City Looks To Solve Parking Problem On The Cheap

What way is best to manage weekday parking troubles downtown? For the Suisun City Council Tuesday night, it was whatever option didn’t cost much money.

The City Council took up the issue of parking downtown once again Tuesday as city staff brought back a few options to try to minimize the impact of Social Security Administration workers parking in the lot.

Staff options were:

1. Provide a letter to business encouraging employees to park in “underutilized” parking lots, saving the more sought-after spots for customers.
2. Create two-hour time limits in heavily used lots, such as the Harbor Theatre lot and the lot between the Harbor Master and the . Cost: $5,000 for signs and possible enforcement.
3. Carve out a curb cut along Main Street to give drivers better access to the temporary parking lot on California and Main Street. Estimated cost: $5,000.
4.  Try and get interested businesses together to set up a business-operated valet service at peak parking periods.

Mayor Pete Sanchez said he would only support options one and four because they cost little to no money, and would only support enforcement by police volunteers.

Councilmen Mike Hudson and Mike Segala agreed with Sanchez, and Councilman Sam Derting and Councilwoman Jane Day abstained form the vote because they owned property too close to the affected areas.