By Esteban Ramirez

Editor-in-Chief

University Police Chief Marty Williamson visited the ASI board of directors during its weekly meeting on Friday to inform the board of a possible $51 increase in annual parking fees when CSU Bakersfield converts to semesters next school year.

According to Williamson, the suggestion is to bring CSUB’s rate to the same as Fresno State, which is at $93 per semester and would be $186 for the year.

Williamson said after talks with Vice President of Business and Administrative Services Thom Davis, they recognized there is a need for quality parking in the near future. However, Williamson said that CSUB does not have enough money in the parking fund to be able to build what the needs are.

“We cannot use general fund money to maintain or build parking lots,” Williamson said during the meeting. “It’s against the law, so the only money we can use is that which is raised by parking fees.”

He said that it is estimated between $2,000 and $3,000 per space when someone decides to build a parking lot.

“We need to consider raising our parking fees in order to build additional lots,” he said.

Therefore, passes for fall and spring semesters would be raised from $67.50 ($135 for the year) to $93 and he said that passes for summer or the winter sessions would be around $50 to $60.

“When you go buy your permit for the new semesters, that is when it will be in effect,” said Williamson. “Then we would make a decision what lot to build and how many to build probably in September.”

If CSUB raises its fees, it still would be in the bottom-three of CSUs for parking fees.

He added that they feel the next parking lot needs to be on the north end of campus. One possible location would be just to the west of lot A, which is by the Doré Theatre, and the other would be by lots K1 and K2, which are between the new residence halls and campus.

According to Williamson, if they add on to K1 and K2, there is only enough room for 350 spaces, but there is more space available by lot A.

A new parking area next to lot A would also be completed a lot sooner than next to the K lots. Williamson said that the infrastructure is already there and if they make a decision by September, it could be done by August 2017.

On the other hand, if they decide on the area near the K lots, that could take 11 to 18 months.

Director of Sustainability Oscar Alvarez said that it is important that everyone is onboard with the increase.

“It’s instrumental for students to know where the fees are going or when is the rebuilding going to start,” Alvarez said.

Williamson said they are taking a wait-and-see approach on how many spaces will be made until they see how many they need.

ASI Executive Vice President Jennifer Sanchez said that she is not in favor of the increase.

“If we need more parking, then I would be in favor of that if students of course voice their opinions,” Sanchez said. “This next week I’m going to keep an open mind and talk to students, get student opinions and see what the real attitude is on campus.”

The ASI board said that they will discuss in next week’s meeting whether they agree or disagree with raising the fees as well as adding staff and faculty designated parking.

ASI also inducted a new member to the board. The new director of housing is freshman Aliyah Lakes.

There were no other campus issues reported during the meeting.

ASI meets every Friday from 3:15 to 5 p.m. in the ITV Studio Center C.