Politics & Government

Rules Change in Employee Parking Program

The Hermosa Beach City Council unanimously decides to allow only business owners to purchase employee parking permits in time of need—not their workers.

The Hermosa Beach City Council has decided to change the city's employee parking permit program, which was developed for local businesses.

Previously, workers could purchase the permits, but now only business owners would be given that option, the council decided in a meeting Tuesday night.

A worker could still use the permit, of course, but their employer would have to purchase it.

Find out what's happening in Hermosa Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"That would eliminate the need to verify employees," Mayor Howard Fishman pointed out in the meeting before the council voted 5-0 on the program change.

Some residents have complained of motorists using the permits to park for long periods of time or in residential neighborhoods where parking is in high demand.

Find out what's happening in Hermosa Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For example, Hermosa Beach resident Lynn Carter, who also works at a business on Pier Avenue, wrote in a letter to the council that the parking permits given to local employees should limit parking to remote areas and have a time stamp (see accompanying city staff report under photo.)

Councilman Michael DiVirgilio asked in the council meeting whether the city had determined that abuse of the permit program was occurring.

"There was no evidence of abuse, but the way the system is set up, there’s potential for it," said Ken Robertson, the city’s director of community development.

Councilman Jeff Duclos suggested to his fellow council members that the business community address the issue.

"Is employee parking a city issue or business issue? Isn’t it incumbent upon the employer to provide parking? Once we make it a city issue, we have other things to consider," he said.

When permits were issued for the 2010-2011 period, 85 businesses participated in the program, which added up to 184 employee parking permits being purchased, according to city staffers.

A permit costs $143 per year.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Hermosa Beach