| | Published June 9th, 2010
| Cost of Parking Tickets Going Up in Lafayette
| | By Cathy Tyson |  | |
That expired meter will soon cost drivers $5 more. Meters and every other violation will be a bit pricier in the near future to pay for SB1407. Parking scofflaws may not recall voting for the passage of this bill, which established a State Court Facilities Construction Fund, but they will soon be responsible for an extra $3 for court construction costs that will be added to each citation, in addition to the $1.50 that the State is now authorized to take. The Lafayette City Council recently approved the $5 increase recommended by City staff.
What's a new ticket going to cost? Depends on the ticket - but for most common violations - like an expired meter, or parking in a no parking zone or loading zone, the new and improved tickets will cost $30. Even leaving keys in a parked vehicle will cost you $30, if sighted. Parking in a handicapped space will set you back $280. Parking in a bus zone is also quite pricey at $255.
It's unclear when the increase will take effect, "We are working that out with the City Attorney right now," said Administrative Services Director Tracy Robinson. She mentioned the tentative start date is early July.
Add courthouses to the long list of things in California that are crumbling. Signed into law in September 2008, SB1407 "Launched an unprecedented courthouse rebuilding program in California by designating judicial branch revenues to fund up to $5 billion in lease revenue bonds that will finance 41 new construction and renovation projects," noted the Office of Court Construction and Management. Of the 41 Courthouse projects from Alameda to Yolo County, none of the funds are going to Contra Costa County.
Proponents call the bill a major step forward to ensure the safety and security of courthouses and the improvements will not come from the cash-starved State General Fund, but rather court users.
Although many residents complain about the lack of parking downtown, the City of Lafayette is making a real effort to solve the problem. About $250,000 is collected from parking tickets and $120,000 from parking meters every year. That revenue goes into the Parking Fund and to support downtown maintenance, like medians, sidewalks, landscaping and Code Enforcement. Now at $2,500,000, the Parking Fund money can only be used to buy or build additional parking inventory.
Just recently a Parking Inventory was undertaken to quantify the parking problem in the Downtown Core and develop long term solutions. No surprise to folks who want to shop at Trader Joes on a Friday afternoon. City administrators are actively looking for properties to buy or lease in the downtown core.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA