Mayor Bill Brand used his mayoral veto for the first time since taking office to nullify a decision made by the Redondo Beach City Council that would have increased fees on annual parking permits.
The veto came in over the weekend, on June 25, five days after the Council voted, 3-2, to pass the fee increases. Had the vote been allowed to stand, annual parking permit fees would have increased from $110 to $150. Parking permits for employees of Riviera Village-area businesses would have increased from $60 to $90. The fee increases were projected to generate $85,330 for the city.
In a letter to City Manager Joe Hoefgen and Acting City Attorney Cheryl Park, Brand explained that he believes the parking fee increases are “overly burdensome and unnecessary” when compared to parking permits issued by nearby Hermosa Beach ($40 for an annual resident permit) and when considering the likely-modest wages of Riviera Village-area employees.
The permits are seen as an alternative to the area’s parking meters, which now cost users $1.50 per hour, raised from $1 per hour last year.
Parking permits have been considered a boon for local residents. Street parking is increasingly difficult to come by in the densely-populated Riviera Village area, particularly during summer. The permits allow a person to park a car at a metered space for up to 72 hours.
However, of the 1,915 active permits, 741 are retained by non-Redondo Beach residents. They’re also redundant for some, as preferred parking permits exist for residents along the Esplanade and in other neighborhoods, costing $15 apiece.
Employee parking permits allow Riviera area employees to park specially designated special parking spaces. But Councilman Todd Loewenstein argued that raising those prices is akin to drawing blood from a stone.
“You can only beat a dead horse so much; some people are living hand to mouth,” Loewenstein said. “I imagine that some people have passes purchased by their employers, but that’s a 50 percent increase for people — $30 that might not be going to their kid.”
The increase was defended by Councilman John Gran, who considered further raising the parking permit fee to $220, and employee permit fees to $100.
“The fees are annual, and there are lots of days of parking inside of there; it’s not asking for a lot,” Gran said. He argued that, with the proposed $150 fee, a person is paying for 100 hours of parking (little more than four continuous days), and receiving parking for a year.
The motion, made by Councilwoman Laura Emdee, passed 3-2, with council members Loewenstein and Nils Nehrenheim against.
As mayor, Brand does not have a vote. However, under the City Charter, the mayor is granted the ability to veto any actions made by a simple majority of the City Council within five days.
“I understand why [Mayor Brand] did it politically, but I’m hoping it’s not a sign of things to come,” said Councilman Christian Horvath. “[City Council] can’t be cool sometimes; part of our job is recognizing that the city still has to function, and making sure the city keeps up with inflation and fee increases.”
