CALIFORNIANS SHOULD pay an additional $10 to renew their vehicle registration each year, according to the Carmel City Council. As proposed by Assemblyman John Laird in May, the fee would help pay for maintenance and rangers in state parks.

“In exchange, anyone in a vehicle with California plates, including rental cars, would gain free admittance to the parks,” city administrator Rich Guillen told the council in his Aug. 5 report. “The State of Montana has a similar plan that has been very successful.”

Guillen said he thought the proposal was a good idea but wanted the council’s input since it involves money.

“State parks are an important resource in our state,” he said. “I wanted to see if the council would authorize sending a letter of support.”

According to Laird’s figures, car owners would provide $40 million to cover park entrance fees of $6 to $10 per car, $120 million for operations and $62 million for deferred maintenance. Guillen reported a state parks foundation poll indicated 74 percent of Californians support the proposal.

In the letter he drafted to Laird backing the legislation, Guillen wrote, “This proposal seems to us to be a winning proposition for all concerned. The state will receive necessary funding to address the much needed, deferred maintenance and operation of its parks, and all state residents will be able to access and enjoy our wonderful parks at no cost, other than the $10 vehicle fee. Clearly, California faces serious budgetary issues; however, closing our state parks or making them unaffordable to many through higher fees would be a shame. Your plan does much to share the burden with the state’s vehicle owners, yet rewards them for doing so. We in Carmel-by-the-Sea are fortunate to have Point Lobos right in our area. Your Parks Access Pass plan is especially attractive for urban families, who might otherwise be unable to partake in the beauty of California’s wild and scenic landscape. Thank you for your creative leadership in this regard.”

Flanders Foundation President Melanie Billig and former city councilwoman Barbara Livingston said they supported the proposed fee, and the council gave its unanimous consent for Guillen to send the letter.