Subject: EXPANSION OF THE DOWNTOWN FREE
PARKING PROGRAM
COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3
Adopt a resolution to amend the Master Parking Rate Schedule to add the Second/St James Parking Lot to the Downtown Free Parking Program – free parking after 6:00 PM weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays.
The Downtown Free Parking Program is a major component of the City’s strategy to encourage patronage of downtown businesses. Adopted in October 1998, this popular program provides free parking to customers after 6:00 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays. Currently, there are several parking facilities that participate in the Free Parking Program:
q San Fernando/Second Lot
q San Fernando/Third Lot
q Pavilion Garage
q Fourth Street Garage
q Third Street Garage
q Second/San Carlos Garage
q Market/San Pedro Square Garage
q Market/Balbach Lot
The Free Parking Program has become a catalyst for Downtown revitalization by encouraging repeat visits to restaurant, retail and entertainment venues in the Downtown core without the expense of parking during the evenings and weekends.
There are several business establishments in the northern
section of the Downtown core that are located outside of convenient walking
distance from public parking facilities that have free parking provisions. Most of the businesses are concentrated
around Devine, First and Second Streets and buffer an emerging residential area
to the north.
The Second/St James Parking Lot,
located adjacent to Devine Street, offers an opportunity to consolidate the
free parking needs of these businesses, as well as supply free parking to the
guests and visitors of the surrounding residential neighborhood on nights and
weekends. Currently, patrons of
businesses in this area utilize the limited on-street parking, which encroaches
into the residential neighborhood. To
encourage business activity, consolidate business parking needs in the
evenings, and buffer patron parking from residential areas, sstaff
recommends that the Council extend the Downtown Free Parking Program to include
the Second/St James Parking Lot.
This memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and Redevelopment Agency.
The recommendation in this report was reviewed and approved by the Downtown Parking Board at a special meeting held on April 17, 2003.
The forgone parking revenues from inclusion of the Second/St James Lot to the Free Parking Program is approximately $3,000 per year, which represents less than 5% of the total revenues for this Lot. This impact is negligible to the Parking Fund.
Not a project.
JAMES R. HELMER, Director
Department of Transportation