By Linda Taaffe

The Los Altos City Council last week decided to drop a proposed annual parking fee of $36 to $12 rather than rescind a permit parking plan scheduled to go into effect this fall after some merchants expressed concerns that the plan unfairly targeted those least able to afford the fee. Quarterly permits will be available for $4. The fees will cover program costs only.

The city had intended to use the estimated $17,000 profit generated from the higher fees to help fund downtown maintenance costs, which exceed other commercial areas by about $120,000 annually, according to a city report.

Merchants criticized the council for taking money from employees to turn the plazas into a “cash cow” for the city.

“It’s a bad idea,” said merchant James Havlice. “The city needs to pick the pocket of the people who want to beautify the city and not put the burden on people who can’t afford to live here. Everyone should pay for it, not just the merchants in the middle (of town) and not just those who don’t live here.”

The intent of the permit program is to make more parking spaces available, said Economic Coordinator Abby Veeser. By issuing permits to employees and business owners within downtown’s assessment district only, city officials hope to force about 100 unauthorized cars from using the approximately 680 spaces in the plazas dedicated to all-day parking, which would solve some of downtown’s parking crunch, she said. Employees outside of the district will have to find parking elsewhere.

“Of all the options we’ve talked about, the only one that seems to have a potential for success is permit parking. It doesn’t so seem outrageous,” Councilman John Moss said. Parking would cost less than 10 cents per day, he added. “We have to charge something or people will take advantage of the permits.”

Any cost is too much for parking in Los Altos, according to some merchants.

“I have never taken advantage and played musical spaces,” said downtown business owner Fran Vela. “This will make me do something I’ve done on my own free will for the past 22 years, and now as a reward you’re asking me to pay for it … It’s the principal of it. It’s going to backfire. There will be more people juggling around in the two-hour spots.”

Similar concerns squelched a proposed permit plan in 1994. Members of the Parking 2000 Committee said such a plan could force employees into the residential and two-hour parking areas. A shortfall of long-term spaces could leave some permit holders without a place to park.