A group of students, staff and faculty met to discuss possible changes to where staff and students will park during the fall semester, in light of a recent fee increase levied on students by President Donald Gerth.

In preparation for the student parking fee increase next semester, a temporary action committee commissioned by the Transportation Advisory Committee met Friday with one topic on their agenda: how to equitably allocate parking spaces for students who will soon pay a higher parking fee than faculty and staff.

A student parking permit will cost $85.50 for the fall 2002 semester, but unless the unions representing the professors and employees at the university compromise with the California State University system, faculty and staff parking fees will remain at $63.

The ad hoc committee, comprised of students, staff and faculty, discussed what defines parking fairness, given the difference in what students may have to pay.

Val Smith, chair of both the ad hoc committee and TAC, said that the two main concerns are how to allocate parking spaces among students and faculty in the new Parking Structure II, and the proximity of spaces for each group to the center of campus.

The local divisions of the California Faculty Association met over the weekend to discuss the option of a parking fee hike for faculty and staff.

Smith said that he felt that the best situation would be if the two unions representing faculty and staff would approve a parking fee increase. Currently, a fee increase for faculty and staff violates both union contracts. Smith said that this creates an “unfair situation,” making it difficult for the committee to reach consensus about parking provisions for next semester.

Currently students have to pay an increase for parking passes in fall semester, and staff and faculty parking fees will remain the same. Committee member Kevin Greene, a senior at Sacramento State, said that he proposed giving students Parking Structure II in its entirety. His proposal would also guarantee Lot 2, which runs from the Hornet Bookstore to Foley Hall, for student use. Lots 1 and 6?near the Health Center and University Union, respectively?would go entirely to faculty and staff. All other lot configurations would remain the same.

Robert Wassmaer, a professor in the Public Policy and Administration graduate program, recommended allocating 15 percent of parking spaces to faculty and staff with the rest reserved for students. His recommendation was based on a formula that takes into account the ratio of student and faculty dollars paid for permits to spaces allotted for each. Staff and faculty parking take up 20 percent of campus parking spaces now.

Smith said all the possibilities are on the table for a recommendation.

“I?m pretty confident that we as a committee can come up with a consensus that will be agreeable for everyone,” Smith said.

Smith was reluctant to go into detail about suggestions that the committee discussed, becausethe suggestions are only in preliminary discussion.

“There is no proposal yet,” Smith said.

Smith said that the committee plans to submit a hard copy of a proposal to Ed Del Biaggio, Vice President for Administration, on May 13.

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