[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6565027,"mediaKeyId","3232115-a82e7e69c4f7c1a18754c9813cc5bcf0","parentId",3232115,"title","Committee backs fee schedule changes: once-per-day courtesy rule, pilots in Helena lot, Ortega discounts and a cheaper locals weekend permit","audioSeconds",1452,"startMs",4784000,"endMs",6236000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3232115-a82e7e69c4f7c1a18754c9813cc5bcf0&start=4784&end=6236","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3232115-a82e7e69c4f7c1a18754c9813cc5bcf0/thumbnail_4784000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565027/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Committee-backs-fee-schedule-changes-once-per-day-courtesy-rule-pilots-in-Helena-lot-Ortega-discounts-and-a-cheaper-locals-weekend-permit","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565027-18e9b9a77d58fdbcbee4a3016d07eae7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193633&Signature=gqVg0er5Gx0~zPymilWmiZRZd6hWPF0lu5jfeN7vVrS1eBd0SJ-zlqguUT-BhnOeNEDoXlR9Avt9iLBzl74VtFmNbmIJFYcsW3og9gp4Xmeyh7Qj-ryOollJrPRN-VhVph8QhyZ~n18TUsbXtsEvFMMzx-Zc3Rqfffb13sJghtOGoWsVIz5RG7rpkk-0eAunupYnv47PnZVOq-eYCnwhJ1WHESbAB-0MukEYiK36SgM5LJGz7imMMFpSDi6mNzYlCp6B5gdbqENqAZMj004Dy1KanormrUD39A32E~FNEMbUXx5tPk4EN19vM3KJCqCHNbUXRXY5wDZsCn5VTyt6jQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Barbara, CA","date","2025-05-08T00:22:56Z","article","The Downtown Parking Committee on May 8 recommended City Council approve a set of fee-schedule changes that staff says will reduce misuse of the 75-minute courtesy, introduce pilots and discounts, and yield modest revenue improvements.

Staff (Ed) presented a list of recommended fee schedule updates and operational clarifications. Key proposed changes recommended to the committee were:

- Clarify the existing 75-minute courtesy: staff proposed adding the phrase \"once per calendar day per vehicle\" to the fee schedule to limit repeated free entries in a single day.

- Ortega/COTA/Certain monthly permits: reduce monthly parking in City Downtown Parking Lot No. 10 from $145 to $70 per month (to align with legacy COTA commuter pricing) and remove a separate restricted monthly-parking line for the Ortega Garage; staff said permit quantities will be managed to avoid exceeding lot capacity.

- Helena Lot pilot: run a pay-and-display pilot in the Helena Lot at $3 per hour with a $20 daily maximum; staff noted the pilot could later transition to pay-by-plate and that enforcement rules and code alignment may require additional adjustments.

- Facility user fee and refuse enclosure rental: increase facility user fee to $200 per day (for staged construction logistics and special uses) and raise refuse enclosure rental to $65.65 per month.

- 24/7 permit and locals weekender: set the 24/7 permit cap at up to $250 per month; reduce the locals weekender permit (for Santa Barbara County residents) to $80 for six months and expand Friday evening access operationally. Staff also proposed a $15 “fee-due” notice to inform permit holders parked outside permitted zones.

Committee members discussed enforcement and the chance that low violation fees could encourage noncompliance. Committee member Stahl asked whether violation rates and enforcement capacity would make some changes ineffective; staff acknowledged implementation would require adjustment and close coordination with the police department and that the pilot will likely be iterated after initial data are collected.

