There’ll be no reprieve on downtown San Diego’s vilified Special Events Parking Rates, which will remain in place at least through the San Diego Padres’ 2026 season.
An attempt by San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo to lower the surge parking rates at meters from $10 per hour for six hours (beginning two hours before a Padres game or special event) within half a mile of Petco Park was shot down today.
Campillo brought his 5/5/5 proposal to the City Council’s Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee. He was calling for new special event rates to be lowered to $5 per hour for five hours within five blocks of Petco Park.
“I’m disappointed my colleagues weren’t ready to endorse my 5/5/5 plan as proposed today, but I am thankful they agree that changes do need to be made,” Campillo said. “We’ve heard from workers, small business owners, and residents across San Diego that the current special event parking rates downtown are not working.”
The committee unanimously voted to request the City Attorney continue working with Council District 7 to collect data that could allow the existing hourly rate, the geographic zone and hours of enforcement be reconsidered at a future City Council meeting.
City Councilmember Jen Campbell said a year’s worth of data was needed to consider any changes. She was adamant that the revenue collected by parking meters was necessary to help balance the city’s annual budget.
The city is currently facing a $140 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. The mayor faced a larger deficit last year and balanced that budget on a slew of new service fees, including parking rates.
The city’s Office of the Independent Budget Analyst opined that decreasing the surge parking meter rate from $10 to $5 would be more than a one million dollar hit to the budget.
Lowering parking meter rates was supported by the Downtown San Diego Partnership, the Gaslamp Quarter Association, the East Village Association, the California Restaurant Association-San Diego County Chapter and the San Diego Lodging Association.
All those groups said their constituencies saw increased parking rates create negative effects on downtown businesses.
“Downtown succeeds when it’s accessible,” Downtown San Diego Partnership Vice President of Government Affairs Justine Murray said. “Foot traffic is declining. People are getting fewer meals and drinks downtown. They may be coming to baseball games but they’re not staying around afterward to spend money.”
San Diego Councilmember Lee agreed that the city needs to revisit its data on downtown parking policy.
“I think $10 is too much, but maybe $5 is too low,” Lee said.
Campillo said the city needs to get the price right. “And like Balboa Park’s situation with parking, we need to reevaluate it,” he said.
After initially setting first-ever parking rates for Balboa Park last year, the city backed off an initial plan and made some lots free for San Diego residents while out-of-town visitors still have to pay.
A petition is currently being circulated that would get rid of all paid parking at Balboa Park. The goal is to create a ballot measure for the November election. SDSun
