT: Consideration of adopting policy to eliminate subsidized parking for users of
public parking facilities including on-street spaces in the downtown.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
By motion, adopt policy that the parking program will not provide free parking except as
agreed on with the County Courts.
DISCUSSION:
City administration and the parking program continue to receive requests from the Historical
Museum, Art Center, Senior Citizens Club and others to provide free parking for their
volunteer employees. Some elderly and handicapped people have also made similar requests.
Currently, the Historical Museum and Art Center each have a reserved space in Lot 9 (next to
the museum). In addition to Lot 9 spaces, the Art Center receives a courtesy permit for Lot
15 (across from Art Center) and the Historical Museum receives two courtesy passkards for the
parking structure. Futhermore, the Recreation Department has purchased merchant validation
stickers which are distributed to Senior Citizens Club docents in order to allow them to park
free in the Palm Street Parking Structure.
Providing free parking would obviously be a benefit to docents, volunteers and others. The
question is, is it the responsibility of the parking program to subsidize docent parking for
city-wide organizations. The parking program is wholly self-supporting and must cover all
costs associated with present and future parking facilities. Free parking represents a loss
of revenue and is not conducive to sound fiscal management policies for an enterprise fund.
Other problems related to the parking program providing free parking is the difficulty that
the managers of the program will have determining who should be allowed to park free.
Parking is a normal cost of doing business. Public and private organizations must pay for
staffing and operational expenses such as utilities. Many of the businesses in the downtown
provide parking for their employees. Other organizations could provide parking for their
volunteers. The precedent for this option already exists, in that, the County provides
parking for its docents by purchasing booklets of merchant validation stickers and
distributing them to their docents when they report to work. This equates to paying 25 cents
per hour for additional staff members, which is a nominal cost (20 cents per hour because we
already discount the validation books). Validation booklets can also be purchased by City
departments to be used for their consultants, contractors, and other visitors.
Disabled citizens have made similar requests for free parking in the parking structure. The
California Vehicle Code provides for free and unlimited time parking at all parking meters for
vehicles displaying a placard or special plates. This priviledge applies to many docents and
seniors and represents the most convenient parking in the city.
w
city of san ' Ws oBispo
=01iGn COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Council Agenda Report
Page Two
FISCAL IMPACT
Depending on the total number of docents, volunteers and others, the loss of revenue to the
parking program could range from $500 to $25,000 annually based on (2-100) people.
OTHER DEPARTMENT AND ORGANIZATION COMMENTS:
This was discussed at the last meeting in June of the Parking Management Committee. They
recommended the policy of not providing free parking for docents. The Chamber of Commerce
also supports the policy of the Parking Management Committee and they too purchase permits for
their employees. The County provides merchant validation stickers for all volunteers who
request free parking.
CONSEQUENCE OF NOT TAKING RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The parking fund would suffer considerable loss of revenue by offering free parking for
docents and senior citizens. Control of parking permits could be difficult and would set a
precedent for other organizations to seek similar arrangements for reduced or subsidized
parking. The program of providing free parking could become very difficult to manage and to
explain to the downtown parkers. f
L
i
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt policy that the City does not provide free parking except as agreed on with the County
Courts.
APPROVED:
.el 9 Cl 4
City Ad nistrative Officer Date
q
City Attorney ' WDae
Finance Director Date
I
ACTION TAKEN: Approved As recommended
As Modified j
Denied _Continued
Vote:
N/kodocent / �1
x Denotes action by Leaf Person tYlt 111YG AGENDA
i °0 by. V_ DATE -� - ITEM #
council
V' may.
�� laRv
Flor::nce 'dillmot
o 543-1143
Sevt. 199 1989
To : M--mbers of the Cit; Council
From: r_ore:tce :illmot- Bd. member ar. Ceuter
Re: Item ;6 on S' .-pt . 19tr_ Ag:.:nda
(narking str-cture policy)
For your in`'orma'.;ion, all we arJ askin.- for us pa. king
reimbursement fo • the ostesses, Bingo caller and
Bo6r.9 m:,nber ; once a month, w'''o must drive to the center
to volunteer their time. dome '• ave ",E;:ndicGIned clrs but
are not allowed to pa. k in the hrandicappcd area fre_:.
:.'e are fir�dinc it ve v difficult to keen. the office
covered under theses circumstances, and since it is only
temporary, we hope you will be able to .se•.. your way clear
to help us out .
Thank you,
0
i
RECEIVED
SEP 1 g 1989
CRY CLERK
SAN LUIS OBISPO.CA