{"id":712,"date":"2026-06-17T11:32:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T11:32:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=712"},"modified":"2026-06-17T11:32:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T11:32:37","slug":"southern-calif-city-floats-parking-fees-to-close-looming-6m-budget-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanfranciscomovingguide.com\/?p=712","title":{"rendered":"Southern Calif. city floats parking fees to close looming $6M budget gap"},"content":{"rendered":"
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After San Diego\u2019s failed attempt to institute parking fees at its landmark Balboa Park, another Southern California city is considering parking fees to cover its budget shortfall.\u00a0<\/p>

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In April, Irvine\u2019s City Council reported that there would likely be a $6 million deficit that could grow exponentially by 2028 if the city didn\u2019t take quick steps to address the shortfall. Council members are now debating new revenue sources \u2014 one of which is charging\u00a0out-of-towners parking fees at the Great Park.<\/p><\/div>

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Council member Mike Carroll questioned why City Manager Sean Crumby had not considered charging for parking to help fill the deficit.<\/p><\/div>

\u201cI pay 20 to $30 a day to go to lacrosse tournaments in San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Los Angeles County,\u201d Carroll said at a May 5 council meeting. \u201c… There\u2019s absolutely no reason why the Great Park should not be charging for parking. And there\u2019s probably millions of dollars that are on the table.\u201d\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

Irvine\u2019s Great Park currently sits at around 500 acres but is still under development. Once construction is finished, the park will be larger than San Francisco\u2019s Golden Gate Park and nearly twice the size of New York City\u2019s Central Park. The park is made up of dozens of athletic spaces, walking trails,\u00a0themed playgrounds, an art gallery, and even a balloon ride and carousel.<\/p><\/div>

At a June 9 meeting, Steve Torelli, the director of the Great Park, told the council that they are developing a parking policy and working with an operator. He projected that charging nonresidents parking fees would generate $5 million annually, but it could be months before the program is implemented.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>

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\u201cI am tired on behalf of 318,000 residents … why everybody going to these lacrosse tournaments, from Yorba Linda and everywhere else, are not paying $40 to park their car so we can plug this budget crisis,\u201d Carroll said.\u00a0<\/p>

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