La Mesa considers changing parking system in downtown village district

LA MESA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The La Mesa City Council is considering making changes to the city's paid parking system.

During Tuesday evening's council meeting, city leaders are set to discuss updating the parking meter rate and the parking permit pricing.

There are currently 433 parking meters in the downtown La Mesa Village district and three municipal parking lots. The La Mesa Community Parking Commission first brought up the idea of changing the paid parking system in July, after which the council provided feedback and told staff to come up with a formal proposal.

The proposal now includes changes to the Parking Permit Program, which is for businesses.

A maximum of five parking permits can be purchased for business employees in designated areas. The city is also proposing increasing the rate for metered parking from 75 cents to $1.50.

Officials say the money would go into the city's parking fund, which is meant to maintain the parking district with power washing, upkeep and holiday decorative lighting.

According to city staff, the parking changes would contribute about $273,000 a year in extra revenue.

La Mesa's paid parking proposal comes after a series of parking changes incorporated in the City of San Diego.

In the summer, the city of San Diego extended parking meter enforcement hours by two hours on several streets in Pacific Beach and Mid-City.

Then, in September, parking rates around Petco Park went up to $10 per hour during large events, including Padres games, as part of the city's new Special Event Parking Zone.

Watch the full report by Elizabeth Alvarez in the video player above.