Council approves paid parking zone and higher lot rates after multi-year study; staff directed to implement enforcement and merchant/resident programs

The San Anselmo Town Council voted Feb. 25 to establish paid parking on San Anselmo Avenue from San Rafael Avenue to Bolinas Avenue, raise rates at the town’s public parking lots and direct staff to implement related enforcement and program steps following a multi-year downtown parking study.

Public Works staff summarized the study, which measured occupancy, duration, and circulation across roughly 800 spaces in the downtown core, and recommended paid parking (11 pay stations), conversion of select four-hour spaces to two-hour spaces, higher lot rates and stronger enforcement to improve turnover on the busiest blocks. Staff presented a range of equipment options and recommended pay stations that accept credit cards and ParkMobile; they warned coin/bill-capable machines add collections and maintenance costs.

Council approved two formal resolutions: one establishing a paid-parking zone on San Anselmo Avenue and the second increasing parking rates in three town lots (Magnolia, Pine Street and Creek Park). The council also directed staff to proceed with vendor selection for pay stations (staff recommended cashless/credit-card-capable units), to return merchant-parking administration to town staff, and to work with CMPA to fund a dedicated community-service officer for downtown enforcement. Staff estimated one possible enforcement option at about $92,000 annually for a full-time CSO shift focused on downtown parking enforcement. Staff estimated initial pay-station purchase and installation costs in the mid-hundred-thousand-dollar range and provided conservative revenue projections for the program.

Council members debated the geographic extent and costs; one council member suggested limiting the paid zone north of Ross Avenue, but after discussion the council approved the staff-recommended zone extending to Bolinas. The council also asked staff to consider a resident “shopper” permit or a downtown resident parking sticker similar to the merchant program and to return with pricing and program details. Several council members said enforcement is critical: without enforcement, time-limit and meter changes will not yield turnover.

Staff said the town will keep net revenues in a downtown parking account and asked the council whether to earmark some proceeds for active-transportation or streetscape improvements; council members asked staff to show options and costs so the council can set priorities rather than earmarking funds immediately.

Ending: Staff will begin vendor procurement for pay stations, coordinate CSO enforcement with CMPA, relaunch the merchant parking program under town administration, and return with program details for resident stickers and options for how net revenue would be allocated.