La Mesa parking commission proposes $1.50 hourly meters, single permit and reduced business allotment; council, businesses and residents weigh trade-offs

The La Mesa City Council on July 8 heard a presentation from staff and the La Mesa Community Parking Commission recommending adjustments to parking meter and permit policies in Parking District 1.

Mr. Dedman, speaking for staff, summarized the district's history and the commission's analysis. Parking meters were added beginning in 1982; there are 433 metered spaces in the district. The commission's regional survey found a mean comparable meter rate of about $2.05 per hour and modeled revenue outcomes at $1.00, $1.25 and $1.50 per hour. Taking inflation and a 10-year revenue analysis into account, the commission recommended increasing the standard meter rate from $0.75 to $1.50 per hour and simplifying the permit program.

Under the commission's recommendations, the two-tier business permit structure (Tier 1: $40/quarter; Tier 2: $60/quarter) would be replaced by a single permit that allows parking in all seven designated areas at $80 per quarter (about $288 annually). The commission also proposed reducing the maximum number of permits a business may purchase from 25 to 5, with staff indicating a case-by-case exception process could be retained for businesses that can document a need.

Councilmembers questioned implementation details. Councilmember Lothian urged staff to require that permits be limited to businesses with storefronts in La Mesa's downtown village and flagged the likely parking pressure from two incoming apartment projects that, she said, will add dozens of vehicles and could fill existing lots overnight. Vice Mayor Dillard and other councilmembers asked about the last rate adjustment (2010) and why the commission settled on $1.50 rather than a higher figure; staff said $1.50 was chosen as a balance between revenue needs and minimizing impact on businesses.

Business owners and residents spoke during public comment. Restaurateur Brenda Leak said she subsidizes permits for employees and that permits provide safety and predictability for staff working late shifts; she supported a modest increase. Jack Shue, a resident, urged the commission to consider expanding the parking district boundary and to use parking as a tool to shift mode share in support of the city's Climate Action Plan. Jason Mariam, a resident, argued public lots should remain available to residents when space permits, noting lots funded by taxpayers should serve the whole community.

Staff said the permit vendor can verify business license addresses and that program guidelines can be strengthened; overnight parking rules and additional enforcement measures would be reviewed if council and the public request them. The commission did not seek formal action at the meeting; staff will return with formal recommendations after incorporating council and public feedback.

What's next: staff will prepare a formal recommendation for a future council meeting that could include ordinance or guideline changes, a vendor verification workflow, and proposed enforcement language. Any final rate or guideline changes would return to council for approval.