CONSENSUS OPPOSITION TO DOWNTOWN PAID PARKING: 'This is an idea that I thought had had a stake driven though its heart in 2002' & 'All of these proposals, in my humble opinion, are insane because they completely destroy the character of a town'

ABSTRACT: Consensus opposition to the City’s downtown paid parking proposal was achieved at the Carmel Paid Parking Program Public Workshop yesterday, Thursday, 27 January 2011, at City Council Chambers. After Planning & Building Services Manager Sean Conroy and Interim Police Chief Michael Calhoun presented the Community Workshop Power Point Presentation (see ADDENDUM), twenty individuals made public comments regarding the City’s downtown paid parking proposal; an overwhelming majority vehemently expressed opposition to paid parking. HIGHLIGHTS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS are presented. After public comments, City Administrator Rich Guillen stated that the City intends to have another workshop and there will be more discussion by the Staff Parking Working Group and furthermore there would be Planning Commission and City Council public hearings, if the paid parking proposal moves forward. City Administrator Rich Guillen admitted that paid parking is “easier” because it does not require a public vote. Near the end of the workshop, City Council Member Paula Hazdovac shamelessly attempted to evade council responsibility for providing policy direction to City Administrator Rich Guillen to investigate paid parking by stating that “We were asked to do this by citizens during our budget hearing repeatedly, so it was not a city council decision on our own part to do this it was because it was requested of us numerous times during public meetings” (1:10:45 – 1:11:10). Later, former mayor Jean Grace stated the public said “let’s look at everything;” but not specifically paid parking.

HIGHLIGHTS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS:
• “One of the worst ideas that I saw up there was numbering the spaces. We’re not allowed to have addresses but now we’re going to be painting the curbs. People are going to be coming in asking for money, asking for an explanation so our time is going to be taken up trying to help people trying to handle these meters." "I am totally against this.”

• “I have never, ever, ever, ever not been able to get a parking place in Carmel.”

• “All of these proposals, in my humble opinion, are insane because they completely destroy the character of a town...”

• “This is an idea that I thought had had a stake driven though its heart in 2002 and I am begging the city council to do this not without wasting further important staff time on it, we don’t want it...”

• “On an emotional note, in talking about impact on community character, I think that is the biggest part of this question, and I don’t think parking machines have a positive impact on the character of Carmel-by-the-Sea."

• “...they are going to be ugly...”

• “I think that the core issue here is since when has Carmel looked to another city how to do things...we do not want to be another Capitola or Cannery Row or Santa Cruz...”

• “Metered parking is not the answer.”

• Reference to an article in the New York Times, Travel Section, January 2009 entitled “36 hours in Carmel-by-the-Sea,” including “The one square mile village has no street lights, parking meters, or even numbered addresses.”

• “I think this is an incredibly bad idea...this is nothing but a proposed income generator.” “You are going to lose money.” “We’re not Monterey, we’re not Pacific Grove, we’re not Santa Cruz, we’re Carmel, we shouldn’t change things.”

• “...as a revenue generator, paid parking is penny wise and pound foolish.”

• “I’m frankly stunned to see this issue even brought up and I’m sorry to see staff waste valuable hours on it. I think we don’t have a problem and we don’t need to fix it.”

• “I just think this is a shame; there is never a time that I have clients that are not able to find parking...” “I just think this would be such a shame to ruin our little town.”

• “I think it would be a negative change.” “And I think you have heard enough tonight, without any further testimony, this isn’t really for us, this is not for Carmel-by-the-Sea.”

(Source: Archived Video Town Hall Meeting Parking Management, Public Comment, 27:15 – 1:22:03)

ADDENDUM:
Community Workshop Presentation

Paid Parking Community Workshop
City of Carmel
Staff Parking Working Group
Community Workshop Presentation
City Council Chambers
January 27, 2011

Archived Video Town Hall Meeting Parking Management, Community Workshop Presentation, 00:00 - 27:15

Mary Ann Carrigg (Carrigg's of Carmel) on Proposed Paid Parking

“NO PAID PARKING” Visual

ABSTRACT: At Carrigg’s of Carmel, Ocean Av. & San Carlos St., S.E. Corner, Mary Ann Carrigg has copies of her letter regarding paid parking in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Her letter is reproduced. Carrigg also has "NO PAID PARKING" (see photo above) sheets (also posted on her shop’s Romanesque windows) and a petition to sign advocating no paid parking. A photo of the paid parking kiosk for bus parking on Junipero Avenue is displayed at the end.