Committee action: Vice Chair Newkirk moved, and Committee member Melissa Brie seconded, a motion to recommend the fee-schedule changes as presented by staff. The committee approved the recommendation on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The package of changes is meant to reduce misuse of free parking, test alternative payment technology in the Helena Lot, offer discounts to targeted user groups, and give staff new operational tools to manage capacity. Staff said several items will require iterative enforcement steps and possible municipal-code clarifications for pay-and-display enforcement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Downtown Parking Committee - May 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Downtown Parking Committee recommended City Council adopt multiple fee-schedule changes for FY26, including clarifying the 75‑minute courtesy as once per calendar day per vehicle, a Helena lot pay-and-display pilot, reduced monthly pricing for one lot, adjustments to the 24/7 permit cap, and a reduced locals 'weekender' permit.","taxTitle","Santa Barbara City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",4209,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565032,"Downtown Parking Committee forwards FY26 budget proposal to City Council with limited capital spending",1152,3608000,4760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3232115-a82e7e69c4f7c1a18754c9813cc5bcf0&start=3608&end=4760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3232115-a82e7e69c4f7c1a18754c9813cc5bcf0/thumbnail_3608000.jpg","/articles/6565032/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Downtown-Parking-Committee-forwards-FY26-budget-proposal-to-City-Council-with-limited-capital-spending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565032-883ecd36d15d2d1edd2a79c7068cc44c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193633&Signature=lY0GdLsOOq1ZiWUKe9pD3m1GZFQweFaIupvNyRMsbzWQRiIrnAaPs3D2-71AxkFKsDM79OnVs0NR5~GM8zzbvI~3qHMGy8BrQe-hNSFK0m1zRuo6VnO~-Ffrm98OQ5tXSTI2z453ezYy79a~mSP1pRnpXLgtxghHgWUaipc0eITlxQZJJFtl~-3O8ZWmjZInqbXyNMJDJkk3tJeNbKPH9RyTCuvC1TgqbEJTU6cSBORX2UDP1K4j5rREPEOOqdTdjJ-kFxf6cjYRDJxkVnovJ~54NAUkQC8~i5S-D8eoz2pkyF7gwDUM2HB~A7hkSXwNBXz-gv86zWn9LuIEAUyftw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Downtown Parking Committee voted May 8 to recommend City Council consider staff’s fiscal year 2026 parking fund proposal, which holds operations near current levels, pauses several capital projects for one year and creates a downtown services fund for non-parking expenses.

Ed (staff member) presented the budget overview. Staff proposed modest operational changes intended to increase revenue by roughly $445,000 while pausing capital expenditures and moving non-parking costs (for example promenade maintenance and the downtown ambassador program) into a new downtown services fund. Staff presented a total downtown parking fund revenue figure of $10,879,000 for FY26 and showed a projected net shortfall of about $55,000 under the proposed plan after limited capital spending.

Major operational priorities described to the committee included a pilot to discount employee parking in Ortega Garage, lowering the 24/7 permit rate to better serve downtown residents, and expanding a locals weekender permit with a reduced price point. Staff also proposed a move toward a pay-and-display pilot in the Helena lot, with the possibility of later shifting to pay-by-plate.

On capital, staff said the department will defer larger projects in FY26 (including some concrete work, elevator upgrades and an Amtrak building roof project) and proceed only with a facilities assessment to prioritize long-term capital needs. Staff noted prior allocations (including Measure C funds) had been reallocated and that future access-control and revenue-control system projects will return when funding requests and project timing are finalized.

