In an effort to boost revenue amid a struggling economy, San Luis Obispo City Council members voted April 9 to make changes to downtown parking, including charging for parking on Sundays.
Robert Horch, the San Luis Obispo parking services manager, said city council members voted to chargE for metered parking from 1 to 6 p.m. beginning in July, and raise the hour meter price from $1.25 to $1.50 in the “downtown core areas” in November. The changes are projected to bring in $351,125 per year, with $206,125 from Sunday fees, according to the city.
Horch said the council also approved adding meters that accept credit cards to help supplement the raised parking costs. He said the raised fees help pay for parking costs around the city.
“Parking is not someone’s destination when they come downtown, but a method to access the downtown,” Horch said. “Charging on Sundays helps us afford the costs of maintenance, lighting, elevators and debt service or funding of parking structures and other parking areas.”
Though the city aims to help pay for costs, some San Luis Obispo residents are unhappy about the decision. Horch said some downtown churches are concerned the new costs could deter worshippers. However, he said they shouldn’t worry because many other cities charge parking on Sundays and those worshippers still attend services.
“We recommended this because of the retail business occurring on Sundays, not because of religious services,” Horch said. “We know this is a big change. We will work with these churches to help find the best parking on Sundays that meets their needs.”
Besides churchgoers, others are also concerned about the new fees.
Mathematics sophomore Noradino Salas said the additional cost on Sunday may complicate his weekend plans.
“(Costs on Sunday) would not be very good,” Salas said. “I would not be very happy. If I wanted to go downtown on the weekend, it would just be another hassle.”
Cindy Campbell, the associate director of the Cal Poly University Police Department, said the decision was necessary because additional fees are essential due to regular maintenance costs and those associated with the new structure, as well as to ration city money for other services that need the funds.
Though Campbell said Cal Poly’s parking fees are not proposed to rise next year, she could not guarantee they would not also eventually increase with rising maintenance costs and debt owed on current campus parking structures.
Cal Poly offers reserved parking for the three types of Poly parkers: general students, residents and staff. By having different sections, each are reserved spaces, making it convenient for residents, Campbell said.
“By the residential areas on campus, you don’t have a choice,” Campbell said. “You’ve got a car, you’ve got to put it where the residential parking is for you. You have to be assured you have a space.”
Though Sunday parking changes may make downtown travel less desirable, Cal Poly and the city both provide services to help.
Campbell said students can ride the bus for free, which she thought students should take more advantage of.
“Maybe students are weary of hearing this message, but the bus is free,” Campbell said. “We’re paying for it out of citation money. You don’t worry about getting a ticket at the meters, you don’t have to worry about paying the meters at all.”
In addition, Horch said the city provides access for bikers and walkers, making the downtown area conducive to those without cars or who do not wish to pay the additional fees. He also said the city always keeps locals in mind when making parking changes.