Manhattan Beach Parking Meter Rates to Rise
Nov 07, 2018 08:49AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
- $1.75 per hour at any street parking meter;
- $1.50 per hour within city-owned lots;
- $2.00 per hour in state/county-owned lots (beach parking).
These new parking meter rates reflect an increase of $0.75 per hour for city-owned lots, and $0.50 per hour for both street meters and meters in state/county lots.
The decision to increase rates followed a survey in which the city evaluated parking meter rates in comparable southern California cities that have parking meters and similar beach landscape, according to Steve S. Charelian, the city's interim finance director.
The survey found that the high
price points for parking in prime areas among various local cities was
up to $2.50 per hour for street parking and up to $6.00 per hour in
lots. The parking meter increases are designed to make Manhattan Beach rates
comparable with other local cities.
The rate increases were vetted through the Downtown Manhattan Beach Business and Professionals Association, the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District, the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, the Parking and Public Improvements Commission, the Manhattan Beach City Council, and the California Coastal Commission.
The entire process took place over six to seven months, said Charelian.
The city estimates an annual net increase of $1.85 million per year in revenue from the parking meter increases. Revenues are primarily used to operate and maintain the city's ten public parking lots, which contain 836 spaces, and 440 on-street parking meters, as well as maintenance for Metlox Plaza and the Civic Center Plaza.
Even as rates increase, however, the city still plans to continue with its tradition of free parking over the holiday season. The street parking meters and meters in city-owned parking lots will be "red-bagged" (free holiday parking) from Nov. 28 to Dec. 26, for a total of four weeks. Parking meters at state- and county-managed lots (including the Manhattan Beach Pier and beach parking lots) will not be bagged.
