A second reading at the Nov. 12 Chula Vista City Council meeting, council voted unanimously to double parking meter rates throughout the city from the Downtown Parking District, bounded by E Street to the north, Del Mar Avenue to the east, Garret Avenue to the west, and H Street to the south. This ordinance also allows the City Engineer to designate off-street public parking lots owned or operated by the city to designate specific parking as visitor parking, car share parking, electric vehicle parking, disabled person and employee parking, including but not limited to establishing metered parking without having to seek council approval. This ordinance takes effect 20 days after signing.
According to the staff report, City Council shall provide for the installation of parking meters including curb or street marking lines, regulation and operation thereof, cause said meters to be maintained in good workable condition and set the rates for parking in a space regulated by said meters by ordinance.
The rates for parking in a space regulated by a meter are as follows:
A. Two, Three and Four Hour Meters. A $0.75 deposit for each one-hour interval up to the maximum legal time limit established for the zone in which the meter is located; or
B. Ten (10) Hour Meters. A $0.50 deposit for each one-hour period up to the maximum legal time limit established for the zone in which the meter is located.
Staff reported that parking meter rates were last increased in 2007.
The Downtown Parking Management Plan report, dated August 2022, was prepared by Chen Ryan Associates and approved by the City Council on Sept. 27, 2022. The DPMP report analyzed existing and projected future parking conditions within the Downtown Parking District and provided a series of recommendations to optimize parking facilities and parking availability throughout the Downtown Parking District. One of the recommendations of the DPMP report was to increase on-street metered spaces to $0.75 per hour and pay lot meter spaces to $0.50 per hour to make the acceptance of the credit card payments on single space smart meters financially feasible when implemented.
“In order to address the projected deficits and maintain a positive fund balance and adequate reserves, staff is recommending a parking meter rate increase of $0.25 per hour district wide, increasing the rate for Two Hour and Four-Hour Meters from $0.50 to $0.75 and increasing the rate for Ten-Hour Meters from $0.25 to $0.50 per hour. The following table outlines the projected revenues, expenditures, and impacts to fund balance and reserves over the next five-years using the proposed parking meter rates and assumptions. The updated analysis highlights a reasonable projected annual surplus, funding for major capital needs, positive fund balance, and maintenance of reserves with no reliance on an alternative funding source,” reported staff.
At current meter prices, staff reported a negative $62,900 ending fund by FY 2029 if current meter rates remained, and with the proposed meter rates, an Ending Fund Balance of $838,300 with the new rates.
There is no current year fiscal impact to the General Fund because of this action. Additional parking meter revenue resulting from the proposed rate increases will be deposited within the Parking Meter Fund to fund current year operating and maintenance, and capital expenses of the Downtown Parking District.
