Late in the academic year 1997-98, DFA learned through Ken Ealy, Employee Relations, that UCD planned to increase parking fees dramatically for 1998-99: “A” stickers (for faculty) rates would rise from $360 annually to $408 (monthly from $30 to $34). We were further informed that this fee is projected to grow to $948 in 2004-5.
Our response, stated, among other things, that while we understand that parking fees are needed to construct new lots, “The proposed increases are to finance parking structures and lots that will minimally serve those who are paying for them. These lots are intended to provide parking for the public attending the new arts complex. In the meantime, new buildings are being built on the site of old parking lots that the faculty and others have already financed.”
Bryan Miller, the late Chair of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate, also wrote to Chancellor Vanderhoef, asking a number of questions regarding this proposed fee increase. He echoed the DFA’s request for a moratorium on further increases, at least until alternative plans are reconsidered and/or the current plan is fully justified.
In the fall, Janet Hamilton, Vice Chancellor for Administration, replied to Miller, with copies to the Faculty Welfare Committee and the DFA. Neither of these organizations are satisfied with what she wrote. Her long response included the following comments:
“The primary utilization …of the Lake District parking facilities is to accommodate day-to-day 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. campus parking patrons (faculty, staff, students, and visitors)…The Center for the Performing Arts is planned … to be an evening and weekend event venue whose patrons will pay a special events parking fee…”
She noted that alternatives to building more structures have been considered and rejected. Remote parking with free shuttles was abandoned due to low usage. To “leave existing surface lots in place and build additional surface lots… would force academic buildings to be located on sites increasingly distant from the buildings that house like disciplines.” She also said, “The State Budget Office has not supported the replacement cost of displaced parking—the State chooses to spend its money on the facilities necessary to support academic programs… [Care is taken so that] any surface parking lot that is removed to make room for another structure has been fully amortized [which usually takes] 7 to 10 years.”
Both the Welfare Committee and the DFA responded to one part of her letter. She stated ” The Office of Administration is currently looking at the appropriate mechanism(s) to collect feedback from its constituencies for all units reporting to the Office of Administration.” The DFA offered to volunteer one of its members to serve on an advisory committee that would address the parking cost issue.
Frank Samaniego, Chair of Faculty Welfare, has requested John Vohs, Vice Chair of the Academic Senate, to bring before the Representative Assembly a proposal to create a Standing Committee on Campus Parking that would be charged with reviewing, monitoring and evaluating the availability, quality and cost of campus parking, and would render advice, as appropriate, to the Senate and the campus administration regarding these matters. The DFA will continue to watch this issue.