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Downtown Parking Management Plan <br />16 <br /> <br />short-term parking spaces. As noted above, current occupancies are well below this threshold. On-street <br />occupancy is low, in part, because the most convenient parking spaces for shoppers in Downtown San <br />Leandro are the free, off-street lots. Due to a long-term contractual agreement with Regency Centers and <br />Safeway, it is not possible to charge for parking at Washington Plaza. As long as the most desirable spots are <br />free and occupancy rates are manageable, it is unlikely that a significant number of parkers will opt for paid <br />spaces, no matter how low the rates are set. As an alternative the implementation of free on-street parking <br />would allow the City to defer the process of purchasing and installing smart meter technology; however, a <br />strategic use of the parking meter revenue could be used to replace the equipment and also allow proper <br />turnover in short-term parking spaces. <br />Although most on-street parking is recommended to be free in the near term, the City can reasonably charge <br />for all-day parking in the Estudillo Garage. Secure, all-day parking in the garage offers value for regular <br />parkers that do not have alternative options for all-day parking elsewhere in the Downtown area. To <br />encouraged increased usage of the garage, however, it is recommended that the City reduce rates for garage <br />parking. The area presently suffers from the systemic noncompliance of retail employees that park for <br />extended periods in time-restricted off-street lots. Offering reduced garage parking, coupled with enhanced <br />enforcement of the time restrictions in surface lots, will encourage more employees to use the garage and <br />make the most desirable spots available to shoppers and short-term visitors. <br />All-Day Parking (top deck): Initially set at $1 per day (reduced from $2.50), with routine rate reviews based on <br />operation costs and demand. This low rate for parking on the top floor of the garage will encourage more <br />retail employees to use the garage. In additional to earning relatively low wages, retail employees are less <br />likely to be able to use monthly permits because they may not work a fixed 40-hour work week or maintain a <br />consistent work schedule. The top deck of the garage currently receives very little usage at the present rates. <br />Parking Permits: Reduced to $35/month for general access to $55/month for reserved access (from $45 and <br />$70, respectively.) This reduction is recommended to increase garage usage and maintain the value of <br />monthly permits in comparison to the proposed daily rate of $1 on the top deck. An additional option for free <br />or discounted permits is detailed in Section F. Employee Parking Solutions. <br />Figure 3. Weekday Overall Occupancy <br /> <br />614