City residents got a reprieve Friday as Mayor Todd Gloria lifted some Balboa Park parking fees after widespread criticism of the attempt to raise much-needed city revenue.
The move followed objections to the fees across the spectrum – from council members who wanted them lifted for city residents or wiped away entirely, stewards of Balboa Park attractions who said attendance was suffering and Republicans who saw a political opportunity in the quagmire.
Those who live in San Diego will be able to park for free in the Pepper Grove, Federal, Upper Inspiration Point, Lower Inspiration Point, Marston Point, Palisades and Bea Evenson lots. Their residency must be verified though, in an online process that also has frustrated some locals.
“Good governing also means listening. I’ve heard from residents and from members of the City Council about how this program is affecting San Diegans who love Balboa Park as much as I do. That feedback matters, and it’s why I am eliminating parking fees for city residents in select lots in the park,” Gloria said in a statement.
But for this carrot, he warned, there is a stick.
“This change will reduce revenue, and I have received a commitment from the City Council President as well as other councilmembers to identify other service-level reductions in order to keep the budget balanced,” he said.
Residents will continue to be charged to park in premium lots such as the Space Theater, Casa de Balboa, Alcazar, Organ Pavilion and South Carousel lots. The cost is $5 for up to four hours or $8 for a full day.
There is no olive branch, however, for those who reside outside the city. The fees, which are higher for non-residents, will remain in effect for tourists and those who live in the rest of San Diego County, despite criticism from local mayors.
The Balboa Park map with the new parking lot zones shown by color. (Courtesy of the city of San Diego)There is one change that benefits everyone though: Parking enforcement will end at 6 p.m. rather than 8 p.m.
The City Council approved the mayor’s parking fee plan last fall. The revenue generated from the move must be spent on maintenance and upkeep of Balboa Park, but leaders hoped that would free money in the general fund so it could be applied to other needs.
The city faced a deficit last year and, with some revenues falling short of projections, needs to balance the budget at mid-year ahead of another expected shortfall in the coming fiscal year.
Nonetheless, Council President Joe LaCava, who, along with two other councilmembers had proposed rolling back the parking fees for residents, praised the mayor’s decision. He said he will not add that item to the council’s Monday agenda as a result.
“My colleagues and I recognize the impacts paid parking has had on residents, Balboa Park institutions, and the many clubs,” he said. “The Mayor’s reforms address these impacts and align with our calls for action. Balboa Park is a San Diego park, and San Diego residents should continue to uniquely benefit from their investment.”
The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership warned on Jan. 21 that the park’s popular museums and other attractions already had seen attendance drops, in some cases dramatically, since the fees took effect Jan. 5.
Executive Director Peter Comiskey called the mayor’s decision “start of movement in the right direction,” but said they would like to see more done for regional residents.
“We have been informed by the city that singling out county residents for free parking as well may pose a legal issue,” he said. “Still, access to the park is essential not only to city residents, but to people from throughout the county who have depended on and supported the park for generations, a fact that we continue to believe must be addressed as a high priority as we move forward.”
Community activist Shane Harris, who had proposed a free day for Balboa Park parking, a plan that a council committee rejected, was not appeased by the policy change. He called it “window dressing” and “political sleight of hand.”
“What was unveiled today is a false resolution to a very real and ongoing problem, and it does nothing to address the fundamental failure of paid parking in Balboa Park,” he said.
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