CITY COUNCIL: $10 Surcharge on Noncommercial California Vehicle Registrations to Fund Maintenance of State Parks & Ranger Services

Meeting Date: August 5, 2007
Prepared by: Rich Guillen

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Receive draft letter and provide policy direction in support of a $10 surcharge on noncommercial California vehicle registrations to fund maintenance of state parks and ranger services.

Description: In late May, Assemblyman Laird proposed an annual $10 surcharge on noncommercial California vehicle registrations as a long-term solution to fund the deferred maintenance and operations of the California Parks System. In exchange, anyone in a vehicle with California plates, including rental cars, would gain free admittance to the parks. The State of Montana has a similar plan that has been very successful.

According to Assemblyman Laird, by freezing the current budget support for parks and adding the new support from vehicle registrations, California would have $40 million to cover the park entrance fees ($6-$10 per car) currently paid by California residents, $120 million more for operations, and $62 million more to address the backlog of deferred maintenance.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: N/A
Grant Funds: N/A

Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council approve sending the letter to Assemblyman Laird in support of the $10 surcharge on noncommercial vehicle registrations.

Important Considerations: A private poll by the State Parks Foundation shows 74 percent of Californians support this proposal. According to a Laird staffer, the proposal was introduced too late to be included in the pending 2008-09 budget, but will still be considered as an ancillary item.

Decision Record:

Reviewed:


Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date


DRAFT
The Honorable John Laird
State Capitol Building, Room 2196
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support of $10 surcharge on noncommercial vehicle registrations to fund park maintenance

Dear Assemblyman Laird:
The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea supports your proposal to add a $10 surcharge on noncommercial California vehicle registrations to help fund the maintenance of the California State Parks system and ongoing ranger services, in exchange for allowing free access to state residents.

This proposal seems to us to be a winning proposition for all concerned. The state will receive necessary funding to address the much needed, deferred maintenance and operation of its parks, and all state residents will be able to access and enjoy our wonderful parks at no cost, other than the $10 vehicle fee. Clearly, California faces serious budgetary issues; however, closing our State parks or making them unaffordable to many through higher fees would be a shame. Your plan does much to share the burden with the state’s vehicle owners, yet rewards them for doing so.

We, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, are fortunate to have Point Lobos right in our area. Your Parks Access Pass plan is especially attractive for urban families, who might otherwise be unable to partake in the beauty of California’s wild and scenic landscape.

Thank you for your creative leadership in this regard.

Sincerely,

Rich Guillen
City Administrator