Councilmembers will consider establishing a Parking Meter Zone at Balboa Park at Monday’s Special City Council meeting. They’ll also hear an update on implementing paid parking at the park. In the special meeting, the afternoon session will begin at 1:00 pm to allow more time for discussion.

From the Office of Council President Joe LaCava 

Special City Council Meeting – July 28, 2025 – 10 a.m.

Council Meeting Agenda

10 a.m. – Closed Session Public Comment, Closed Session – Agenda

1 p.m. – Discussion Items, Non-agenda Public Comment

Discussion Items

Item 600 – Balboa Park Paid Parking Implementation Update

At the request of the Mayor and City Council, the Parks and Recreation Department, with the assistance of the Office of the City Treasurer and Transportation Department, are collaborating to implement a paid parking program within Balboa Park to improve parking management, support long-term financial sustainability, and enhance the overall visitor experience.

As part of this effort, city staff have developed an initial implementation framework that includes proposed rates, potential revenue use, and considerations responsive to recent City Council requests.

The goal of the proposed paid parking program in Balboa Park is to ensure the availability of parking for park visitors through a tiered rate structure to help alleviate congestion and improve the overall visitor experience. The draft plan introduces three pricing tiers—Levels 1, 2, and 3—based on demand and proximity to key destinations within the Park.

These tiers would apply to surface lots, with pricing designed to better manage utilization and reduce congestion in the most impacted areas. The tier structure is informed by findings from the Parking Demand Management Study, which was presented to the City Council earlier this year.

Item 601 - Establishment of a Parking Meter Zone at Balboa Park

This item would approve an ordinance authorizing the Mayor or designee to create a parking meter zone at Balboa Park. The studies determined that the Balboa Park parking meter zone should be the area south of Upas Street, west of 28th Street, north of Russ Boulevard and west to and including the western side of 6th Avenue (Balboa Park Parking Meter Zone).

The City commissioned a Comprehensive Parking Study in June 2024 which was completed in January 2025. The study identified the need to better manage on-street and off-street parking inventory in some City-owned parking facilities, including Balboa Park.

The City is exploring the implementation of a paid parking program within Balboa Park to improve parking management, support long-term financial sustainability, and enhance the overall visitor experience.

Alongside that effort, the City is proposing implementing paid parking on adjacent City streets - Park Boulevard and 6th Avenue – to consistently manage parking within the area. This requires the establishment of a Parking Meter Zone encompassing Park Boulevard and 6th Avenue, consistent with Council Policy 200-04.

Item 602 - Proposed FY 2026 Statement of Budgetary Principles

This item would adopt the proposed FY 2026 Statement of Budgetary Principles to designate areas of Mayoral and Council authority, and to establish the processes by which budget and administrative information is communicated between the two branches in order to support the effective and efficient governance of the City.

Item 603 - Coastal Resilience Master Plan and Programmatic Environmental Impact Report

The Coastal Resilience Master Plan is an implementation action of Climate Resilient SD, the City of San Diego’s climate adaptation and resilience plan, aimed at addressing the growing risk of coastal flooding and erosion. Sea levels in the region are projected to rise significantly this century and storm surges and extreme tides are already impacting our coastline.

The City of San Diego is prioritizing a nature-based solution approach, where feasible, to mitigate risks, protect vital ecosystems and enhance community resilience. The Coastal Resilience Master Plan is informed by the City’s Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment, as well as the latest science and state guidance.

This item would adopt the Coastal Resilience Master Plan.

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