RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> Each day more than 1,000 riders board the Metrolink from the station off Milliken Avenue, but by August, those users may have to start paying to park at the station.
Currently, it is free to park at the station, but a proposal by the city could impose a daily fee, something other cities already do, said Mark Steur, director of engineering.
With expenditures exceeding what is currently budgeted, officials say the measure could generate $164,000 annually and keep the city from dipping into its reserves.
“Staff has worked diligently with the Public Works subcommittee to develop a solution to address that shortfall,” he said.
The motion has already gained approval of the City Council last month to look into a paid parking program. The city will seek approval from San Bernardino Associated Government to implement the program.
If it gains SanBAG approval, the fees could be in place by August, city officials said.
SanBAG officials have received the request and are still evaluating the next step, said Jane Dreher, public information officer for SanBAG.
In the 2013-14 fiscal year, Rancho Cucamonga allocated $237,120 for the operation, maintenance, and security guard contract services at the two parking lots.
Rather than operating at a loss, staff is looking to impose a $4.50 daily fee and monthly fees that would range from $25 to $30 to help recoup operating costs. If implemented, the paid program could generate $164,000 annually, said Tiffany Cooper, management analyst for Rancho Cucamonga.
“At this point, it does not cover the full cost of maintaining the full property. It is something and should help with any additional maintenance,” she said.
There are two major parking lots, totaling 982 parking spaces. Of those, 20 are handicap spaces, two are electric vehicle spaces,
For the past 20 years, the city has had an agreement with SanBAG to maintain the property at the station including parking lot, landscaping, lighting, utilities, security and maintaining the pedestrian underpass.
Funding for those costs has come from the Landscape Maintenance District 3B assessments as well as capital reserves funds. The city also relied on its former redevelopment agency for funding.
“This was not intended to be a long-term funding source,” Cooper said. “City staff had to look at other options to create revenue.”
This past June, the city teamed up with Cal Poly Pomona candidates in a masters of public administration program to conduct a survey to “get the pulse of Metrolink riders,” Cooper said.
Results showed if riders were to be charged for parking, they wanted to make sure the parking lot was clean and maintained.
Not only does the city currently provide those services but they would be enhanced, Cooper said, including the addition of video surveillance as well as continued on site security.
It would also mean an increased law enforcement presence since Rancho Cucamonga sheriff’s personnel would oversee enforcement and citations at the lot.
As part of the proposal, the city will bring in an outside vendor, Clancy Systems, to handle the paid parking program.
Staff did look at administering the program in house or to outsource it and found that it would cost Rancho Cucamonga $84,000 annually for staff time and other related fees.
By bringing in Clancy Systems to operate the program it will cost $25,000 for service charges and fees.
Rancho Cucamonga expects the paid program will result in a loss of about 10 percent of ridership, she said.
“We still estimate there being 600 cars using the parking lots on any given day,” Cooper said.
Councilman Marc Steinorth pointed to the fact that the city is not allowed to profit from the site.
“This becomes revenue neutral as opposed to a revenue loss to the city,” he said. “We have a parking site where we are losing revenue, where it is costing money. The proposal increases the services we provide, we beef up security and maintain the area better by having these fees extensively cover the costs.”
