City councils often find interesting ways to recover costs from citizens in case of a budget shortfall, leading citizens to ultimately bear the cost of decisions made by city officials.
Something similar has taken place in Berkeley, California, where the parking fees have been hiked, and a host of other measures have been introduced to charge the public wherever possible.
Apart from higher parking fees, owning more than one car could become costlier as the city has revised residential parking permit prices, making multiple-car ownership more expensive for Berkeley residents.
When these changes will come into effect has not been officially announced, but a 30-day pilot period is expected to begin on July 1, during which drivers will receive warnings instead of fines.
Parking Set to Get More Expensive in Berkeley
According to a report by SFGate, a new ordinance received an 8-to-1 vote approving major changes to the city’s parking policy, which includes:
- Extending paid parking hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Charging drivers for parking on Sundays
- Adding new parking meters in busy city corridors
- Introducing cashless parking meters
In addition, Berkeleyside reports that residential parking permits now fall under a tiered structure, under which, instead of the current cost of $85 per car for each address, which allows up to three cars, drivers will be required to pay $100 for the first car, $125 for the second, and $150 for the third vehicle at the same address.
The city states that the changes would raise an additional $5 million in revenue, which would help address the shortfall in the city’s parking budget, estimated to run a deficit of $5.4 million by 2031. More importantly, the city intends to close a $30 million overall budget deficit.
The extended parking hours and Sunday parking charges will begin next month, although the city will start fining citizens after the pilot period expires.
This comes months after Berkeley increased parking prices in certain areas. From March 1, drivers paid more to park at the Telegraph Channing Parking Garage and around Memorial Stadium on Cal football game days. Permit prices for city garages were also increased.
Senior Planner Elliott Schwimmer told the council on Tuesday that with the parking meters being turned off in the evenings and Sundays currently, “we lose both revenue and the ability to manage turnover. Drivers circle longer, double parking increases and blocks fill up in ways that lock out short-term customers and delivery vehicles.”
High-Demand Parking Areas to Receive Parking Meters
Areas with high parking demand could witness the installation of parking meters. Some areas include parts of Fifth Street near the Fourth Street shopping district, along Hopkins and California streets, and on several blocks near Berkeley Bowl West.
In addition, the fine for an expired meter has increased from $43 to $64, while a street-sweeping ticket, issued to vehicles left parked during scheduled cleaning hours, will now cost $73, up from the current $49.
Not only that, Berkeleyside states that motorists will also have to bear additional transaction charges if they pay by credit card, fees that total more than $450,000 annually.
Cashless pay stations are expected to become operational within three to five years. Motorists will then be allowed to pay with Clipper cards, as well as credit and debit cards.
While the new ordinance could attract criticism since much of the financial burden has been transferred to residents, especially parking permits, Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani, who represents Northwest Berkeley, argued that people should pay more if they keep additional cars parked on public streets. He said:
“In my district we hear stories of people owning multiple, multiple cars, like seven vehicles that they are parking on the public right of way.
“If people want to choose to do that, you know, that is their choice, but we need to have that be reflected in our costs.”
Councilmember Ben Bartlett, who was the only one to oppose the ordinance, said:
“Relying on parking enforcement to raise money is regressive in nature, it just is. Residents pay incredible rents and incredibly high property taxes, and we want them to pay more taxes.”