UPDATE: City Council to Consider $2/Hour Parking Fees

Update 10/19: Half Moon Bay city councilmembers, downtown merchants and residents all appeared to agree that more research and information was needed before moving forward at the Oct. 18 meeting. For the full report, click on this story:

Before its regular meeting tonight, the Half Moon Bay City Council will consider implementing a paid parking program in the downtown area to be enforced seven days a week — including holidays.

Part of a strategy to generate increased revenue for the city's general fund, paid parking has the potential to bring in $1 million per year based on occupancy projections and a $2/hour fee enforced 365 days a year from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., according to city staff calculations.

The report estimates the upfront costs for the city to implement the program as $605,000 — $530,000 to install 28 pay stations downtown and $75,000 for the first year's annual maintenance fee for the stations.

Implementing the recommended parking fee schedule would enable the city to recoup its startup costs less than a year after installation, according to staff calculations.

A three-hour time limit for each parking space is being recommended.

The city surveyed parking programs in Capitola, Redwood City, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Truckee and Ventura, and concluded that paid parking programs have the potential to increase parking availability, increase business revenue, and increase city revenue.

However, staff also noted that paid parking will likely impact downtown residents because more cars will park just outside the area of parking enforcement.

Since potential revenue from the program is determined by parking space occupancy, the city surveyed downtown parking spaces over the course of three days in May and another three days in July, each at multiple times of the day on both weekdays and weekends. 

Based on the survey, staff project that parking space occupancy will be filled at 40%.

Johnston and Purisima Streets were found to have the lowest occupancy during the city surveys on Main Street and surrounding cross streets; city staff recommend these streets be maintained as free 12-hour parking spaces.

Council members will not make any final policy decisions at the special meeting, but will indicate to staff their level of interest in pursuing the recommended program, and whether more information is needed before moving forward.

For more information, view the full city staff report in the media box to the right.

The special study session will be held tonight (Tuesday, Oct. 15) at 6 p.m. at the Ted Adcock Community/Senior Center at 535 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay. The public is invited to attend.

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