Resident challenges Lake Forest parking-permit rules, cites Vehicle Code and privacy concerns

A resident told the City Council he believes the city’s residential parking permit program on Malabar discriminates against certain residents and said the city has not answered repeated requests for clarification.

“ The permits must be available to all residents of adjacent streets regardless of whether they live in a single family home or in a condo,” Mark Hermanson told the council, citing Vehicle Code 22507 and saying the attorney general has indicated local authorities have the power to create resident-only parking programs but not to discriminate among residents within the permitted area.

Hermanson asked the city to explain why permit rules appear to differ by property type and why signage and ticketing seemed concentrated in some blocks but not others. He also described personal incidents in which he said someone photographed his house and garage and said he is having his computer reviewed before contacting law enforcement; he did not make a formal accusation but urged the city to review communications and neighbor interactions related to the permit program.

The council did not take formal action at the meeting on Hermanson’s request; the city attorney and staff were present in the meeting and could respond in follow-up communications, but no ordinance change or staff direction was recorded on the transcript.