Sausalito is exploring its citywide parking management program in order to maintain an essential revenue stream.
The City Council received a report from Dixon Resources unlimited, a San Diego consultancy, at a meeting on Sept. 19. The city has sought to develop a comprehensive evaluation of its parking program amid concerns about budgeting.
The city has four public parking lots, several private lots and street parking. The lots are used by visitors, employees of businesses and residents. The parking lots are managed by police and supported by four full-time parking enforcement officers.
In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the city collected $2,706,008 related to the parking operations and programs. Parking revenue was $2,112,231 in the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Mayor Melissa Blaustein said the city would explore expanding permitting for city workers and possibly charging for parking in a city parking lot that is currently free. The city also will seek to explore updating equipment and possible mobile options for payment driven through cellular technology.
The city hopes to tighten its parking regulations and explore parking discounts for electric vehicles.
Vice Mayor Ian Sobieski said updates to the city’s parking policies were overdue.
“I would love to get more data,” Sobieski said.
The city is in the midst of a ferry landing redesign that will affect parking. The $2.5 million project will expand the plaza, add benches and make landscaping improvements. The increase will encroach into the parking lots and require modifications to traffic circulation to replace the parking. The city is projecting that eight parking spots will be lost in the lot redesign.
The Planning Commission endorsed the designs at a meeting on Sept. 13.
Data collected over several days during Labor Day weekend concluded that Sausalito is at the higher end for hourly and special event rates, compared to several municipalities such as Miami Beach and Oakland.
The highest occupancy percentage was 83% for city parking between 5 and 7 p.m. on Sept. 2, a Saturday, according to the report. For off-street parking, the highest occupancy percentage was 58%, observed between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Parking prices range from $2.50 to $5 an hour based on demand.
“I’m concerned if we raise rates for on street parking it may have an adverse impact on businesses who rely on visitors to patron their businesses,” said Councilmember Joan Cox.
The Sausalito Police Department launched an online portal for resident parking permits on Sept. 2. Residents of Sausalito neighborhoods are allowed to park their vehicles in excess of posted limits with the permits.
