Council launches parking review after wide public comment; directs staff to explore valet pilot and employee parking options

The Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea City Council spent more than an hour Monday discussing downtown parking, safety and visitor access and gave staff direction to pursue short‑term pilots and further study rather than immediate ordinance changes.

Presenters outlined a range of options—revising red‑zone daylighting related to AB 413, reconfiguring on‑street spaces, a valet pilot at the Hunipero/Ocean approach, expanded use of the Forest Theater lot, employee shuttle or carpool programs, and targeted enforcement. Council and members of the public framed the issue as both a safety and economic problem; presenters estimated that lost short‑term parking capacity could translate into roughly $100,000 of business revenue per parking space per year and, applying the estimate to recent spot losses, a…