The controversial plan to charge people $5 to park in Howarth Park has been postponed by the Santa Rosa City Council until after the Nov. 2 election.
The council in a 6-1 vote Tuesday opted to delay implementation of the program until after the results of the quarter-cent sales tax measure are known.
"They're hoping that if that passes they won't have to implement this program," Interim City Manager Wayne Goldberg said.
City staff had proposed the parking fee to help bridge a funding gap that threatens to force further reductions in Parks and Recreation Department programs, including the possible closure of the city's pools and senior center.
The plan was to begin charging people $5 to park all day at Howarth Park, the most popular park in the city, and $2 for two hours. The fees were expected to raise about $500,000 in revenue and fines beginning in early September.
While the state and county charge for parking at neighboring Spring Lake and Annadel parks, charging at Howarth Park would be a first for the city.
Council members had signaled earlier in the meeting during discussion about putting the sales tax measure on the ballot that they were uncomfortable with the timing.
"I don't want to charge a mother taking two kids out for a stroll five bucks to park when when she's paying sales tax everywhere else in town," Vice Mayor Gary Wysocky said.
Some had concerns that voters might feel the city was "nickel and diming them" with the fees, which might erode support for the tax measure, councilman John Sawyer said.
Goldberg said the council also expressed concern about the fairness of the fees, noting that the park is "widely used by families and by people who can't necessarily afford fees like this."
Marc Richardson, director of the Recreation and Parks Department, told the council that if the sales tax measure failed, the city might be able to get the parking program running by early January. He estimated the loss of potential revenue from delaying the program at around $160,000, Goldberg said.
The council ultimately opted to pass the ordinance authorizing the program, but to hold off on setting the fees and penalties until after the election, Goldberg said.
You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com.
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