A group of Hermosa Beach small business owners are joining forces to fight what they view as an existential threat: parking meters in their free-to-park zones. The meters were approved by the city council two years ago but escaped the attention of business owners, residents and even council members until recently.
The issue came to light a few weeks ago when Granny’s Grocery & Deli owners Andre and Shirley Klaser received word from a friend who works at the city that the city was planning to put meters in free-to-park green zones in front of downtown businesses by the end of June.
The Klasers quickly gathered other small business owners, including Kristine Ashley, owner of Ashley’s Deli & Market, to oppose the meters. They won a temporary victory when City Manager Tom Bakaly agreed last month to delay installing the meters until the council can weigh-in on the matter at its July 28 meeting.
“The plan was to put them in, but because we hadn’t discussed it in detail [in a while] and there seemed to be a lot of businesses that were concerned, we decided to take our time and reconfirm the decision,” Bakaly said. “We’re being responsive to the community. We want to be business friendly.”
Businesses that would be affected, should the council vote to install the meters, are those with green curbs between 8th Street and 14th Street on either Hermosa Ave. or Pier Ave. — an area that roughly spans downtown. Klaser’s store, which is on Monterrey, is not included in that area, although he is concerned about the potential for meters in front of his store in the future. Other businesses with green zones include Paradise Bowls and Mickey’s deli.
Ashley said she was alarmed to hear from Klaser that meters were going in front of her business.
“Nobody notified us that was happening,” Ashley said. “That’s why I’m so upset. If we have to adapt to change, I’m willing to do that. But I would be devastated to see the meters out there with no prior knowledge.”
The free-to-park green zones have long been a part of doing business in Hermosa. Klaser and Ashley both said they’ve had the free parking areas in front of their stores since they started running their businesses, 23 years ago and 16 years ago, respectively.
The meters were approved two years ago, on May 14, 2013, when the council appropriated $27,300 from the general fund for the purchase of 26 meters to be placed in green zones and 24 meters elsewhere in the city.
When the council revisits the issue this month, it will have to decide whether the revenue from the meters is worth the inconvenience to customers and businesses and will hear arguments from both sides.
The 26 meters would generate $104,000 a year for the city, assuming each generated $4,000 a year, according to a 2013 staff report. (Manhattan Beach’s 24-minute meters generate $5,000 a year each, according to the report). Staff also told the council that meters would make parking enforcement easier on traffic officers because they could spot an infraction by simply driving past a meter, rather than marking tires.
Councilman Peter Tucker, who was on the council when the meters were approved, said the council did not intend to approve the installation of the meters. Rather, the idea was to have city staff report back to the council with the number of green zones within the city, so the council could make a later decision.
“Someone misinterpreted what we intended,” Tucker said. “How can you make a decision if you don’t know how many [green zones] you have?”
“We have a hard enough time enforcing the parking as we have it now,” he said. “It’s not that easy to just say, ‘We’re going to put meters in. We need a comprehensive study. I’m not for putting meters on it.”
Bakaly said city staff is recommending the council approve the meters because they encourage people to vacate their parking spots, rather than linger, thus opening up spaces for other customers.
“We do paid parking to encourage turnover,” he said.
Business owners worry that meters could make their stores not only less convenient, but also less social.
“It would be damaging. Our bottom line is so small already,” Klaser said. “There’s nothing to gain for the businesses and very little for the city to gain … My store will go from being a convenience store to being an inconvenience store. This kind of business, it’s a social thing, too … We’re already like a dying breed.”
Klaser circulated a petition opposing the meters, which garnered more than 230 signatures in a short period of time, he said.
Another concern, Ashley said, was that her most loyal customers would also be the ones who would be disproportionately taxed. She said those are the customers who keep her business running in slower, winter months.
“My concern is that my local customers are going to be penalized,” she said. “My business drops 30 percent between October through April.”
Bakaly said if the council decides it does not want the meters in the green zones that the city will be able to find other places for them.
