What Happened
The Panama City Council approved a municipal project to regulate parking on Cinta Costera 3 by introducing paid parking. The initiative, presented by Mayor Mayer Mizrachi, was approved in a full council session on Tuesday, March 24, with 24 votes in favor. The proposal had been first presented to the council on March 17 and was discussed by the municipal Finance Commission before returning to the plenary.
Details and Next Steps
The regulation covers parking services at the Centro Cultural located on Cinta Costera 3 in the Puerta Sur sector, and includes the establishment of tariffs for those parking spaces. The Panama City Hall said the approved proposal must be promulgated in the Gaceta Oficial to be formalized; details on the specific rates will be announced later in a conference press, according to the municipality.
Legal and Administrative Questions
Questions remain about authority to charge for parking in Puerta Sur because administration of the Cinta Costera is assigned to the Ministry of Public Works (MOP). Executive Decree 218 of December 15, 2017, establishes that the Parque Urbano Lineal known as the Cinta Costera and its components—parks, plazas, walkways, cycle lanes, playgrounds, restaurants, sports courts, the Maracaná stadium, a viewpoint, and parking among others—are part of a zone whose administration is regulated by that decree. The parcel referenced in the debate is finca No. 30379593.
Reactions
Independent deputy Jorge Alberto González criticized the move, arguing that while the mayor discusses charging for parking at the Cinta Costera, other areas such as Panamá Norte continue to lack basic services like street lighting and sidewalks. González invited Mayor Mizrachi to visit Panamá Norte to see the unmet needs affecting quality of life and public safety.
The MOP was also consulted to determine whether any concession or permit has been granted for administration of the Cinta Costera, but no response had been received by the time of reporting.
What This Means
The council approval starts a formal process that will lead to publication in the Gaceta Oficial and a municipal announcement with the approved tariffs. However, unresolved questions about institutional responsibility between the Mayor’s office and the MOP mean the practical rollout of charging for parking could face administrative or legal scrutiny. Residents and users of Cinta Costera 3 can expect further details once the municipality completes the formalities and holds its planned press briefing.