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September 28, 2026
Mayor Matt Mahan and Members of the San Jose City Council 200 East Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113
RE: Agenda Item 5.2 (File No. 26-1004) – Parking Meter and Garage Rates and Hours Dear Mayor Mahan and Members of the City Council:
On behalf of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and our members, we write regarding Agenda Item 5.2. The Chamber appreciates the City’s efforts to revise the original proposal following feedback from Downtown businesses and employees, and we generally align with the recommendations submitted by the San Jose Downtown Association.
The Chamber supports the proposed FY 2026-27 garage hourly and event rate increases. We also strongly support expanding eligibility for the Downtown Employee Discounted Permit Parking Program to employees earning up to 50% above minimum wage, excluding gratuities.
This is an important step to protect the employees who keep Downtown businesses running, particularly restaurant and hospitality workers whose gratuities can otherwise make them ineligible for discounted parking. The City’s proposal would provide qualifying employees a 50% discount on monthly garage permits.
As Council considers the five-year strategy, we respectfully ask that its action include the following direction:
1. Maintain the current 6pm end to meter enforcement, Monday through Saturday, rather than extending enforcement to 9pm. Evening parking costs can disproportionately affect employees working later shifts, and extended enforcement was a consistent concern raised during the City’s stakeholder process.
2. Preserve 90 minutes of free parking at City garages, including the Convention Center Garage on non-event days. This remains an important benefit for customers making shorter trips Downtown and supports the businesses they visit. The City’s five-year proposal currently maintains the 90-minute benefit.
3. Direct staff to identify alternatives to the ongoing $1.2 million General Fund transfer in future budget cycles. We recognize the transfer is already part of the FY 2026-27 Adopted Operating Budget. Going forward, however, increases paid by Downtown employees, customers and visitors should not automatically become the source for an
September 7, 2026
Honorable Mayor and Members of the San Jose City Council 200 E. Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113
RE: Agenda Item 5.2, File No. 26-1004, Parking Meter and Garage Rates and Hours, September 29, 2026 Council Meeting
Dear Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council:
I am writing as someone who both lives and works in the heart of Downtown San Jose. I live on First Street and work on the same street as the Events Director at Urban Putt San Jose, located in the former Camera 12 building.
I am writing to share my perspective on Agenda Item 5.2 and the proposed changes to parking meter enforcement hours.
I am particularly concerned about the proposal to extend meter enforcement hours from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. As an Events Director, I regularly work with private event groups that arrive downtown after work, with many events beginning around 6:00 PM. Parking is already a significant consideration when guests are deciding whether to book events downtown and extending paid parking enforcement into the evening could make it even more difficult for businesses like ours to attract and accommodate customers.
I respectfully ask the Council to keep parking meter enforcement hours at 6:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, rather than extending enforcement into the evening.
This issue also directly affects me as a Downtown resident. As someone who lives on First Street, I rely on street parking and would be personally affected by an extension of evening enforcement hours.
As part of that effort, I ask the City to commit to maintaining 90 minutes of free parking at all City garages. This is particularly important for customers making quick site tour visits Downtown and for those who are more price sensitive when deciding where to shop, dine, or attend events.
I also encourage the City to expand the discounted permit program and maintain the current 6:00 PM cutoff for evening meter enforcement.
Thank you for taking the time to hear from someone who both lives and works in Downtown San Jose. I appreciate your consideration of the impact these changes may have on Downtown residents, workers, businesses, and visitors.
Respectfully,
Motade Atanda
Events Director / Business Development
Urban Putt San Jose
I support the recommended FY 2026-27 increases to garage event rates (by $3) and garage hourly rates (by $1 per hour), effective October 2026, to close a portion of this year’s budget shortfall and begin to rebuild the Parking Fund balance after several years of drawdown. This is a reasonable first step. Beyond the current year, however, I ask that Council direct staff to identify alternative General Fund revenue sources to cover the ongoing $1.2 million transfer, rather than continuing to rely on rate and hour increases to Downtown’s dedicated Parking Enterprise Fund. Parking revenue is paid by Downtown residents, employees, customers, and visitors. This revenue should be reinvested in the parking system that generates it, not used as a structural General Fund backfill. I recognize the transfer is already built into the 2026-2027 Adopted Operating Budget. My request is that this not become a default transfer going forward, and that staff bring alternatives to the Council during future budget cycles.
