Score: -2 (1/1/3)

San Diego County Grand Jury • 2024-2025

Parking Roulette in the City of San Diego

Published: January 08, 2025 16 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 5 findings

F01

Community Parking Districts generally do not operate as independent and accountable entities, do not meet the stipulated transparency requirements of their agreements with the City of San Diego, spend a significant percentage of allotted revenues on administrative costs, and create unnecessary layers of bureaucracy. Fact: The City of San Diego uses both single and multi-space parking meters which accept different modes of payment. 9

No recommendations for this finding

F02

As indicated in the January 2025 Parking Demand Management Study as well as Community Parking District meeting notes, parking meter signage could be improved, especially in areas relying on multi-space meters. Fact: The January 2025 Parking Demand Management Study reported that private parking lot charges vary dramatically across the City.

No recommendations for this finding

F03

Not all private parking lots clearly advertise their prices so drivers can see them from the street. Fact: Parking around Petco Park during special events is subject to a special agreement, the 2015 Petco Park Event Transportation and Parking Management Plan. Fact: Neither the Municipal Code nor the 2015 Petco Park Event Transportation and Parking Management Plan exempt Petco Park from the signage requirements associated with special events City-wide.

No recommendations for this finding

F04

Signage associated with Petco events is not consistent with City standards for special events concerning type, placement, and information displayed. Fact: In 2017 the City Attorney advised that parking meter fees “cannot be levied for general revenue purposes,” referencing California state code.

No recommendations for this finding

F05

The City has not been transparent about its own handling of parking meter revenues collected directly by the City outside of the Community Parking Districts.

No recommendations for this finding

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

Sheriff's Department

October 21, 2025 • 6 pages • 5 responses • Score: -2 (+1, 1, -3) View Details ▾

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5 responses to findings and recommendations

R1

Develop system-wide jail metrics to be used as performance indicators for CQI purposes targeting incarcerated persons requests for medical/mental health services.

Response: Will Not Implement

Scheduled: Fiscal Year 2025 Score: -1

The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not reasonable. The City of San Diego recently completed a review of the Fiscal Year 2025 Community Parking District program. The program review found that the majority of Community Parking District managing organizations were unable to provide documentation required by their contracts, many had concerning contract management practices related to subcontractor agreements, fees, and invoicing, and the majority of program funds were going to administrative expenses and low priority projects. The City of San Diego is currently evaluating up...

R2

Develop system-wide jail metrics to be used as performance indicators for CQI purposes targeting MAT programming.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

The recommendation has been implemented. The City's Transportation Department and Office of the City Treasurer standardized signage related to multi-space parking meters in July 2025, and this signage was implemented along 5th Avenue in Downtown. This standard signage will continue to be installed as new multi-space parking meters are installed throughout the City, and as single space meters are converted to multi-space parking meters. Additionally, the City will continue to install mid-block signage on long blocks where there are multispace parking meters, consistent with the recommendations ...

R3

Develop system-wide jail metrics to be used as performance indicators for CQI purposes targeting incarcerated persons grievances.

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not reasonable. The City of San Diego does not currently have an enforcement mechanism to require private commercial parking lots to display their parking rates. With limited capacity, the City must prioritize the enforcement of on-street parking requirements and parking at public facilities. Establishing a new policy and enforcement program for private lots would require significant resources, but may be considered in the future.

R4

Develop metrics to be used as performance indicators for CQI purposes targeting safety checks and the review of all safety checks by every level of command. These metrics shall be developed using aggregate data throughout the jail system. 13

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted. The current process provides drivers with notice they are parking within a Petco special event location where they are subject to no parking restrictions. The specific times of enforcement are also posted and reinforced when they attempt to make a payment for their space. Therefore, the City does not agree with changing the signage process. The City will, however, add additional contact information to its temporary signage and continually evaluate potential digital notification improvements.

R5

Implement a CQI dashboard display available to the public on the SDSO website. This dashboard shall include the following four jail functions: • Incarcerated persons request for medical/mental health services • Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder • Incarcerated persons grievances • Safety checks The dashboard shall also include all jail functions that have both custodial and healthcare functions.

Response: Will Implement

Scheduled: Fiscal Year 2026 Score: +1

The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future. The City of San Diego is currently developing a process to publish parking meter revenue and spending data. This is anticipated to be implemented for Fiscal Year 2026 and published in the fall of 2026, then published annually thereafter.

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

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