Vice Chancellor to Propose Parking Fee Increase at April Board of Trustees Meeting

San Diego Community College District Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management Chris Manis presented his parking fee proposal to students, faculty and staff at San Diego Mesa College on March 9.

 

If the Board approves the parking proposal, fees for parking will increase from $35 to $40 per semester for most permits, and there will be an increase from $20 to $25 per semester for students who received Financial Aid. Part of the proposal also includes an increase in the fine for parking violations from $35 to $50.

 

The carpool permit fee of $30 per semester and the daily parking fee of $5 per day will remain the same under the new plan. There are currently 5 carpool spots available on campus at Mesa College.

 

“Over the last eight years, campus improvements have created nine additional parking structures for a total of 1.5 million additional square feet of parking,” Manis said. “Regular sealing, paving, lighting, painting and pothole filling are needed to keep or lots safe and in compliance.”

 

Parking costs in community colleges in California are covered by the costs of parking permits and fines for parking violations, Manis said. He added that the current parking budget is $2.47 million with only $2.17 million in revenue, resulting in a $300,000 shortfall. The proposed parking permit increase would help to close this gap.

 

Manis compared his proposed parking fee increase to California Education Code 76360, which states that student permits in the state cannot exceed $50 for regular permits, $30 for Financial Aid permits and $35 for carpool permits per semester.

 

The increased fees will be applied toward an increase in security measures – such as surveillance cameras – and ongoing maintenance of the parking lots and structures, which he said costs between $250,000 and $300,000 per year. Some of the fee will also be used to hire 13 part-time College Service Officers who will add to the parking and security staff for the SDCCD.

 

Manis is also proposing that the four Continuing Education campuses that do not currently parking fees will be phased in over a three-year period. For these campuses – César Chávez, Mid-City, North City and West City – a fee of $10 per semester will be implemented for Fall 2017. It will later be increased to $20 in Fall 2018 and will reach the full District fee in Fall 2019.

 

Continuing Education campuses at Mesa College, Miramar College and the Educational Cultural Complex already require a parking permit.

 

For more information about the parking fee proposal, contact Chris Manis at [email protected].

Tags: parking, Parking Fees