Modernizing Monterey’s decades-old residential parking program has been “a heavy lift” for the city’s Parking Division, according to Monterey Parking Superintendent Cristie Steffy, who says the years-long effort will ultimately make life easier for city residents and staff.
“There’s nothing modern about the current program,” Steffy says. “In modernizing it, it makes it more efficient, and it makes it more effective.”
Since its creation in 1985, the residential parking program has expanded to include 18 residential parking zones, which Monterey residents have petitioned to create over the years.
The updated residential parking program has some key distinctions from its predecessor. While the existing program uses sticker decals placed on a vehicle’s bumper, the new system uses a resident’s license plate as the pass, which is read by cameras that are affixed to parking vehicles.
Short-term guest permits will move from paper form to digital, and ongoing management of the program for residents will move largely online. While the old program was free, the new system is $25 per permit per year, among other differences.
Community members have expressed concerns about the program’s requalification process, which requires city residents in neighborhoods with existing programs to register through an online portal. To maintain an existing residential parking permit zone, 51 percent of neighborhood residents are required to register.
Steffy explains that this aspect was created to ensure that community members in existing zones still want the program, but it has created barriers to participation. Because of community feedback, the Parking Division has decided to bring the matter to the City Council and will recommend they scrap the requalification process entirely.
“That would mean that they wouldn’t have to requalify any area that is already a [residential parking permit] zone and already has signage,” Steffy says. “Existing zones would keep their signage and they will automatically opt in to the new program.”
Although it is the Parking Division’s intent to eliminate the requalification step, the decision will ultimately be in the hands of the City Council. Steffy expects the council to consider the recommendation on May 19. Existing permits, slated to expire April 30, will be valid at least until that time. Residents will also be able to continue to register for requalification until council votes.