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# Parking just got cheaper
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/parking-just-got-cheaper/
- Published: 2008-01-26T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T23:08:35.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Parking fees to see reduction*

Finding a place to park in Santa Monica has just become a little easier on the wallet.

Rates at two of the newest public parking structures in the city — the Santa Monica Public Library underground garage and the colorful Civic Center parking structure — have been reduced to $3, depending on the time of day.

The City Council unanimously voted to reduce the fee to a flat $3 at the library during weekends and holidays and at the Civic Center garage during weekends and holidays when there are no events scheduled.

The council also decided to waive parking fees at the Civic Center garage for up to 25 Santa Monica High School evening events a year as well as for visitors to meetings and events that are sponsored by City Hall and are free to the public.

The changes will help address the issue of congestion in downtown Santa Monica, keeping employees, such as retail workers, from moving their car every few hours and circling city blocks, said Eileen Fogarty, the planning and community development director.

The main library opened in January 2006 while the Civic Center garage — designed to fit with the future Civic Center area that will include athletic playing fields and affordable and market-rate housing — opened in April of last year.

The Civic Center garage opened ahead of the other projects to provide relief to the downtown parking shortage but occupancy has appeared to be low since its opening.

The library holds 525 spaces while the Civic Center, whose maximum daily rate is $8, can accommodate more than 740 vehicles.

The loss of revenue at the library is estimated to be about $18,000 annually, while high school events — assuming an $8 rate — had the potential to bring in about $50,000 to $65,000 a year to the Civic Center garage, depending on the occupancy, according to Fogarty.

Mayor Pro Tem Richard Bloom expressed concerns about the environmental impact on reducing parking fees, feeling it might send a message that it’s OK to get in a car.

“Congestion is a huge issue for this community,” Bloom said. “The community needs to take personal responsibility for this issue.”

Councilmember Ken Genser said that offering free and reduced parking for civic events such as city-sponsored beach clean-ups and Parent Teacher Association meetings help create a resident-centered community.

“The times when we as a community can really enforce the smaller town community feeling I think enhances the quality of life for people here,” Genser said.

Jump hedline – Parking fees for high school events waived

Suggested pullquote - “The times when we as a community can really enforce the smaller town community feeling I think enhances the quality of life for people here.”

Ken Genser

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 26, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/012608.pdf?ref=smdp.com)