Interim City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez: "I Don't Know What Harlingen Charges for Parking!" City Commission Meeting, 3/18/14

Interim City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez

At the 3/18/14 City Commission meeting, Interim City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez presented the first reading of the new, improved agenda item to change the ordinance on parking.  Unlike the first go-around, this agenda item actually includes the phrase "parking meter rate increase."  

This time Gonzalez gave a power point using selected facts, selected quotes and selected cities to again try to make his case for increasing downtown parking rates and funneling those monies into a downtown revitalization war chest.(Ramiro told me privately that the first expenditure of the revitalization fund would be the purchase of credit card accessible parking meters.Those gizmos are priced at about $1,400 each.)

When Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa noted that Gonzalez' comparison parking fees included New York, Chicago, Austin and San Antonio, she innocently asked if he had any comparisons from the "valley."  Gonzalez deftly responded that McAllen was at 75 cents, not mentioning Weslaco, Harlingen, Donna, Pharr or La Feria.  

"But, how much is Harlingen charging for parking?" asked Tetreau "innocently."

"Oh, uh, I don't know how much Harlingen charges.  I think 50 cents," responded Gonzalez, his nose growing noticeably longer.

Get this.  Ramiro Gonzalez can rattle off the parking rates of New York, Chicago, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, but has no idea how much Harlingen charges.  How convenient and what an obvious lie.  

Ramiro knows, just as I know, just as every typical Brownsville resident who occasionally has business, relatives or health care in Harlingen, that Harlingen has no parking meters;  not on Jackson Street, Harrison or Tyler, or any other street.  Parking is free in downtown Harlingen.  

The fact that Ramiro pretends not to know Harlingen has free parking downtown tells us all we need to know about his credibility. 

Empty meters on E. Jefferson during
downtown's busiest day.

Our pictorial evidence proved that the entire rationalization for a parking rate increase was a lie.  Brownsville's downtown "congestion" is only on two streets, Elizabeth and Washington Streets, from E. 10th to International Blvd.  St. Charles and Jefferson are empty during even peak business periods.   

If the employees of downtown businesses were "pumping meters" as young Ramiro suggests, they could have simply been directed to park on E. Jefferson, E. St. Charles or the nearly empty top two floors of the City Plaza parking garage.

In a deft move, future candidate for mayor, Commissioner Ricardo Longoria proposed a compromise raise to 50 cents with revenue in excess of funding parking meter enforcement going into the general fund.  Mayor Martinez skillfully reworded Longoria's motion to send downtown parking  revenue above $350,000 into the general fund.  Finance Director Pete Gonzalez put the annual cost of patrolling downtown parking meters at $310,000 with an annual shortfall of $10 to 20 thousand.(Commissioner John Villarreal tried lamely to speak for the parking rate raise based on $20,000 of taxpayer money being spent to subsidize the cost of downtown meter maids. Even Ramiro Gonzalez had difficulty embracing that theory.)

John, based on what you just said, Brownsville would be better off by $10-20 thousand annually with free parking like Harlingen. Then, there would be no need for a subsidy from the general fund.  John, please explain that back to me.

Commissioner Rose Gowen tried to get back to the original agenda item, using parking meter fees to fund "downtown revitalization." She said her primary attachment to the original agenda item was that a committee of downtown merchants would control how the money was spent.

Planner Ramiro Gonzalez admitted that the agenda item did not include wording for downtown merchants to control the revitalization fund, killing Gowen's argument.  He said that could all be worked out later.  Lol!

As Mayor Martinez called for public comment on the issue, he sighed:  "I suppose our friend Roberto (Uresti) wants to make a comment."  That little indiscreet condescension epitomizes Martinez total disdain for citizen involvement.  He wishes he could do a "Weslaco" and simply request the taxpayer audience to leave. 

Addendum:  I was disappointed that Commissioner Tetreau-Kalifa voted FOR the doubled parking rate after telling downtown property owners at the town hall forum she wouuld vote against it.  Of course, even with her "no" vote, the item would still have passed.

As for the $20,000 shortfall, elaborated on by Commissioner Villarreal, we will verify that with a Public Information Request.  Finance Director Pete Gonzalez clarified it as a "$10-20 thousand shortfall,"  so it may be overstated.  Anyway, $310,000 is collected annually in downtown parking fees, with either a $10 or 20 thousand kicked in from the general fund to pay for the difference in salaries. 

Harlingen, with free parking, has zero shortfall.