Council introduces preferential parking ordinance, approves amendments to let neighborhoods petition for zones

The Simi Valley City Council introduced Ordinance 1365 on Aug. 18 to create a preferential parking permit program that would allow neighborhoods to restrict on‑street spaces to local residents and guests where nonresident parking substantially affects availability.

Why it matters: the ordinance provides a formal procedure for neighborhoods to petition for preferential parking zones if overflow parking from businesses, schools or other nonresident parkers impairs residential parking. Council members said the measure also can be used preemptively where new nearby development threatens to displace on‑street parking.

What the ordinance does: the proposed code addition would let residents initiate a zone by petition and sets permitting rules, visitor permits and enforcement to be defined by council resolution. The ordinance defines a resident as someone living in a dwelling unit within a preferential parking zone and sets rules for sign installation and permit issuance. Staff said technical details such as permit fees, guest permits and enforcement schedules will be established later by resolution.

Council changes before adoption: Council member Rocky Rhodes moved to introduce the ordinance with several amendments. Rhodes’ motion struck a section that would have required staff to conduct formal parking studies as a precondition for council consideration, allowing more flexibility for residents to request zones. The council also amended the ordinance to exempt vehicles displaying a valid handicapped placard from permit fees and to establish a minimum zone size defined as area between two intersections (interpreted as a full block).

Council member Rhodes said he wanted the ordinance to empower neighborhoods to act proactively rather than waiting for a parking problem to become severe. “If a group of residents came and said, ‘we want this preemptively because we're scared,’… with a majority of council we can make that happen,” Rhodes said.

Implementation and timing: staff said the ordinance takes effect 30 days after the second reading. Once a petition is validated, staff will notice residents, order signs and install them; staff estimated sign ordering and installation could take roughly four to six weeks after approval of a specific zone. The resolution that will set permit costs and operational details will follow the ordinance.

Vote: Council introduced Ordinance 1365 with the amendments and the motion passed unanimously on the first reading.