The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 on Monday to charge fees for parking at Balboa Park. However, implementation has been delayed by a council decision to create a plan for tiered fees that favor local groups over non-city residents.
San Diego’s District 3 City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, whose constituency includes downtown and Balboa Park, issued a rare public statement last night after the vote.
“The people I represent made it clear they would rather see the city tighten its budget than put a price tag on Balboa Park,” Whitburn wrote. “I agreed with them, and I voted no.”
At last night’s council meeting, the public speaking agenda went on for hours, with more than 100 people addressing the issue.
“San Diegans spoke out against charging for parking in Balboa Park,” Whitburn wrote. “I heard you, and I stood with you…I voted no on the proposal to impose paid parking in our city’s crown jewel. Balboa Park should be open and welcoming to everyone. Families, seniors and students should never have to think twice about whether they can afford to visit. San Diegans are already facing rising costs in every part of daily life. Balboa Park should remain a place that is easy for everyone to enjoy.”
The San Diego Sun clarified with Whitburn’s office that the councilmember is opposed to any and all parking fees for anybody in the park.
San Diegans are already facing rising costs in every part of daily life. Balboa Park should remain a place that is easy for everyone to enjoy.”
San Diego D3 City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn
Councilmember Vivian Moreno also voted no. Raul Campillo was absent. Yes votes came from Sean Elo-Rivera, Kent Lee, Joe LaCava, Jennifer Campbell, Marni von Wilpert and Henry Foster.
Under the new plan, San Diego High School students will still be allowed to park for free. Passes will be provided to members of the various clubs that meet in the park near Sixth Avenue.
Parking lots inside Balboa Park will have different fees depending on their geographic location. In each lot there will be a different fee for city residents and those who live outside city limits.
It’s unknown when the new parking fees will go into effect.
San Diego residents are still up in arms about recently enacted Special Events Parking Regulations that affect the city’s urban core. To patch a $250-million city budget deficit, one of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s fixes was boosting parking meter fees on Padres game days (and for other major events) to $10 per hour for six hours at meters within a half mile of Petco Park. SDSun
