Months after it was projected to open the new parking gates at the River/Front garage went into effect Monday, with a minimum fee of $1 for two hours and $5 for all day.
The three-story, 463-space garage was the last big free lot in the city. There are now smaller free lots with 400 free spaces six days a week and 500 free spaces Sunday. For a map of free lots, go here.
The lot was scheduled for a July 1 opening, according to parking director Marlin Granlund, but it was held up by the county planning department, which had to issue an occupancy permit. The planning department came under fire from the county's grand jury last month for its cumbersome and outdated processes.
The River/Front garage, between Wells Fargo and the Regal Cinemas Riverfront Two movie theater, will now have an attendant and 12 cameras for security. It will charge fees only between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. for a week and then will be staffed for 24 hours, Granlund said.
More than half the $600,000 bill was for the equipment, the gates, booth and computer systems to charge for parking. Like the garages at Locust and Soquel/Front streets, it will charge 50 cents an hour up to three hours and then 75 cents an hour, or $5 a day. You get a ticket when you go in and pay it as you leave. You have to pay for the first two hours, even if you only use one.
Granlund said expected revenue from the change is more than $150,000 a year for the city. The other two garages bring in $175,000 a year each.
The money goes to paying for downtown security, street maintenance and buying more parking lots. The change didn't open up new jobs. Parking employees were shifted over to fill spaces already vacated by retiring workers.
You can pay for parking by cell phone by joining www.parkmobileusa.com
So Patch readers: Big question.
Does paying for parking change where you would do business? Do you think about adding a dollar or three to the cost of a movie or dinner and decide to go somewhere free instead?
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