Carmel’s mayor puts parking on the priority list, citing lost revenue potential.

Concerned that Carmel could be losing out on up to $1 million a year in sales and hotel tax revenue due to a lack of parking downtown, Mayor Dale Byrne asked the City Council on June 2 to make finding solutions a priority.

Calling the possible tax revenue losses “really scary,” Byrne said people are getting frustrated and leaving the town when they can’t find parking. “It may be time to test some creative, cost-effective alternatives,” he said.

Ideas presented by Byrne and a small volunteer team he convened – Andrew Hooks of Flaherty’s Restaurant and Steven Summers, owner of National Parking & Valet – include repealing some parts of the “daylighting law,” stemming from California Assembly Bill 413, which requires banning parking within 20 feet of an intersection.

Hooks told council they estimated that they lost 45 spots in the downtown area, costing the city potentially over $4.8 million a year, using an estimate that each parking spot generates nearly $97,000 in economic impact to the city.

Under the law it is possible for Carmel to establish a shorter distance from curbs, Hooks said, if the city can justify it. Reducing the speed in the downtown area from 25 to 15 could help in that effort.

Summers, whose company is a longtime contractor for the city, laid out how they could create a valet loading zone at Junipero and Ocean avenues. He said they identified 70-100 spots on city-owned land, including the Public Works parking lot, the Forest Theater and a ramp at Sunset Center. There would be an hourly charge for parking, with the city and National Parking sharing in the proceeds.

Councilmembers agreed that employee parking is likely the biggest issue. Hooks suggested creating programs for employees to carpool, or a shuttle. He also said the city could then create an enforcement program that would fine employees for repeatedly parking downtown.

One idea the council wasn’t willing to pursue is imposing paid parking in the Del Mar parking lot at the base of Ocean Avenue by Carmel Beach. They feared it would push vehicles into surrounding neighborhoods.

Byrne said he would create a working group with the Carmel Chamber of Commerce and others to continue to research ideas. City Administrator Chip Rerig will work with City Attorney Brian Pierik to look at the idea of a valet pilot program, which would last three to four months.