John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A proposed change in an ordinance will allow the City of Santa Barbara to buy and use new parking systems.
This will likely mean the driver who is in a downtown lot will go to a machine after parking and not have a ticket that is used at a kiosk by the exit.
The change means the ordinance language will have to be reworded. It currently says that fees must be paid prior to exiting a parking lot to either an attendant or by mail.
The city report says the change provides for “the ability to have modern payment systems while improving parking operations.”
The City’s Downtown Parking Lots can then use a pay-on-foot system, similar to the system used in the Waterfront parking lots, in the Helena Lot located in the Funk Zone. This is where the driver goes to a posted machine and enters in the number of hours they plan to be parked, then pay with a credit card.
The city says the change will allow for the pilot of pay-on-foot parking in the Helena Parking Lot. The ability to receive payment for parking in this lot is estimated to bring in $75,000 in revenue annually. The success of the pilot payment system demonstrates the potential to implement the self-service payment model in all Downtown Parking surface parking lots to reduce operating costs.
Downtown Plaza and Parking Manager Ed France says, “what is important is the Helena lot which is very small. It is a 29 space lot in the Funk Zone is a space where we can try that exiting system that has been wired, we can test the new pay by plate system and we can learn how that can be useful for other downtown parking other areas of the city and departments.”
Santa Barbara’s downtown parking system is old and needs a modern upgrade. Some replacement parts can not be found. Broken exit gates are reused and trimmed up.
The city says the time has also come to have the downtown lots and the waterfront lots on the same system. They are different now.
France says, “we are working together so we can find the best technology and again that will be seemless so you won’t have to think about it being a different system whether it’s downtown versus waterfront parking.”
Hearing of the new technology idea, some drivers are ready.
Jessica O’Connor, ” love that better.” Holding her parking slip in her hand she said, “this needs to go!”
Anni Keshishian is visiting from Glendale and has seen changes in parking systems. “we are so advanced now with technology I think it is time to keep up so. whatever makes it easier for us”
There are times when the kiosks are not staffed and the gates are up. With the new proposed system it will be more efficient for the city to collect the parking fees.
Systems that read your license plates also get a favorable review.
Keshishian said, “I love the fact that when you are driving out of a parking spot it reads you license plate and it just opens and it so much easier seemless to do that.”
Jess Rodriguez said the current system is fast for her timeline. “You just drive out and its less than 75 minutes (the free period) and I can go on with my day. “
There will also be a phone app in one system and you can add time to your parking without going back to your car.
Some drivers like the way it is now.
Cheri Chako was firm on having no change with a personal tech component involved. ” I like this system better. It is just more convenient and I am older and I don’t have to think about that stuff.”
With the current system and someone to see you on the way out, Rodriguez said, “I like having the attendants when I drive out and it adds a nice touch to being downtown,”
The parking plan ordinance change going forward still has to go to the full city council for a discussion.
The Ordinance Committee is made up of three City Councilmembers. Moving the plan to the council was supported by Councilmembers Mike Jordan and somewhat reluctantly by Kristen Sneddon, who had several questions about how the system is operated and its efficiencies. Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez opposed the plan and believes there are already taxes to pay for the parking services. He also said it is a hardship for some members of the community to pay for parking when they come to their downtown.
The committee members also heard, under the current system, some drivers who fail to pay at the kiosk and promise to pay in an envelope in the next three days did not follow through. The city says it has been hard to get that payment and some people are abusing this option.
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