The Cupertino Courier

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Residential parking fee is cash for Cupertino

Some in affected neighborhood don't mind, others are troubled

By HUGH BIGGAR

Steve Jobs didn't appear at a recent Cupertino City Council meeting, but Michael Jordan did.

No, not the former basketball star, but rather current Cupertino resident Michael Jordan.

Jordan, unlike other local residents, supports the city's $45 permit parking fee and said so at the May 2 council meeting.

Last year, Cupertino for the first time imposed a $45 fee for a permit allowing street parking in certain neighborhoods. Since then, some residents in the affected neighborhoods have paid the fee, some have not and many have objected to it--particularly since most residents did not learn of the fee until they received their permit application in the mail.

After listening to residents' concerns, city council members unanimously agreed to continue the fee program for another year as scheduled and then review the need for it. The $45 fee helps generate about $12,000 for the city at a time it is looking for ways to increase its finances.

Cupertino resident Bruce Smith said to the council, "[Free street parking] goes with the territory and should be a part of buying a house."

Jordan spoke of the need for some sort of permit, citing the effect of crowded streets on city services. He said street sweepers had trouble doing their job, and crowded curbs interfered with garbage pickup.

"The city wants to provide services and we want to get them ... it's a hassle," he said.

Both individuals live in neighborhoods that are now required to pay the fee for permit stickers and guest passes. The neighborhoods, which have to ask the city for permit parking, are centered around schools, particularly Monta Vista High School and De Anza College. Both have large numbers of students looking

for places to park off campus.

As a result, the city issued permits

for those neighborhoods and last year decided to add a charge as a part of its drive to raise revenue. So far, 319 residents have elected to pay the fee and 220 residents have not. Without a permit, residents and their guests must park in the resident's driveway.

With the council's decision, if those 220 residents prefer street parking, they can still pay for the next year that starts at the beginning of the fiscal year July 1. The fee for a year is $22.50. After the next fiscal year ends in 2007, the council will reconsider charging for the permits.

"The only validity in parking permits is that it puts pressure on schools to think about the issue [of parking] responsibly," Mayor Richard Lowenthal said, in voting to have the subject eventually reconsidered. Lowenthal believes the fee should be re-debated before it's renewed.