Free parking will be available in downtown Manhattan Beach starting Monday, Dec. 12 through Christmas, as City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to bag the parking meters in the downtown area.
“I look at this as simply a tax break for our residents,” said Mayor Nick Tell, garnering applause from some audience members, after an hour-long discussion with residents and business-owners on the issue.
The time limit of the spots will remain the same – whether the parking spot sign says two hours or 24 minutes – to maintain turnaround among shop-goers.
Bagging the meters for two weeks will cost $90,000 from the city’s parking fund. The city has not bagged meters for the past two holiday seasons.
Councilmember Amy Howorth said the bags remind her of the holidays and that she needs to go shopping for gifts. “That’s one psychological benefit,” she said, noting that that mentality is positive for the economy.
Free parking during the holidays would give downtown a competitive edge against nearby shopping centers like Manhattan Village and Plaza El Segundo, which already offer free parking, community members said.
Retail shops are struggling downtown, business-owners said. Tony D’Errico, owner of Bella Beach, a women’s apparel store, said that on Tuesday, he gained a total of $18 in revenue.
Mary Ann Varni, president of Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professional Association, encouraged the council to bag the meters out of goodwill and to get into the holiday spirit. “This isn’t really about saving downtown or revenue, it’s really about something that the city has done for the residents,” she said.
Others were strongly against the city covering meter costs for the holiday season. “Merely siding with goodwill or tradition is insufficient in program evaluation,” said resident Gary Osterhout, adding that he’d like to see the money spent on better recreational facilities.
Sales tax revenues increased during the holiday season in the downtown area during 2009 and 2010, despite shoppers having to pay for parking. However, council members noted, a pickup in the economy and other factors could have caused this.
While the council approved the meter bagging, one thing remained unfinished: with the city having banned plastic bags, how will the meters be covered?
“Reusable,” Councilmember Richard Montgomery said.
