Tamarack beach parking fees approved by Coastal Commission
May 9th, 2008 Categories: Carlsbad 'best of', Carlsbad Beaches, Carlsbad Business Community, Carlsbad City, Carlsbad Community Events, Carlsbad Outdoor Events, Carlsbad South
CARLSBAD– The California Coastal commission voted 11–1 approving converting the Tamarack State Beach parking lot from a free lot to a pay to park. The proposed fee is $8 for the day or one could buy an annual pass for $125. With the state budget deficit, it was a no brainer that this would pass. However the approval does not mean the change is happening right away. See in the past the state had approval to do this but the city paid an annual fee to keep the machine from going up. So while the public perception was that it was a free lot, it was not. That situation ended when the states conditional use permit expired and here lies the surprise.
When the latest proposal first surfaced, the state said converting the lot would generate about $200,000 in fees. The city, surprised that the state was looking into this again, mentioned the possibility of picking up the tab again. The state was amiable to this and during yesterday’s hearing attended by Carlsbad council members, stated the expected revenue to 
be… $350,000 to $560,000. Huh?
A topic of discussion as to why the city SHOULD pay the fee to keep the lot open was apparently not that it served a better public good, but that Carlsbad could afford it.
Commission Chairman Patrick Kruer of La Jolla called Carlsbad a financial “success story” and quizzed city officials on their reluctance to pay.
“I was surprised to hear you don’t subsidize (parking) anymore,” Kruer said. “If there’s any city in the state of California or county of San Diego that could help out, it would be the city of Carlsbad.”
And Commissioner Ben Hueso, a San Diego councilman, said nearly all of Carlsbad’s beaches are in the state parks system, thereby relieving the city of the burden of paying lifeguards.
“That’s a big contribution to the city of Carlsbad,” Hueso said. “I agree with (Kruer) that the city could do a lot to solve this problem.” – San Diego Union Tribune, 5/9/2008
Mayor was quoted later as saying that, “it was the first time I’ve been bashed for being economically sound”. North County Times 5/9/2008
Now the topic of lifeguards is not new to Carlsbad either. Mayor Bud Lewis has always held that they are the state’s beaches making them the state’s responsibility. This has prompted other cities to complain that Carlsbad, like Encinitas, should pay to patrol them because even though they are the property of the state, the city benefits from the tourism appeal. I tend to agree with the Mayor as the state charges the city an access fee for events such as the Carlsbad Triathlon sponsored by yours truly. If you want the city to fund the 
services, turn over control.
Will the state implement the pay to park? Yes. Will parking on the residential streets get worse? Yes. Will the city take this in to account and cough up the money? Most likely. Will Vigiluccis lose their overflow parking?
Lastly, a phone call to new Carlsbad city manager’s office Lisa Hildabrand revealed an inaccuracy in the Union’s article. The city and state have not yet scheduled a meeting. I will try to find out when this happens and will post it here.
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