Jim Nantell emailed me this and gave permission to include it on this blog about why Burlingame does not offer free parking a la San Mateo:

I have been developing some info on the subject in terms of what we will do this year and thought I would share Arne's (Ed: Arne Croce, City Manager San Mateo)response on what SM is doing this holiday season. Our figures are totally accurate but it looks like it would cost our parking fund $70,000 to $100,000 in lost revenue to the same thing. And we will be looking for feedback from the DBID membership about losing that amount each year that rolls into the streetscape (or parking lot) funding is something they feel is worth it. I don't think anyone would feel splitting the lost revenue with the DBID is a high priority for their limited funds. As you may recall from the Redwood City Forum presentation regarding the "high Cost of Free Parking" – The key issue is you don't want to do anything that increases employee parking in customer parking areas.

Jim, "After dropping downtown holiday parking a few years ago, the DSMA asked us to do it last year. We went with 2 hours free from Thanksgiving through New Years. As it cost the City $, we agreed to split the cost with the DSMA. They have decided not do it again this year." Arne Croce

– Written by Fiona