Committee amends park parking-rate ordinance, clarifies enforcement and delays final vote to Nov. 10

The Budget and Finance Committee on Nov. 3 accepted substantive amendments to an ordinance that would authorize the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) to set parking rates at several park-owned lots and garages, clarify enforcement authority for Park Patrol and align certain penalties with the transportation code. Committee members voted to continue the ordinance to the Nov. 10 meeting because the changes affect fees and require additional briefings.

Supervisor Rafael Peskin summarized the amendments, which (1) clarify Park Patrol's authority to issue citations on park property, (2) align fines for specified transportation-code violations occurring on park land with existing transportation-code fines, and (3) require that any future dynamic pricing model proposed by the MTA be reviewed and approved by the Board of Supervisors by resolution once the MTA and Rec and Park present supporting information.

Deputy City Attorney Manu Pradhan confirmed the proposed changes affect fee sections of mayoral legislation and advised the committee that the Board, under the City Charter, should seek the mayor's consent when amending fee proposals. Ashley Graffenburger, the mayor's budget director, appeared and said the mayor consents to the proposed amendments.

Sarah Madeline of the Recreation and Park Department said Rec and Park will work with MTA and the nonprofit operator of the Golden Gate Park garage (Music Concourse Community Partnership) to gather occupancy and revenue data; she said Rec and Park hopes to present proposed pricing in time to coincide with Board decisions about possible changes to JFK Drive in early 2022.

Why it matters: the ordinance would change who sets parking rates on park land and introduce dynamic-pricing authority. Committee members emphasized oversight and access concerns, including potential impacts on working families and requests to consider fee waivers or reduced rates for people affected by a car-free JFK Drive.

Outcome: the committee accepted the amendments and, because the changes were substantive with fee implications, voted to continue the item to the Nov. 10 Budget and Finance meeting for additional briefing and Rec and Park presence.

Next steps: Rec and Park and MTA are expected to provide further information about proposed rate-setting parameters and the dynamic-pricing plan before the item returns for committee consideration.