I ask that the Council affirm this direction along with two conditions: first, that the City retain 90 minutes of free parking at all City garages, consistent with staff’s five-year plan, including at the Convention Center on non-event days; and second, that on-street meter and enforcement hours continue to end at 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, rather than extending to 9 p.m. Extended evening enforcement was one of the most consistent concerns raised during outreach, particularly for employees who work evening and closing shifts, and I believe it should not move forward at this time.
As someone who parks in these garages regularly, the most consistent theme I hear from neighbors and fellow Downtowners is not the price of parking, but the condition of it: cleanliness, security, lighting, signage and wayfinding, and elevator reliability. The staff report itself identifies significant unmet capital needs, including an $11-15 million elevator addition at the 2nd St/San Carlos Garage, a $2.5 million meter technology upgrade, a $1.5 million security camera system, and Market Street Garage façade and entrance improvements. Before any further meter or garage rate increases are considered, I ask that DOT work with the Downtown Parking Board and the San Jose Downtown Association to jointly develop a Downtown garage investment plan that commits future Parking Fund revenue to address these conditions. Downtown stakeholders should be able to see a clear connection between what they pay and the improvements they receive before being asked to pay more.
Finally, I support DOT’s recommendation to expand eligibility for the Downtown Employee Discounted Permit Parking Program by raising the qualifying income limit from 30% above the City’s hourly minimum wage to 50% above it, not including gratuities. Many of the people who make Downtown work, including servers and bartenders, are effectively locked out of this program today because their tips count against them. Raising the threshold will give significantly more Downtown employees access to a half-price monthly garage permit and ease the cost impact of these rate changes for the workforce that keeps our Downtown open and vibrant.
Thank you for the opportunity
to weigh in as a daily stakeholder in this Downtown. I appreciate staff’s willingness to slow down, engage broadly, and phase this proposal in response to community feedback, and I look forward to seeing continued partnership between the Downtown Parking Board, DOT, and the San Jose Downtown Association on a long-term comprehensive Downtown garage investment plan.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
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GABRIEL PENA
Downtown San Jose Employee
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September 29, 2026
Honorable Mayor and Members of the San Jose City Council 200 E. Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95113
RE: September 29, 2026, Agenda Item 5.2 - Parking Meter and Garage Rates and Hours Dear Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers:
Your local arts and entertainment partners have been working hard this past year to carry the message forward that Downtown is a safe, welcoming, vibrant place for everyone to enjoy. Downtown's parking system is core infrastructure for a healthy Downtown. It needs to be adequately funded, well maintained, and priced in a way that supports a positive experience, while remaining affordable for the employees who staff our restaurants, shops, and offices.
Parking revenue is paid by Downtown residents, employees, customers, and visitors. This revenue should be reinvested in the parking system that generates it, not used as a structural General Fund backfill. I ask that Council direct staff to identify alternative General Fund revenue sources. I recognize the transfer is already built into the 2026-2027 Adopted Operating Budget. My request is that this not become a default transfer going forward, and that staff bring alternatives to the Council during future budget cycles.
The staff report itself identifies significant unmet capital needs, including an $11-15 million elevator addition at the 2nd St/San Carlos Garage, a $2.5 million meter technology upgrade, a $1.5 million security camera system, and Market Street Garage façade and entrance improvements. Before any further meter or garage rate increases are considered, I ask that DOT work with the Downtown Parking Board and the San Jose Downtown Association to jointly develop a Downtown garage investment plan that commits future Parking Fund revenue to address these conditions.
Finally, I support DOT's recommendation to expand eligibility for the Downtown Employee Discounted Permit Parking Program by raising the qualifying income limit from 30% above the City's hourly minimum wage to 50% above it, not including gratuities. Many of the people who make Downtown work, including servers and bartenders, are effectively locked out of this program today because their tips count against them. Raising the threshold will give significantly more Downtown employees access to a half-price monthly garage permit and ease the cost impact of these rate changes for the workforce that keeps our Downtown open and vibrant.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Brendan Rawson
Executive Director, San Jose Jazz
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Downtown San José has made significant progress, but we are still working to increase foot traffic, strengthen the restaurant and retail environment, and create the level of activity Downtown needs. Parking policy should support those goals.
As the Council considers this proposal, we ask that you expand employee permit eligibility, maintain the current 6:00 p.m. meter enforcement cutoff, and preserve 90 minutes of free parking in City garages. These measures would allow the City to address its budget needs while recognizing the impact parking costs have on the employees, customers, and businesses that contribute to Downtown's vitality.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Maia Harris | Jay Paul Company
COO
Office: | Mobile:
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