Council Grants Free Holiday Parking

After two years without it, the longstanding tradition of free public parking during the holiday season in downtown Manhattan Beach got the green light from City Council Tuesday night.

That unanimous green light from all five Council members provides for two, not four, weeks of free public parking downtown, from Dec. 12 through 25, with the existing two-hour per vehicle parking limit still in effect.

In past years, the free downtown parking was offered for four weeks, starting in November around Thanksgiving. However, this year's two weeks of free parking is more than what the city granted in 2009 and 2010, when council voted against offering any free public parking downtown.

“I am a fiscal conservative," said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Powell Tuesday night, "a ‘tight-wad bean counter’ some may say, but I would support it [free public parking downtown] as a good will gesture for two weeks, not four, December 12 through 25."

Powell got his wish.

According to a city staff report, the city loses $45,000 per week which translates to $180,000 for the requested four weeks and $90,000 for the two weeks that were approved.

The Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce and the MB Downtown Business Association brought the issue of free parking before council, asking that all city-owned on-street and off-street parking meters downtown, including the meters in Metlox Plaza and the Civic Center, be “bagged” [covered] to provide free parking, from November 26 to December 25, 2011, as was the tradition.

“I was really disappointed last year when the meters were not bagged [for free parking]," said Councilwoman Amy Howorth at Tuesday night's council meeting. "I understood the council’s decision but it took away from the holiday environment.

“I have received more e-mails from residents asking that the meters be covered than on any other issue since I have been on the council,” she said. Howorth took her seat on council in March.

Mayor Nick Tell supported the request. “In these questionable economic times, l consider it [the free parking] a 14-percent reduction in parking taxes for our residents.”

Some residents spoke out at the council meeting, saying that the free public parking downtown would be an unnecessary expense to the city, at which point it was explained that the free parking would affect the parking fund, not the general fund which is funded by taxes, user fees and other non-tax revenue.

According to City Manager Dave Carmany, the parking fund is a separate fund designed to capture all revenue and expenditures associated with operating the city’s parking facilities. The fund is not supported by taxes, but by revenue mainly from parking meters. The parking fund's largest yearly expense is approximately $800,000, which goes to pay for the Metlox Plaza parking structure which was financed by the city.

Many business owners and residents, too, spoke in favor of covering the meters, anything to help business and for holiday good will, they said.

Tony D'Errico, owner of Bella Beach and Bella Beach Kids downtown, said that downtown restaurants may be booming, but many small businesses are suffering. His business is way off, he said, and he asked that any help to business be implemented.   

Councilman Richard Montgomery produced some tax revenue numbers that did not support the theory that parking costs played a part in business. In 2006 and 2007 when the meters were bagged, business was off, but then up again in 2008 when not bagged. However, it was pointed out that there could be other factors and that those figures were not conclusive.  

Only Councilman David Lesser was torn about granting any free public parking during the holidays.

He acknowledged the good will that would come from free parking, but questioned the cost given that, due to budget cuts, the city has reduced the police force by three, and is still in labor deliberations with four employee groups: the Manhattan Beach Firefighters’ Association; Manhattan Beach Police Officers’ Association; Management Confidential, and Teamsters.

Lesser cited reports that demonstrate that when parking fees are raised, the turnover of vehicles per space increases, actually allowing more customers to avail themselves of stores and services in the parking area.

Two other ideas were considered: reducing the cost of parking during the holiday season or bagging the meters during business hours, but not during evening restaurant hours.