Sonoma County had “valid reasons” for rejecting a state parks proposal in 2013 to install self-pay machines at 14 state parks along 35 miles of the Sonoma County coast, the staff of the California Coastal Commission has concluded.
The county’s reasons included concerns that the fees would reduce coastal access opportunities for Sonoma County residents, particularly those of low-income. The county also complained about the lack of detail about the fee proposal itself. (State officials have since indicated in a letter in late March that visitors would have the option of a flat all-day rate of $8 or an hourly rate of up to $3. Visitors would be allowed to park for free for 15 minutes.)
But no one should expect the county’s decision to be the last word on this struggle between those who want to preserve free access to local coastlines and those who are looking to increase revenues to maintain public amenities along the coast.
The bigger issue, one that will be taken up by the Coastal Commission at its meeting in San Rafael Wednesday, concerns who gets to make the final call. Staff is encouraging the commission members to take it on themselves, and it makes a good argument.