Carmel-by-the-Sea commission backs pilot managed-parking program for Car Week, sends agreement to council

The Community Activities Commission voted April 14 to recommend a revocable license agreement to the City Council for a managed-parking pilot intended to reduce nighttime cruising and improve pedestrian safety during Car Week.

Police Chief Trer presented the plan as a pilot focused on “reducing cruising in our town, improving turnover of spaces, and less congestion overall,” saying the pilot would run in the evening with paid, managed parking, shuttles from Larson Field and staffed escorts to control vehicle flow.

Good Roots, the private operator proposed to run the program, said vehicles would enter the managed system on 7th Avenue, be directed to paid stalls downtown or to free parking at Larson Field with shuttle service, and would exit on Ocean Avenue to Highway 1. Nyall Eastep, CEO of Good Roots, said the operation anticipates roughly 250 cars and plans about 40 staff, including five to six radio-equipped managers to coordinate vehicle movements and quick releases of spaces. “We are estimating about 250,” Eastep said.

Key operational details presented to the commission included a proposed evening window for paid parking (Good Roots requested a 5 p.m. start; staff also discussed 6 p.m.), street closures through midnight, ADA drop-off points, and measures to preserve emergency access. The city and operator discussed lighting to change behavior (down-facing fixtures were proposed), refraining from diesel generators, and potential use of decibel-monitoring equipment to help enforce noise limits.

Fee structure in the draft license follows the city fee schedule: $200 per stall on Ocean Avenue and $100 per stall on other downtown streets. The draft license fee to the city is $21,822 for the pilot term. City Attorney Brian Perrick told the commission the agreement requires the operator to submit a downtown traffic management plan, staffing and operations plans, a communications plan and a vehicle staging/exit plan by May 15 for staff review and council consideration. The agreement also sets minimum insurance and indemnification requirements and allows the city to terminate the license on short notice for cause or with eight hours’ notice if the pilot is not working.

Public commenters and some commissioners asked for more detailed budget information and clarified expectations for Lar(s)on Field capacity and turnaround time. Local resident Rich Pepe urged the city to review projected overtime and other costs before finalizing terms and asked how revenue would be shared; staff said the license fee to the city is $21,822 under the current draft.

The commission voted unanimously to forward the draft agreement and its recommendations to the City Council for final action. City Council review and the operator’s final plans are scheduled as the next steps.

The council is expected to see the agreement at a subsequent meeting; the operator must submit the required implementation plans for staff and police chief review before that council action.