Santa Monica : Council Cuts Maintenance Fee

The City Council has approved a resolution that reduces the maintenance fee paid by merchants in the Third Street Mall and Downtown Maintenance District.

Merchants will be assessed a fee that is three times what they pay for a city businesses license tax instead of five times the tax.

Last June, the council voted to install parking meters in downtown public parking garages so it could reduce the fee, which merchants said was causing businesses to leave the area and deterring others from locating there.

The meters, which will end a 15-year tradition of free parking in downtown Santa Monica are scheduled to be installed Oct. 1. They are expected to raise almost $700,000 a year.