Loading...
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