Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2026-2027
Problematic Parking at the County Building
⚠️ 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 6 findings
F1
Santa Cruz County’s June 2025 implementation of the ParkMobile app in its parking lot at 701 Ocean Street did not include adequate signage concerning paid parking hours, options for people without smartphones, language translations, and ADA placard exemptions. This created confusion and frustration for visitors trying to engage in County business.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors instruct the General Services Division to adopt a simpler methodology for all parking at 701 Ocean Street. The new requirements document should take into account the following: A. When a driver parks for 1 or 2 hours, the parking should be free of any data gathering. B. Beyond the free period, an alternative payment method needs to be devised to pay for parking that does not result in storage of personal data (license plate, credit card, email, or phone number) either at the county or a third-party vendor. C. Payment should not require the use of personal technology devices. D. Drivers should not have to enter the buildings in order to secure their parking. E. The rules about parking charges (for example, exemption for Board of Supervisors Meetings) should be posted publicly in the lot. F. Signage in appropriate languages other than English for any population segment above 10% of the total population. The requirements document should be completed by December 31, 2026 with a new system implemented by July 1, 2027. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)
F2
Poorly located new signage (in March 2026), has resulted in more confusion, not less.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors instruct the General Services Division to adopt a simpler methodology for all parking at 701 Ocean Street. The new requirements document should take into account the following: A. When a driver parks for 1 or 2 hours, the parking should be free of any data gathering. B. Beyond the free period, an alternative payment method needs to be devised to pay for parking that does not result in storage of personal data (license plate, credit card, email, or phone number) either at the county or a third-party vendor. C. Payment should not require the use of personal technology devices. D. Drivers should not have to enter the buildings in order to secure their parking. E. The rules about parking charges (for example, exemption for Board of Supervisors Meetings) should be posted publicly in the lot. F. Signage in appropriate languages other than English for any population segment above 10% of the total population. The requirements document should be completed by December 31, 2026 with a new system implemented by July 1, 2027. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)
R2
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors instruct the General Services Division to review contractual arrangements for any parking system, ensuring adequate security of personal information is in place to reduce County exposure to potential lawsuits. GSD to provide a written report back to the Board of Supervisors by December 31, 2027. (F2, F3, F4, F5)
F3
People who park for free in the visitor area are directed to engage with a third- party vendor (ParkMobile app) resulting in unnecessary exposure of private data and inconsistent fees.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors instruct the General Services Division to adopt a simpler methodology for all parking at 701 Ocean Street. The new requirements document should take into account the following: A. When a driver parks for 1 or 2 hours, the parking should be free of any data gathering. B. Beyond the free period, an alternative payment method needs to be devised to pay for parking that does not result in storage of personal data (license plate, credit card, email, or phone number) either at the county or a third-party vendor. C. Payment should not require the use of personal technology devices. D. Drivers should not have to enter the buildings in order to secure their parking. E. The rules about parking charges (for example, exemption for Board of Supervisors Meetings) should be posted publicly in the lot. F. Signage in appropriate languages other than English for any population segment above 10% of the total population. The requirements document should be completed by December 31, 2026 with a new system implemented by July 1, 2027. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)
R2
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors instruct the General Services Division to review contractual arrangements for any parking system, ensuring adequate security of personal information is in place to reduce County exposure to potential lawsuits. GSD to provide a written report back to the Board of Supervisors by December 31, 2027. (F2, F3, F4, F5)
F4
Those wishing to bypass the use of the ParkMobile app are penalized with the inconvenience of a trip to the third floor of the County Building. This workaround of ParkMobile is particularly onerous for people with mobility issues or small children.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors instruct the General Services Division to adopt a simpler methodology for all parking at 701 Ocean Street. The new requirements document should take into account the following: A. When a driver parks for 1 or 2 hours, the parking should be free of any data gathering. B. Beyond the free period, an alternative payment method needs to be devised to pay for parking that does not result in storage of personal data (license plate, credit card, email, or phone number) either at the county or a third-party vendor. C. Payment should not require the use of personal technology devices. D. Drivers should not have to enter the buildings in order to secure their parking. E. The rules about parking charges (for example, exemption for Board of Supervisors Meetings) should be posted publicly in the lot. F. Signage in appropriate languages other than English for any population segment above 10% of the total population. The requirements document should be completed by December 31, 2026 with a new system implemented by July 1, 2027. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)
R2
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors instruct the General Services Division to review contractual arrangements for any parking system, ensuring adequate security of personal information is in place to reduce County exposure to potential lawsuits. GSD to provide a written report back to the Board of Supervisors by December 31, 2027. (F2, F3, F4, F5)
F5
ParkMobile has recently experienced a data breach to their system resulting in the unnecessary exposure of private user data to hackers.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors instruct the General Services Division to adopt a simpler methodology for all parking at 701 Ocean Street. The new requirements document should take into account the following: A. When a driver parks for 1 or 2 hours, the parking should be free of any data gathering. B. Beyond the free period, an alternative payment method needs to be devised to pay for parking that does not result in storage of personal data (license plate, credit card, email, or phone number) either at the county or a third-party vendor. C. Payment should not require the use of personal technology devices. D. Drivers should not have to enter the buildings in order to secure their parking. E. The rules about parking charges (for example, exemption for Board of Supervisors Meetings) should be posted publicly in the lot. F. Signage in appropriate languages other than English for any population segment above 10% of the total population. The requirements document should be completed by December 31, 2026 with a new system implemented by July 1, 2027. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5)
R2
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors instruct the General Services Division to review contractual arrangements for any parking system, ensuring adequate security of personal information is in place to reduce County exposure to potential lawsuits. GSD to provide a written report back to the Board of Supervisors by December 31, 2027. (F2, F3, F4, F5)
F6
Recent lawsuits naming local governments for lack of security and unintended use of private data have raised issues of governmental obligations and liability with regard to same, resulting in potential exposure of the County of Santa Cruz to lawsuits. (Appendix A). .
No recommendations for this finding