Work has finally begun on the parking pay station at the Tamarack Surf Beach parking lot that we first reported on November 17, 2007 when the California State Parks and Rec department first filed to build “an automated fee collection device in the Tamarack day use lot.”
Though we had hoped that the City of Carlsbad would work something out with the State of California it looks like that plan failed. Paying $8 for beach parking in Carlsbad won’t be long now.
Read what Carlsbad resident Richard Riehl thinks about this in his “freelance” North County Times column.
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This is a classic example of the old saying, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” The City of Carlsbad reaps all of the benefits of being a beach community, yet pays nothing towards the actual maintenance and oversight of the beaches. The State: “Will you help us payi for lifeguards, beach cleanup, or re-vegetation?” The City: “It’s the State’s property, it’s not our problem.”
The City of Carlsbad chose not to pay the State of California the $36k per year to keep Tamarack Beach parking free because the State was in the process of renewing their permit with the California Coastal Commission. So, the City figured as long as the State doesn’t have a permit, they don’t pay the $36k per year to keep the parking free.
Several years later, and a much worse economy, and the State of California needs to find ways to balance its books. The State realizes that it could produce many hundreds of thousands of dollars by charging parking fees at its various lots. The State pursues this option at the Tamarack Beach lot and what does the City do? It cries FOUL! “There will be overflow of traffic into the neighborhoods and safety concerns crossing HWY 101,” the City exclaims!
Well, wasn’t the City of Carlsbad in the least bit concerned about parking/traffic overflow into the neighborhoods and safety issues when it decided not to pay the $36K to keep the Tamarack Beach parking lot free?
Bravo Dr.Kibble!
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