Subject:  CONVENTION CENTER PARKING RATE INCREASE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL

 

PUBLIC OUTREACH

 

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide supplemental information on additional public outreach that has occurred on the proposed Convention Center parking rate increase.  Additionally, more detailed parking rate survey information is presented in this memorandum.

 

City staff identified 12 stakeholder groups to solicit input on the proposed parking rate increases.  This outreach is in addition to the Downtown Parking Board review and approval of the item at its June 4, 2001 meeting.  In July, a formal letter was sent to the following organizations: Convention and Visitors Bureau, San Jose Downtown Association, Technology Museum of Innovation, San Jose Symphony, Ballet San Jose, American Musical Theater, San Jose Opera, Lyric Theatre, Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, and the Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton Hotels.  The letter presented the proposed rate increase and the rationale for the rate increase including the fact that rates had not been raised since 1992.  The letter also pointed out that heavy demand for parking, coupled with relatively low rates, regularly results in a full parking facility at the Center. 

 

Although the respondents understandably did not want a rate increase, overall, they understood the rationale and need for the increase.  The concern raised by the San Jose Opera, Ballet San Jose, and the Technology Museum was the impact of the rate increase to their employees.  One respondent raised a concern about the timing of the rate increase given the current economic climate.  The Opera and Ballet reimburse musicians for parking and are concerned that some of the musicians park at the Convention Center garage.  The Technology Museum has four employees who pay for monthly parking at the Convention Center.  In an attempt to mitigate the impact of the proposed rate increase, City staff provided all stakeholders with alternative parking options at other facilities that have lower rates than the proposed rates at the Convention Center.

 

A survey of parking rates in downtown San Jose and at other Convention Centers was conducted.  The survey identified that daytime rates charged at both public and private facilities in the Convention Center vicinity range between $7.00 and $15.00 for an event requiring three hours of parking.  Convention Centers, like San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles, located in the downtown core have higher rates compared to cities with centers located outside of the downtown.  The table below details the comparative rates.

 

PARKING RATE SURVEY

 

Facility

Daytime Parking Rate

Daily Maximum Rate

San Jose Convention Center – Existing

San Jose Convention Center – Proposed

$5

$10

$5

$10

 

 

 

Facilities Near Convention Center

Daytime Parking Rate*

Daily Maximum Rate

Almaden/Woz Way Parking Lot (City)

$7

$7

Market/Balbach Parking Lot (City)

$7

$7

Hilton Hotel (Private)

$9

$16

Park Center Plaza Garage (Private)

$15

$25

Crowne Plaza Garage (Private)

$12

$20

Riverpark Towers Garage (Private)

$11.25

$18

* Assumes an average stay of three hours, longer stays would lead to higher rates at all of the private facilities.

 

Facility

Daytime Rate

Daily Max Rate

Evening Rate

San Jose Convention Center – Existing

San Jose Convention Center – Proposed

$5

$10

$5

$10

$3

$4

 

 

 

 

Comparable Convention Centers *

Daytime Rate

Daily Max Rate

Evening Rate

San Francisco

$10

$18

$10

Oakland

$6

$12

$6

Los Angeles

$7, 12**

$12

$14

Long Beach

$7

$7

$7

Anaheim

$8

$8

$8

Seattle

$10

$16

$9

* Assumes average stay of four hours for events.  ** $7 rate for non-event days, $12 rate for event days.

 

CONCLUSION

 

The additional outreach provided an opportunity for stakeholders to directly provide input on the proposed rate increase.  The input led to City staff providing alternative, lower cost parking options to affected stakeholders.  In conclusion, the input, coupled with heavy demand for parking in and around the Convention Center, and the fact that rates have not been raised since 1992, maintain the staff recommendation proposed in the original report.

 

 

WAYNE K. TANDA

Director, Department of Transportation

 

NANCY JOHNSON

Director, Conventions, Arts, and Entertainment