Council delays Avenue H parking decision after Torrance asks to allow outbound egress; residents push to keep bollards

The Redondo Beach City Council on Tuesday paused final action on a proposed temporary resident-only parking program for the Avenue H/Messina neighborhood and a Torrance request to permit outbound traffic egress during the holiday light displays, directing staff to seek a written agreement with Torrance and report back.

The city had proposed a two-year pilot “temporary preferential parking program” (TSPP) that would make parts of Avenue H, Messina Drive and Circle Drive resident-only between Thanksgiving and New Year’s from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with permits for residents and exemptions at staff discretion. Public works staff also described an annual bollard closure the city typically installs at the Torrance/Redondo border to prevent inbound holiday traffic; Torrance requested the city leave an opening so vehicles could exit Torrance into Redondo Beach during the event.

City staff presented the pilot as a way to reduce through-traffic and to make the neighborhood safer during the peak holiday period. Police staff warned the council that enforcing a permit system would add administrative burden and that enforcement in the evenings would require staff time; public-works staff said the city’s existing program last year included temporary roundabouts, signage and trash receptacles and that those measures helped.

More than a dozen neighbors from Avenue H, Circle Drive and Messina Drive urged the council to leave the bollard closure in place and to reject any plan that would open the street to Torrance traffic. Speakers described near-miss collisions, repeated damage to parked cars and heavy congestion during recent holiday nights; many said the closure had dramatically improved safety and the neighborhood’s quality of life. Several residents suggested modest, short-term fixes such as additional signage, message boards and expanded trash pickup rather than a permit system.

Councilmembers said they appreciated the neighborhood concerns but also noted regional issues — particularly large truck routes — that Torrance and Redondo officials are trying to address cooperatively. After public comment, the council instructed staff to keep the current closure plan in place for this year, to pursue a strongly worded memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Torrance requiring that Torrance staff the egress point if an opening is allowed in the future, to ask Torrance to reimburse any incremental enforcement costs, and to return with results of those talks. The council also asked staff to refine any parking-permit approach (including distribution and format) and to evaluate enforcement burdens before bringing a permit ordinance back for introduction.

Council’s final procedural action was to continue the item pending the outcome of staff discussions with Torrance; the motion passed unanimously. Staff said that, depending on the outcome of conversations with Torrance, the council may consider action later in October or November so any new permit program could be implemented before the holiday season.

Why it matters: The Avenue H neighborhood becomes a de facto cul-de-sac during the holiday lights; the issue pits resident safety and quality-of-life concerns against regional traffic and event management, and any change could shift parking and enforcement burdens to adjacent blocks.

What’s next: Staff will negotiate with Torrance for a written MOU, return with estimates of enforcement costs and recommended permit logistics (type of permit, distribution method, hours), and then report back to council for a final decision on whether to change the closure or adopt a pilot permit program.