Parking rate increase proposed for meters

Meter parking rates by the beach may increase, pending a decision by Santa Cruz City Council.

SANTA CRUZ >> Keep rolling those quarters.

Meter parking rates by the beach may increase, pending a decision by Santa Cruz City Council. Current rates by the beach cost $1.80 per hour and city staff have proposed a rate increase to $2.25 per hour, according to a city council agenda report.

The reports states, the California Coastal Commission allows a 25% rate increase every year or by 50% every three years. That would allow the city to make the planned $0.45 hike for meters by the beach. The rate was last raised in 2019 from $1.50 to $1.80.

The proposal is an effort to mitigate a budget deficit the city has been facing, according to the report. City staff expects the rate hike to bolster the city’s general fund by roughly $300,000 every year. If approved, the rate change will take effect May 1.

“The Main Beach Area parking meters continue to be in a high demand area with an estimated 4 million tourists visiting Santa Cruz on an annual basis,” staff noted in the report. “Even despite the COVID-19

pandemic these areas remain highly active in part due to outdoor recreation demand increasing.”

The council will vote Tuesday on the proposed rate change during the regularly scheduled city council meeting. The meeting will open to the public at 11 a.m. and can be viewed at cityofsantacruz. com/allmeetings, communitytv.org/watch or Comcast Channel 25.