A riled crowd said no unequivocally to a limited metered parking proposal being explored by a reconstituted Pacific Beach parking committee, which is sifting through fundraising alternatives for traffic and parking management in the community.
The Pacific Beach Community Parking District (CPD) drew 60-plus residents to a March 10 meeting at PB Rec Center. Citizens, including a large number of surfers, longtime residents and small-business owners, turned out to protest the re-introduction of metered parking as one possible fundraising alternative.
Several audience members questioned the credentials – and motives – of the 13-member parking committee.
The CPD advisory board is made up of representatives from Pacific Beach Community Planning Group, Pacific Beach Town Council, Discover Pacific Beach and Beautiful PB. There are also four “at-large” residential/business representatives on the advisory board, one from each quadrant of Pacific Beach, divided north-south at Garnet Avenue and east-west at Ingraham Street.
Speaking from the audience, Caroline Thompson asked, “Where are you planning on implementing all this stuff? How much does it cost? Who’s going to pay for it? Us (residents)? Get real.”
“I can always find a spot to park with ease,” contended PB resident Jim Hayes.
Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, who’s running for mayor, said metered parking constitutes “a regressive tax put on the backs of people.” She suggested PB look at “other models tried elsewhere to see what other communities have done to solve their (parking and traffic) problems.”
A spokesman for PB Surf Club described the notion of putting in parking meters as “disingenuous” and “elitist.” He characterized telling people they have to “pay to park” as “discriminating.”
A couple of women from the audience contended there would be spillover into residential areas from people moving farther from the beach to avoid paying for parking if there were meters. They added they feared that would cause streets in PB, already a high-crime area of the city, to be less safe, especially at night.
Coastal photographer John Cocozza warned that putting in parking meters constituted a new tax on residents and employees in PB, which he said is an extra-added burden on those already struggling with the high cost of living at the beach. Cocozza suggested art walks and beachfests or restaurant walks might be better fundraising ideas than metered parking.
Not everyone at the meeting thought the possibility of using parking meters is an idea that should be discarded outright.
“The status quo is not working,” said Pacific Beach Planning Group chair Brian Curry. “We don’t get anything (financial support) from the city. We have to take control of our own finances to clean up our community and manage traffic and parking.”
Community activist and planner Chris Olson agreed noting “there is a value for parking in public space. Our coast has become very congested, incredibly dense, with (summer tourist) visitors and a shortage of parking in some areas.”
CDP board member Paula Gandolfo agreed, pointing out “people come and use the area for free and they don’t pack out their trash and they leave broken glass on the beach and they’re adding to noise and crime – which is why we need a comprehensive plan.”
Another CDP boardmember, Gordon Froehlich, suggested the committee’s membership be broadened to include more members from the public, which drew applause from the audience.
CDP co-chair Devon Muto spoke for some in saying, “I’ve got three kids and I want them to live here in the future and I see very limited investment in this community by the city. We need to figure out sustainable ways to keep our quality of life going into the future.”
For more information, visit www.pbparking.org.