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September 22, 2025

The San Diego City Council is considering a Paid Parking Program for Balboa Park that would implement tiered rates in surface lots while offering discounts for residents and free parking for park employees and volunteers, with revenue dedicated to park maintenance. Additionally, the Council has approved creating a Parking Meter Zone for streets around the park and will implement special-event parking rate increases to $10 per hour near Petco Park for events with over 10,000 attendees beginning September 1. Other recent developments include California Attorney General Rob Bonta issuing guidance to protect immigrants from scams and the adoption of a Residential Tenant Utility Fee Ordinance that prevents landlords from charging tenants more than the actual cost of city utilities, effective August 17, 2025.

Who is affected

San Diego residents, park employees, volunteers, seniors, people with disabilities, and lower-income families (regarding Balboa Park parking)
Downtown visitors attending Padres games, concerts, and events at Petco Park
Immigrant communities vulnerable to scams
Residential tenants and landlords throughout San Diego, including District 4

What action is being taken

The City Council is reviewing a proposed Paid Parking Program for Balboa Park
Special-event parking rates near Petco Park are being increased to $10 per hour for major events
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is providing updated guidance to help immigrants avoid scams
The Residential Tenant Utility Fee Ordinance is being implemented to require transparency in utility billing

Why it matters

Revenue from parking fees will directly fund park maintenance and improvements in Balboa Park
The increased parking rates around Petco Park aim to ease congestion during high-demand times while generating revenue for local infrastructure
The Attorney General's guidance helps protect vulnerable immigrant communities from predatory actors exploiting fear
The new tenant utility ordinance promotes housing stability and transparency by preventing landlords from overcharging for utilities

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint