Parking Operation Costs may Shift Gears with Funding Issue solutions in Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The City of Santa Barbara is hoping to get its parking operations in the right financial lane soon after many challenges in recent years.
The Finance Committee heard the latest plan today.
The proposed Downtown Parking Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is being prepared and, as the committee requested, there are updates along the way after warning signs of finances going in reverse in recent years.
There are proposed operational changes including discounted passes and a shift in the priorities for future projects. Some will be paused to save money.
Rates will not be going up and the free time for parking will not be reduced.
In the past both of those options got some push back.
Santa Barbara City Councilmember Meagan Harmon is on the Finance Committee said, "both prioritizing affordability for users and to encourage more use of our existing lots through lowering prices while also balancing the budget, which I thought a few years ago wasn't going to be possible."
The slump in downtown business is also being called a factor in the drop in downtown parking funds.
The proposals being presented would increase Downtown Parking revenue by approximately $350,000 to $890,000.
The city operates 12 parking lots from the train station to Victoria Street. A small lot on Helena Avenue in the Funk Zone is also expected to be included soon.
One worker in the downtown area, Paul Chiha said discounting the monthly passes and adding more technology will help, "I think having a pass and a program that allows more access as well as a guide to the best places to park would definitely be a benefit."
Another worker says some employees leave every 75 minutes to move their cars and beat the possibility of a ticket or a fee depending on where they parked. Sally Gilmour says, "they set their timer and they just go move the car a few blocks, but yes it can take time for them to come back."
The city is also considering using the Ortega Street parking lot for nearby residents to park for up to two weeks to ease the parking burden on neighborhood streets.
