Hermosa Beach eyes $2 million boost from parking fee increases

2023 Hermosa Beach Parking Permit contest winner. Courtesy of City of Hermosa Beach

by Kevin Cody

Hermosa Beach would receive an additional $272,000 annually in residential parking permit revenue, and an additional $1.8 million in additional parking meter revenue under a plan the city council will review at its Tuesday, February 28 meeting

Residential parking permits are currently $40 per vehicle, a rate set in 2008. There is no limit on the number of permits that may be purchased per residence at the $40 rate. 

A staff report released last week proposes increasing the first parking permit fee to $50, the second to $75, the third to $100 and the fourth to $150. The plan also proposes limiting the number of permits to four per residence.

Residential parking permits are available to residents living west of Loma Drive, Park Avenue, and Morningside Drive.

Last year, the city issued 8,926 residential parking permits to 1,084 residences in the permit zone. The four-permit limit would reduce permits issued this year by 549, the staff report states.

The council will also review increasing parking meter rates at its Tuesday meeting.

Parking meter rates are currently $1.25 per hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and $1.50 per hour from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Meters are not enforced between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The staff report recommends increasing the daytime rates to $2 per hour and the nighttime rates to $2.5o per hour.

By comparison, Manhattan Beach charges $2 per hour throughout the day and evening. Redondo Beach charges $1 for 40 minutes ($1.50/hour).

The staff report also recommends eliminating street parking permits for employees and increasing the fee for employee lot permits “to discourage driving or to encourage employers to provide parking options for employees.” The report does not propose how much to increase the employee permit fees.

Presently, employee permits are $62 per month for up to 72 hours in the downtown parking lots, and $31 per month for 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. parking in the downtown lots. Employees may also purchase street parking permits permits for  $143 annually, a rate set in 2006

By comparison, downtown Manhattan Beach employee permits are $27 monthly ($324 annually). Redondo Riviera Village employee permits are $50 annually.

In January, the council voted to eliminate free residential parking permits for owners of electric vehicles, for a savings estimated at $16,360. The council also voted to eliminate free electric vehicle charging at the city’s 39 public charging stations, for an estimated $70,000 in savings.

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