Neighborhoods Get Say in Parking Meter Rates

The San Diego City Council on Tuesday passed a plan that will allow community groups—especially those in Hillcrest—to have a say in how much metered parking costs in their areas.

The goal of the plan is to tailor prices to the communities in a way that encourages people to park at the meters, city officials said, emphasizing that the main purpose is not to raise parking rates. City officials estimate that the new plan could add $1 million in revenue to the $7.4 million meters currently bring in each year.

The plan passed 5-2, which Councilman Carl DeMaio, who represents Rancho Bernardo in District 5, and Councilwoman Sherri Lightner dissenting. Councilwoman Marti Emerald was not present.

Currenty, the utilization rate at the city's 5,500 or so parking meters is 37 percent, but officials want that figure up to 85 percent. Under the plan, meter rates would change based on the location and time of day through the use of high-tech meters with flexible pricing systems. Parking now costs $1.25 per hour at city meters, two-thirds of which are downtown. Most of the rest are north of downtown and in Hillcrest.

The plan would give officials the ability to set meter rates from 25 cents to $2.50 cents per hour, depending on location and time of day, and extend the hours when drivers are charged to park. Right now, meters are enforced from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but the plan would provide officials the option of extending the hours until 11 p.m. and adding Sundays.

City News Service contributed to this report.