WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – The West Sacramento City Council took steps to update its parking and traffic municipal code sections by adopting the first reading of an ordinance at its Nov. 20 meeting.

The ordinance amends chapters 9.28, Aggressive Solicitation, 12.2, Parks and Community Service Facilities, and repeals and readopts Title 10. The two chapters were last updated in 1996 and 1989 respectively, while Title 10 hadn’t been amended since 1987 and didn’t reflect the current organization of city departments and commissions dealing with traffic.

Ordinance 24-17 also updated the city’s Book of Fees, making changes to specific parking locations within the city and increasing overall on-street rates and parking violation fees. Meter rates would increase by 25 cents an hour for Tier 1, 50 cents an hour for Tier 2 and 75 cents an hour for Tier 3.

The monthly parking zone rate is now based on the monthly rate at the 5th and Bridge Lot, $60 per month, while daily on-street parking fees are expanded to non-metered spaces. Parking violation fees have also increased, with the expired-meter fee jumping from $45 to $60.

When a $15 “add-on” fee is included, violations now could result in a $75 charge.

“Steep ticket,” Councilwoman Dawnté Early said.

Parking manager Larry Lee explained the goal of fines “is to encourage turnover” of parking space occupancy. The city doesn’t have enough spaces in the Washington, Bridge and Civic Center districts to accommodate drivers working in those areas along with visitors and customers and will face more challenges when the Oakland A’s begin playing games at Sutter Health Park.

Under the current rate of $45, Lee said, if someone started their meter in the morning and paid later in the evening, “It may be cheaper to get a violation than to actually pay for the parking.”

“So, to incentivize folks to actually pay for parking,” Early clarified of the increased fines.

Lee added that parking rates and violation charges have been adjusted to align with similar rates and fees charged in the area, especially in downtown Sacramento. 

Councilwoman Verna Sulpizio Hull asked Lee to define “aggressive solicitation” in Chapter 9.28. Lee said it is mostly aimed at event parking and prohibits anyone from actively trying to aggressively direct drivers to park in specific lots.

The amended chapter now allows “persons authorized by the city manager or designee” to collect event fees from drivers on a public street when the action is associated with a special event, which Lee said would help traffic flow.

During public comments, resident Chris Curtis complained that residential parking permits have been going up and becoming unaffordable, especially for families with children and multiple vehicles. He expressed concern that those renewing permits won’t be “grandfathered in” and will pay the new rates.

Early asked Lee if this would be the case.

“No, so residents who were grandfathered in remain grandfathered in,” Lee said.

Councilwoman Norma Alcala questioned how the rates would impact senior citizens and individuals with handicapped placards. Lee said state law allows people with these placards to park in permit spaces and at meters without paying.

Responding to Curtis’s testimony, Mayor Martha Guerrero said she would like the city to look at potential discounts and other adjustments to assist financially-strapped individuals and families.

The ordinance, 24-17, is tentatively slated for final adoption at the council’s Dec. 4 meeting. The City Council meeting is at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at 1110 W. Capitol Ave., West Sacramento.