Committee member Newkirk moved to forward staff’s FY26 recommended budget to City Council; Committee member Sean Pratt seconded. The committee approved the recommendation on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The proposed budget changes are framed as stabilization for FY26 while staff performs a facilities assessment and prepares more substantial proposals for FY27. Pausing capital work is intended to buy time to reprioritize needs after the assessment.","The committee recommended City Council consider the parking fund budget that holds operating levels steady for FY26, pauses several capital projects, and creates a downtown services fund to shift non-parking expenses out of the parking fund.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565036,"Downtown committee recommends status quo on PBIA assessment, asks staff for broader review next year",2759,824000,3583000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3232115-a82e7e69c4f7c1a18754c9813cc5bcf0&start=824&end=3583","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3232115-a82e7e69c4f7c1a18754c9813cc5bcf0/thumbnail_824000.jpg","/articles/6565036/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Downtown-committee-recommends-status-quo-on-PBIA-assessment-asks-staff-for-broader-review-next-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565036-34d2aadaa0967e45f0e941ac58a2798d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193633&Signature=ibC2Ig-mjnHlKsC0Dtwjwx37Z~OIIT1YlPsKnv3iyDwdGZxFrVyC7J6-UC5YAlxDJlfcbf8TSxJm87dCIUjtIMWAA98LM55cQK0-kfIc1gv4ZF8Tblsa2IGxIizNOaFB1ee8Wal0GJZ8U9kTsI0D61hTfwKg5GSikoAHpPviskydhyT1AbVuCKUzm0Yb6EsJSAIQkf1JY~dkxl9aQthrO4xCr9H4xLxLic-us3cIzdxMG~RLDlSWGrdhKjYWS4N2d82FUuICMEKIsbcfFAoELseBvLqCQy~qupZ3sGp9wNXAcFeWaTP53wBSvZfpwddRsLXKyE42zGwm9VixpioRSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Downtown Parking Committee on May 8 recommended that City Council adopt a status-quo assessment for the Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) for fiscal year 2026 and asked staff to return next year with a broader review of the PBIA structure.

The recommendation followed a staff presentation of the PBIA annual assessment report. Ethan Bitney, parking resource specialist, presented the report and said the staff recommendation is a “status quo assessment for fiscal year 26,” noting the proposal aligns with a two-year outlook that limits changes for the coming year.

The PBIA was established in 1970 as an agreement between the downtown business community and the City of Santa Barbara to support downtown parking. Bitney told the committee the district now covers more than 50 blocks, includes five garages and eight surface lots with roughly 3,200 public parking spaces, and serves an estimated three million transactions in fiscal year 2025, of which about two million are within the 75-minute courtesy period. He said the PBIA projection for fiscal year 2026 is roughly $1.0 million in revenues.

Committee members pressed staff on options to address the long-term gap between PBIA revenue and program costs. Vice Chair Newkirk and others said current assessment categories and thresholds have not been updated in many years and that inflation and changes in downtown patterns have eroded the PBIA’s purchasing power. Staff said any change to assessment rates or to which entities are assessed would require an addendum to the engineer’s report and a multimonth lead time for study and outreach. Staff also told the committee that the current temporary configuration of State Street complicates reevaluating zone-of-benefit walking distances.

Committee discussion included whether to bring non-assessed entities (for example, live performance theaters and some nonprofits) into the assessment, and whether to build an annual inflation adjustment into PBIA policy. Mayor (attendee) and other members urged caution about launching a large engineering study immediately, arguing downtown’s business mix is in flux following post-pandemic changes.

Committee action: Vice Chair Newkirk moved that the committee recommend City Council approve the draft annual PBIA report and a status-quo assessment for fiscal year 2026, and that staff return in the next fiscal year with discussion and next steps for the PBIA and explore establishing an inflationary adjustment policy. Committee members seconded the motion; the committee voted in favor and the motion carried. Committee member Sean Pratt left the room and was recused from the PBIA discussion and vote.

Next steps: Staff told the committee the report is scheduled for City Council on June 3 (declaration of intent to levy) and for a public hearing on June 17, with assessments to take effect July 1, 2025. The committee requested staff bring a broader PBIA strategic discussion back for committee consideration during the next budget cycle.

Why it matters: The PBIA assessment is one of the revenue sources that pays for downtown parking operations and subsidizes the 75-minute courtesy period for downtown customers. Committee members said a refreshed analysis could affect revenue distribution, which businesses and organizations pay assessments, and long-term capital planning for parking facilities.","The Downtown Parking Committee recommended the City Council adopt a status-quo Parking and Business Improvement Area assessment for fiscal year 2026 but asked staff to return next year with a strategic review, including possible inflation adjustments and structural changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs fee schedule changes: once-per-day courtesy rule, pilots in Helena lot, Ortega discounts and a cheaper locals weekend permit

Downtown Parking Committee forwards FY26 budget proposal to City Council with limited capital spending

Downtown committee recommends status quo on PBIA assessment, asks staff for broader review next year