New economic development committee wades right into Sausalito's parking wars

In its first working session since being filled out to 12 members, the newly formed Economic Development Advisory Committee spent much of its time on a subject that outlasts any orientation slide: parking. Council has directed staff to convert part of Caledonia Street from parallel to angled parking, adding roughly 31 spaces, to comply with AB 413 daylighting rules — using planters and beautification rather than bare hardscape, and with at least one public meeting required before anything is built.

“Do we want to start charging for parking as a revenue stream? We put that on secondary hold, but that's also a question we want feedback on.”— Councilmember Hoffman

Councilmember Hoffman framed the approach as consultative rather than a done deal: "This is listening — we want to hear their concerns and incorporate them, not present an already baked program they have to accept," she told the committee. EDAC member Yoshi acknowledged the anxiety among merchants who fear losing spaces near their storefronts — "We are threatened by possibly losing 21 parking spaces" — but argued the pilot could be turned into a plus for the corridor.

The parking talk didn't stop there. Hoffman raised the bigger, unresolved question of whether downtown parking should be priced at all as a city revenue source, a discussion Council has previously tabled. Chamber liaison Meili Zhao said she's fielded angry emails from business owners over enforcement, including one couple ticketed for roughly $2,000. Chair Levi Eastwood eventually pulled the group back to the agenda, calling the detour "completely normal" for a new committee finding its footing.

No votes were taken — EDAC is advisory only — but the group agreed informally to help with merchant outreach on the Caledonia pilot through the new Caledonia Merchants Association, coordinating with Public Works, with an update possibly heading to Council on September 1.