Space-Age Parking Meters Sending Critics β€œTo the Moon'”

2-hour per car limit, zeroing out leftover time among city proposals

Not only is the price of parking in San Diego trending upwards but some generally accepted 'rules of the road' may be going by the wayside.

If that happens, motorists can thank -- or curse -- 21st century technology.

In mid-February, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and city officials unveiled 50 solar-powered parking meters in downtown and Hillcrest.

Now, the meters are halfway through a pilot project to see if they can 'optimize' revenue and efficiency.

Early indications are, they'll 'optimize' public outrage.

"The whole purpose of parking meters is to increase turnover, so that you don't have these parking spaces locked up all day long," says Mike Vogl, revenue collections manager for the city treasurer's office. 

"Someone can come in and park -- do their business, whatever they need to do -- and move on."

And with electronic sensors embedded in the parking spaces served by solar-powered meters -- parking authorities will know right away if motorists haven't paid up.

They'll be able to keep drivers from feeding the meters every two hours without having to pull out of the space.

And, they could 'zero out' whatever paid time is left on a meter that could be inherited by someone else.

"I definitely think it's unfair, especially for people that are here for more than two hours," says downtown resident Teresa Fitzpatrick.  " Because a lot of time when I come down and there's extra money left on the meter, it's great -- I don't put as much in."

Contractors and tradesmen figure thes space-age mechanisms will only make their jobs more complicated.

"Getting a close place to park is important for getting our tools on and off, our equipment," says Robert Tindell, a foreman for the Gander Co., whose workmen were installing soda fountains in a Gaslamp Quarter restaurant on Monday.

"If we have to change parking spots every two hours, it just causes the work to go longer and cut into costs for the customer."

Some merchants and restaurants aren't buying the concept, either.

"Baseball season's right around the corner; next Monday's opening day," said Derek DeNublia, manager of Ciro's Pizzeria on Market Street.  "

 And there's gonna be a lot of people wanting to come downtown, people who are struggling right now, and to pay more money to the meters is just a slap in the face."

Vogl emphasized that the electronically enforced 2-hour time limit and meters' zero-out capability are just proposals that'll have to undergo policy discussions and approval by the City Council.

Meantime, Council members heard public comments on proposals to raise the parking rate structure while adding charges on Sundays and the hours from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Speakers representing businesses and resident groups said they'd  welcome enforcement of a 2-hour per-car limit to keep office workers in their neighborhods from using spaces all day -- crowding out potential customers and guests.

In response to numerous complaints and concerns, the Council returned the proposals to Mayor Sanders' office to address suggested revisions and deletions.

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