Supervisors approve study to use 800 downtown county parking spaces to boost revenue and access

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously May 5 to direct staff to study options for better utilizing more than 800 county‑controlled parking spaces in downtown San Diego after business hours, with the aim of increasing revenue and improving public access.

Supervisor Anderson, who sponsored the item, said the county has unused parking capacity downtown after 5 p.m. that could be put to higher use. "We have over 800 parking spaces that are potentially available," Anderson said, urging the county to work with its vendor, Ace Park, and to preserve three‑hour parking for customers doing county business.

Public commenters were split. Some retirees said they were ticketed in county lots despite posted tags, urging the county to protect vulnerable residents and avoid using parking as a revenue squeeze. One in‑chamber commenter described being cited after attending a meeting despite a hanging pass and asked the board not to prioritize revenue over access. Other callers and supervisors argued that a coordinated approach could help downtown businesses and reduce congestion when state changes have removed roadside spaces.

Supervisor Anderson’s motion to begin the study was seconded and approved unanimously. Supervisors said staff should protect existing short‑term customer parking (three‑hour passes) while evaluating after‑hours activation, signage and outreach. The board asked staff to report back with recommended operating models and any proposed rate changes.

The item is a direction to study and plan; no rate increases were adopted at the meeting.