No more free hour in structures? SLO looking at rate increase, downtown parking changes
Parking could cost twice as much in downtown San Luis Obispo next year, if rate increases are approved at the City Council on Tuesday.
The City Council is considering changes that would double rates for both street and structure parking downtown, and remove the free hour of parking in garages — to help pay for the construction of a new parking structure downtown, according to a city news release.
“We know that raising parking rates now would be very challenging for many, however, if we don’t increase rates next year, we will not be able to improve or repair existing parking infrastructure and build the new Cultural Arts Parking Structure that is key to helping us achieve the community’s vision for downtown San Luis Obispo,” Parking Program Manager Gaven Hussey said in the release.
Why does city need to increase parking rates?
The city has been pursuing a new parking structure as part of its plans to create a cultural arts hub at the edge of downtown.
In 2019, the city approved plans for a 50-foot parking structure at the corner of Palm and Nipomo streets, along with a new roughly 23,000-square-foot building to house the SLO Repertory Theatre.
The new structure was expected to cost roughly $31 million at the time, and that money would need to come out of the city’s parking fund.
Fees paid at the city’s structures and parking meters go to a specific parking fund, which is used to pay for new structures, repairs and other parking improvements, according to the news release.
To date, the city has $13.9 million set aside for the new structure, according to the release — well behind what the city had planned for by this time.
That fund was hit hard during the coronavirus shutdown when businesses were closed and people weren’t parking downtown, and then during the recovery when the city offered free parking and put off rate increases.
As a result, the city lost $4 million in expected revenue that would have otherwise gone into the fund, according to the release.
“For years, we’ve been saving for a fourth parking structure, but the shutdown during the most challenging times of the pandemic really hurt the parking fund,” Hussey said in the release. “At the same time, we are seeing unprecedented cost increases for construction. The bottom line: If we do not increase rates next year, we will not be able to improve or repair existing parking infrastructure and build the new Cultural Arts Parking Structure.”
How much will downtown parking costs change?
If approved, the parking rates would increase in July 2023:
- 2-hour street parking in the main downtown core would increase from $2 to $4 per hour.
- 10-hour street parking in the outer downtown area would go from $1.50 to $3 per hour.
- Structure parking would jump from $1.50 to $3 per hour, and the max daily rate would increase from $6 to $12.
So what does that realistically look like for drivers?
Those parking in 2-hour street parking — which is mostly in the core downtown area surrounded by Marsh, Nipomo, Palm and Santa Rosa streets — would be charged a max of $8 to park in those street spots, where they would previously pay only $4.
For those 10-hour street spots, you could be charged up to $30 for what before would have cost $15.
Meanwhile in the structures, drivers will no longer get a free hour to park, on top of costs going up, meaning the price for parking in the structure for four hours, which would usually cost $4.50 will now cost $12.
The council will also consider another rate increase that would go into effect in 2025; in that, rates would go up $1 for the core areas of downtown.
The city is also expected to consider whether it would increase its parking citation fees.
If approved, getting caught after your parking meter has expired would cost you $45 instead of $40, and stopping or parking in an intersection could cost you $60 — up from $40. Roadside parking violations would increase from $33 to $60.
How to comment on parking increase plan
The City Council is considering the rate increase as part of its supplemental budget deliberations during its meeting Tuesday night.
Those who wish to provide public comment can do so at the meeting in person, or by submitting their comments via mail (addressed to City Clerk’s Office at 990 Palm St.), email via emailcouncil@slocity.org or by calling 805-781-7164 and leaving a voicemail.
Public comment prior to the meeting must be received three hours in advance of the meeting.
This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 11:28 AM.
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