Santa Barbara parking fees rise in July

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-The cost of parking in Santa Barbara's downtown lots is currently $2.50 an hour, but that is about to change.

It will go to $3.00 per hours when the fiscal new year begins next month.

"Right now in downtown parking lots the cost after the 75 minutes subsidized period it is $2.50 an hour to park, " said Parking Program Supervisor Sarah Clark, " Starting on July first that is going to go up to $3.00 an hour."

Santa Barbara City Council members chose not to approve a proposal to reduce the subsidized parking time to 60 minutes.

"Council decided they want to keep it at 75 so that is going to remain at 75 minutes."

Mayor Randy Rowse said they don't want the increase to hurt business.

"We try to be as moderate as possible particularly in the downtown because we realize that downtown businesses are also struggling," and Rowse, " so we didn't for example reduce the free period."

Street parking grace period are staying the same.

The city has avoided adding meters like other coastal communities.

Downtown parking monthly permits for commuters and residents are also slated to go up by $5.00 a month with one exception.

"Our least expensive parking lot is our Carrillo commuter lot, that is $40.00 a month and that is not going to change."

Clark said the most expensive parking lot is $160.00 a month so that will go up to $165.00"

"So there will be some changes for permits as well we offer permits to commuters of the downtown as well as residents who live downtown who maybe don't have a parking space at their apartment or where they live so their permit charges are going to go up just a little bit," said Clark.

The Annual Waterfront Parking Permits fee will increase by $10.

The General Parking Permit currently costs $125.00 a year from the day of purchase.

The fee will increase to $135.00.

Surfer and swimmer Chris Moore called it a reasonable increase.