City council adopts preferential parking ordinance after debate over school and event exemptions

The Simi Valley City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a preferential parking program on second reading, setting a process for neighborhood petitions, permits and local exemptions.

City staff said a proposed zone requires residential frontage of at least 50 percent and a petition support threshold tied to residence counts; the code includes permit fees for resident and guest permits and allows council or staff to set exemptions and waivers for special events. Councilmembers debated how the ordinance would affect schools and recurring community events, whether waivers should be handled administratively by the city manager or set by resolution for each zone, and whether ordinary activities such as family gatherings could be inadvertently restricted.

Councilmember Elaine Lister said she was concerned the draft was too general about school events and asked for clearer written exemptions; Councilmember Littster said she would vote no without those changes, citing possible unintended consequences for neighborhood activities and school pickups. Public discussion earlier in the meeting also included a resident who opposed the program as inequitable and harmful to local businesses.

The ordinance was moved and seconded for second reading and adoption; the motion passed with one dissenting vote. The council directed staff that zones will be established by resolution, and specific exemptions or waivers (for example for school events or short‑term special events) can be written into those zone‑level resolutions.