What do You Think About Paid Parking at the Beach?

The Pacifica City Council approved last week a plan to implement paid parking at the Pacifica State Beach parking lot and the parking lot at the front of the community center.

Digital pay stations will accept debit and credit cards as well as cash. The new charges — $3 for less than four hours, $6 for four hours or more and $50 for an annual parking permit — will go into effect July 12.

The paid parking at the beach has been discussed since 2005 as a way to generate income for the city and as a way to pay for beach restorations and maintenance.

Two additional rangers will be hired and trained and join the one ranger already on staff. They will enforce parking, work with volunteers to protect the snowy plover habitat, enforce the leash law and perform general maintenance.

According to the Pacifica Tribune, the cost of the purchase and installation of the three digital pay stations is expected to be $60,000. City staff estimates the annual cost of the parking and ranger program will be $379,000. Revenues have been estimated to be $308,809.

"Staff believes the program will break even and be consistent with our state lease requirements that all revenues earned at the beach must be expended in support of the beach," the staff report reads. The revenue will be used to offset the $160,000 the city is currently spending on the ranger and the beach operation.

Read the full story in the Pacifica Tribune here.

Tell us what you think about Pacifica’s new parking plan in the comments section below. Are you understanding or do you think there's a better way to generate revenue?

Read more on Patch:

• Bad Financial News Hits Pacifica
• Are You in Favor of the Plan to Protect the Snowy Plovers at Linda Mar Beach?
• City Council Moves Toward Better Efficiency