Act V parking fees to go down

Visitors and arts festival participants will get a bit of a break on

parking fees this summer.

The City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to lower summer parking rates

at the Act V remote parking lot to $5, and the festival season pass

to $20. Current parking fees are $7 per day, with a season pass

available for $35.

A 5,000-car dip in vehicle parking last year at the lot was blamed

on an increase in the 2004 Festival Season rate from $4 to $7.

City staff said that, if the number of parkers remains the same

this year as last, revenue would drop by $20,000, but if patronage

returns to the 2003 level of 23,590, revenue would increase by

$6,000.

Toni Iseman, who strongly urged the council last year not to

increase the Act V fees, said the goal is to get congestion out of

town.

“We need to look under every rock to hide our cars,” Iseman said.

Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider voted against the fee reduction

to $5. She would have voted for a reduction to $6.

The reduction to $5 was recommended by the Festival Coordinating

Committee.

Sawdust Festival President MarshScott and Festival of Arts

President Anita Mangels said they would encourage festival

participants to use the parking lot.

Arnold Hano said the lot should have a “Park and Ride” sign to get

drivers’ attention. Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee member

Carolyn Wood said signage should include the international “P” (for

parking) sign.

The council also voted to increase parking fees at the City

Employee and Lumberyard lots to $10, and eliminate the Aliso Creek

leg of the summer tram route.

-- Barbara Diamond