-Editorial
Calexico is taking the first step in revamping its parking meter system by officially establishing a designated meter zone, a requirement under current law. The measure, discussed in recent city council meetings, will ensure meters are placed only in authorized areas, setting the stage for future updates to the parking system.
The Calexico City Council approved the second reading and adoption of an ordinance amending Calexico Municipal Code Chapter 10.28 regarding parking meters and zones at its April 3rd meeting.
Calexico Police Chief Armando Orozco explained the necessity of this move, stating that previous regulations assumed a meter zone was already in place, given that parking meters have existed in the city since 1953. However, legal requirements have since evolved, necessitating the formal creation of a designated area.
“This ordinance doesn’t change prices or hours right now,” Orozco said. “The first step is to establish the meter zone. Once that is done, we can discuss hours of operation and pricing.”
The city is also preparing to modernize its parking infrastructure. The current meters, installed in 2005, only accept coins and are expensive to maintain due to a lack of available replacement parts. The proposed new meters will offer modern payment options, including credit card and electronic payments.
“These new meters will have tap-to-pay options and will be more in line with modern parking systems,” Orozco explained.
Additionally, the city is considering implementing parking kiosks for public lots. These kiosks would require drivers to enter their license plate numbers and pay for their parking time in advance.
To ensure public involvement, the city has held multiple town hall meetings and workshops, with both business owners and residents providing feedback.
“We had about 30 participants in the last town hall, including six business owners,” Orozco said. “We listened to their concerns and suggestions.”
Orozco explained that the two-hour parking rule applies from 8 AM to 8 PM. He initially proposed a rate of $1.25 per hour, with the extra 25 cents intended to help fund a downtown office.
The city is also considering a pay-as-you-go system for nighttime parking, particularly for those who leave their vehicles in downtown Calexico while visiting Mexicali. Under this proposal, drivers would prepay for parking hours based on their expected return time.
Now approved, the ordinance will take effect 30 days later.
Following that, the city will move forward with selecting a company to install the new meters and determining final pricing and operational details.
“The goal is to bring in revenue while working with the public,” Orozco said.
