City staff outlines Central Business District parking review; council asks about valet licensing and employee parking

City staff on Oct. 6 updated the Lake Forest City Council on a yearlong evaluation of parking regulations and availability in the Central Business District and sought council direction on whether to consider an ordinance establishing a valet license.

Assistant to the City Manager Carrie Kaup said staff convened a multi-department committee, held four community meetings in September and collected more than 900 survey responses. Respondents identifying as residents or visitors favored customer parking near shopping and dining, fewer and clearer timed-parking classifications, and 60–90 minute street parking (39% preferred 90 minutes). Business owners and employees favored creation of designated employee parking and incentives to encourage its use; 42% of that group preferred 90-minute timed street parking.

Kaup told council the committee has three goals: simplify parking zones and signage; locate customer zones closest to destinations while providing both short- and long-term options; and improve enforcement through technology rather than heavy-handed measures. Technology options described include permit-management upgrades and automated license-plate readers to assess duration and flag possible violations for officer review before citations are issued.

Valet license question

Kaup asked whether council wished to include consideration of a valet license in the evaluation. She said other communities require a licensure plan that details proposed valet parking locations, signage and operational rules; licenses allow the city to revoke permission for noncompliant operators. Council members expressed interest in learning how many valet operators currently work in Lake Forest (estimates ranged around four) and in using a licensing program to regulate where valets park cars and to mitigate valet use of on-street spaces closest to storefronts.

Employee permits and equity questions

Council members pressed staff on how employee permits would be enforced and how residents who are also employees would be treated. Kaup replied that staff has not drafted a final plan but envisions designated employee zones with permits that exempt holders from time limits only when parked in those zones; parking outside permitted zones would remain subject to street time restrictions. Councilmembers asked staff to make a more targeted outreach to business owners and the Chamber of Commerce to increase business participation in the survey; staff said it would follow up before making final recommendations.

Next steps

Kaup said staff expects to return with specific recommendations this winter and asked whether the council wanted valet licensing included. The council did not take an immediate vote; staff will incorporate feedback and continue community engagement and technical review.