Editor-in-Chief
After weeks of back-and-forth discussions, the Associated Students Inc. board of directors approved the proposal for a $51 annual parking fee increase next school year to make a new parking lot at CSU Bakersfield during its meeting on Friday.
The ASI board approved to have the new lot be in Parking Lot K (Lot “K3”) and agreed to increase the semester parking fee from $67.50 to $93 and the annual fee from $135 to $186.
Twelve members of the board voted in favor of the parking fee increase and having the new parking spots in Lot “K3” and six members voted against it.
One of the conditions that ASI proposed is that this lot would have to be built before any other lot. Another condition is that “appropriate members of the university shall include students in every conversation and or meeting in regards to future development of parking.
“I’ve heard a lot of positive responses,” said Vice President of University Affairs Anish Mohan, who voted for the fee increase. “They do want to increase the parking lots and are willing to pay the extra fee. Right now, we don’t have the need for it, but our population is increasing fast and I (didn’t) want to be the reason why people have a problem with this in the future.”
The money for the parking fees go into maintenance and up-keep for the parking lots.
Director of Sustainability Oscar Alvarez said in his recent talks with students that it’s something they need in the future but not now.
He added that some students can understand the increase.
“I’ve heard from a few people were opposed to it, but the majority would be in favor,” said Alvarez.
During the meeting, Director of Legislative Affairs Pedro Naveiras, who voted against it, said that the increase could be another barrier for students to come to CSUB.
“I don’t want to add other barriers of entry into this CSU, specifically here in Bakersfield because there aren’t any options for a lot of people,” Naveiras said. “We don’t have a lot of people moving to L.A. to go to CSULA or to San Francisco or San Diego for their CSUs.”
