Costa Mesa increases number of resident-only parking permits and keeps them free

Lots of cars on the streets, but where can they all park?

On Tuesday night, the Costa Mesa City Council found itself facing that perennial Southern California question, and after more than two hours of discussion and public comments, the council unanimously agreed on changes to the city’s resident-only parking program, which restricts street parking to those with resident or guest permits in neighborhoods that successfully lobbied for it.

Under the new rules:

• Each household can receive as many as three resident permits – up from two.

• The permits will expire in three years, a change from no expiration date.

• Instead of stickers placed on a bumper, the permits will be placards that can hang on rear-view mirrors.

• Households also can receive 100 guest permits per year, with more available from City Hall for special events. Previously, the number of guest permits was unlimited. Professional service vehicles, such as gardener’s trucks, will get exemptions.

The changes will face review in a year to see how they fared.

Unlike other parking-impacted Orange County cities, the council kept the permits free. City staff had floated the possibility of conducting a study to find a “reasonable” fee for the privilege.

The council also maintained a requirement of at least 50% resident approval on petitions requesting permit parking, rejecting a staff proposal that would have increased the number to 70%.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer said he likes how the placards will be interchangeable among vehicles in the same household.

He also said parking issues are worsened by households that have an inordinate number of vehicles or don’t use garages for cars.

“The neighborhood wasn’t set up for your 27 cars,” Righeimer said.

“Is your garage full of stuff? We’re not going to hand it out [extra permits] so you can have a game room in your garage,” he added.

Councilwoman Katrina Foley was initially skeptical about changing the permit program, which is established in 20 areas citywide.

“If it’s not broke, why are we fixing it?” she said.

Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz and Transportation Services Manager Raja Sethuraman noted that City Hall has been receiving more resident-only permit applications in recent years, which is one reason they requested that the policy be reexamined. Also, they said, city staff time is used to investigate reports of permit abuse.

Foley and some residents among about 20 who spoke on the issue complained of inadequate parking enforcement.

Danny Deneff, a College Park resident whose tract is permit-only, said enforcement has been up to residents, who he said need to report violations in order for Police Department parking officers to stop by.

Otherwise, he claimed, “they’re not going to come around.”