Campillo Proposes Ballot Measure to Keep Beach, Bay Parking Free

San Diego City Council committee approves moving forward with proposal

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:24am

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The San Diego City Council's Rules Committee has initially approved a proposed ballot measure by Councilman Raul Campillo to keep parking at the city's beaches and bays free unless voters decide otherwise. The measure would insert the current practice of free parking at beaches and bays into the city's code, and would not apply to existing paid parking programs elsewhere in the city.

Why it matters

This proposal comes after the city's previous attempt to introduce parking fees at Balboa Park, which faced significant public backlash. Campillo hopes this measure will protect access to the city's most treasured public spaces and increase transparency and accountability at City Hall.

The details

Campillo's measure was advanced to a second committee discussion for further consideration. If approved at the second reading, it would advance to the full City Council for final approval and be placed on the ballot in November. Campillo's office will work with the city attorney and independent budget analyst to provide preliminary analyses of the proposal and draft the framework for a ballot measure.

  • The Rules Committee initially approved the proposed ballot measure on March 18, 2026.
  • The measure will advance to a second committee discussion for further consideration.

The players

Raul Campillo

A San Diego City Councilman who proposed the ballot measure to keep parking at the city's beaches and bays free.

San Diego City Council

The city's governing body that will consider the proposed ballot measure.

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What they’re saying

“I brought this item forward in hopes of making sure the city does not repeat the same mistake we saw with the proposed parking fees at Balboa Park. This is about making sure access to our most treasured public spaces remains clear, protected and accountable to the people of San Diego — and it's just one part of a larger series of transparency and accountability initiatives I will be bringing forward in an effort to clean up City Hall and ensure we have the right protocols in place moving forward.”

— Raul Campillo, San Diego City Councilman

What’s next

If approved at the second committee reading, the proposed ballot measure will advance to the full San Diego City Council for final approval and be placed on the November 2026 ballot.

The takeaway

This proposal aims to enshrine free parking at San Diego's beaches and bays into the city's code, protecting public access to these treasured spaces and addressing concerns about transparency and accountability at City Hall.