Carrigg’s of Carmel


I read the “parking management information” and found it to be incorrect.
Claiming paid parking will increase availability is false. Paid parking will allow all day parking therefore restricting parking availability.
Tourists will be able to park all day and spend their time at the beach, overnight guests can linger in their hotel rooms.
Being in business for over 12 years I personally know how valuable these parking spaces are and the need for them to turn over every 2 hours.
The loss of this turnover will lead to a loss of business and tax revenue to the city.
Businesses will lose sales and be forced out of business.
Landlords will lose tenants and be forced to further reduce rents to less desirable store fronts.
Available studies prove that paid parking decreases business. The mayor is fully aware of these studies.
Last but far from least is the ugly impact the kiosks will have on the much loved charm of Carmel.
There is a Carmel quotation that states “...of the people for the people...”
We the people spoke in 2002 and said we did not want paid parking, we still don’t. We the people turned in 2500 signatures of Carmel residents protesting against paid parking. If you wish, I would be available to stand in front of the post office and acquire 2500 more signatures.
As a property owner, resident and business owner I implore you to do your civic duty to the “people” and do everything in your power to stop paid parking.

Respectfully,

Mary Ann Carrigg

Paid Parking Kiosk, Bus Parking
W/s Junipero Avenue, south of Ocean Av.

City’s PARKING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION 2011 and QUESTIONS & ANSWERS about the Parking Committee

ABSTRACT: On the City’s website appears PARKING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION, including Downtown Paid Parking Program, Public Notice and Agenda. The PARKING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION materials are reproduced. The Workshop is scheduled for Thursday, January 27th at the City Hall Council Chambers at 5:00 P.M. The “purpose” of the Workshop “will be to discuss the development of the paid parking program and to receive public input.” QUESTIONS & ANSWERS about the Parking Committee, whose members will present information to the public and solicit public feedback, are presented.

PARKING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
Downtown Paid Parking Program

Traffic in the City of Carmel is unique in that it experiences heavy peak periods during weekends and over the summer when there are a high number of tourists. Many of the visitors can be considered short-term or "day visitors", who travel by car from other bay areas to Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula for the day. This "day visitor" phenomenon often places a burden on Carmel's circulation and parking facilities, particularly in the downtown area.

In an effort to improve parking, traffic and circulation the City is considering the development of a paid parking program in the downtown. Cities across the country have used paid parking as an effective management tool. Some of the benefits of paid parking include:

• An increase in the availability of convenient downtown parking for visitors and residents
• Allow visitors and residents to stay as long as they wish without fear of receiving a parking citation
• An increase in City revenues that can be invested into the community

The City will be conducting a public workshop on Thursday, January 27th at the City Hall Council Chambers located on the east side of Monte Verde Street between Ocean and 7th Avenue. The workshop will begin at 5:00 pm and the purpose will be to discuss the development of the paid parking program and to receive public input. A copy of the Public Notice and draft Agenda are available by clicking here.

Public Notice Agenda

Comments and/or suggestions regarding paid parking may be submitted by email to paidparking@ci.carmel.ca.us

You may also contact the Department of Coummunity Planning and Building at 831-620-2010 during normal business hours.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Downtown Paid Parking Program Workshop

The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea will be conducting a public workshop on Thursday, January 27th at the City Hall Council Chambers located on the east side of Monte Verde Street between Ocean and Seventh avenues. The workshop will begin at 5:00 p.m.

Policy P2-25 of the General Plan encourages the City to evaluate a paid parking program for the downtown. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss the development of a paid parking program and to receive public input on the issue. The workshop will include a discussion on the following topics:

• Program goals
• Program approach
• Paid parking technology
• Employee and resident parking
• Community character

For more information, and/or to pick up a copy of the agenda for the meeting, please call (831)620-2010, visit the Department of Community Planning and Building located at City Hall, or log on to www.ci.carmel.ca.us, then click on “Government” and then “Parking Management.”

Carmel Paid Parking Program Workshop

Public Workshop
27 January 2011
5:00 p.m.

Draft AGENDA:

1. Introductions/Overview

2. Staff Presentation
-Program Goals
-Program Approach
-Paid Parking Technology
-Employee & Resident Parking

3. Group Discussion
a. Free form discussion


QUESTIONS & ANSWERS about Parking Committee:

At the “informational workshop,” the Parking Committee will present information to the public and solicit feedback, according to Interim-Chief Mike Calhoun. Thus, the following questions were emailed to the City with the following answers from Assistant City Administrator/City Clerk Heidi Burch.

1. What are the names of the members of the Parking Committee?
Mike Calhoun, Lisa Panetta, Sean Conroy and Rich Guillen

2. When was the Parking Committee formally established or formed?
It was not formally established. It is a staff working group that began meeting in 2010 in response to discussions in Council budget meetings.

3. What is the mission or charge of the Parking Committee?
To review options for administering a parking management program.

4. How many times has the Parking Committee met?
Because it is a staff working group, no records of meetings are kept.

5. What materials did the Parking Committee consult?
The resources that were reviewed will be presented at the workshop on the 27th.

6. Has the City updated the Walker Parking Consultants Multi-Space Parking Meter Study (2000) or authorized another study be completed? If there is an updated study, please forward.
No, the Walker Study has not been updated.

7. Did the Parking Committee formulate a report of their findings and recommendations? If yes, please forward the Parking Committee Report.
No, a report has not been generated.