Hemosa Beach Parking policy review exposes ‘Permitgate’ among auto owners
by Dan Blackburn
Last year, 25 Hermosa Beach parking permits were issued to a single residential address. Another residential address received 14 permits.
Annual vehicle permits are $40 for residents and $143 for employees. The permits allow vehicles to be parked at yellow painted meters adjacent to the downtown.
Parking permit rates haven’t been raised since 2008, according to a staff report presented to the city council Monday evening, during a four hour meeting on the subject. Significant rate hikes and a limit on the number of residential permits issued to any one address dominated council and staff comments.
Of the 1,665 permits issued last year, nearly 600 permits were deemed “excessive” (greater than 4 per household), according to the staff report.
“The city does not place a limit on the number of permits purchased per address at the present time,” City Manager Suja Lowenthal said.
An increase in fees for residential and employee permits will be discussed at a future meeting, as will a proposal to place a limit of three permits per address.
Councilman Raymond Jackson said the current residential permit fee is “a giveaway, that’s what we have now.”
Council Member Justin Massey said he believes the fees “are way out of date” and should be increased as much as three times over the current rate.
“Our parking programs have impacts ranging from transportation choices, use of city property, and even economic vitality and private investment decisions. For these reasons, it’s important to periodically revisit the programs and have a discussion,” City manager Lowenthal said.
On a 3-2 vote, the council directed staff to move forward with the sale of 2022-2023 renewal residential and employee parking permits; notice a future public hearing to consider a permit rate increase; and immediately begin restricting permits for out-of-state vehicles, except active military.
Council members Massey and Jackson cast the dissenting votes.
Ken Robertson, the city’s community development director, informed the council that changes in parking policy must go before the California Coastal Commission. The commission would determine if new parking regulations conform with public access requirements. ER