Manhattan Beach council adopts parking management study, directs staff to prioritize merchant permit review
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Summary
The city council voted unanimously April 7 to adopt a comprehensive parking management study and toolkit, including coastal‑plan findings, and directed staff to prioritize merchant permit program revisions and consider local coastal plan implications for targeted lots. The action approves the study’s methodology, not immediate rate changes.
The Manhattan Beach City Council unanimously adopted a city parking management study and toolkit on April 7, approving the report’s methodology and directing staff to begin implementing prioritized strategies.
Traffic engineer Eric Grama, presenting the study prepared with Walker Consultants, said the report documents high seasonal demand — "during peak summer weekends, we are exceeding 96% occupancy in our downtown and 98% occupancy in North Manhattan Beach" — and maps potential future needs ranging from about 150 to 300 additional downtown spaces and roughly 40–80 spaces in the North Manhattan Beach commercial district depending on growth scenarios. Grama characterized the council action as approval of the study and implementation plan, not approval of specific rate or meter changes: "We're not asking you to approve the actual measures tonight," he said; staff will return with individual implementations that may require separate approvals.
The study presents a 33‑item toolkit of short‑ and long‑term strategies. Short‑term items include adjusting on‑street rates relative to off‑street lots, replacing single‑space meters with multispace kiosks and mobile pay, and modifying off‑street time limits. Longer‑term strategies include parking supply changes (redesign or additional parking facilities), shared private‑public parking arrangements, flexible merchant and residential permit programs, parking guidance apps and a potential parking benefits district.
Council discussion focused on enforcement of flexible loading zones, how proposed changes fit with the city’s certified Local Coastal Program and the likely behavioral effects of price changes. Grama said enforcement would rely on clearer on‑street signage and community parking officers and noted that studying a change remains consistent with the local coastal program, while some implementation steps could require subsequent LCP approvals.
Public testimony reflected competing priorities. Downtown business owners warned about raising the merchant parking permit burden after recent permit increases, arguing permit revenue should be reinvested in parking and operations. Resident commenters near MiraCosta High School used their public time to press unrelated EIR concerns about proposed field lighting, which the city manager said staff had already submitted comments on in the scoping and draft phases.
Councilmember Charillion moved to adopt Resolution 26‑30 approving the parking management study and implementation plan, with direction to prioritize the merchant parking program review (including Lot 1/Lot 2 issues and consideration of potential amendments to the LCP where required). The motion passed 5–0.
Next steps: staff will develop capital project proposals where appropriate, return to the council with specific implementation items (including any required public hearings or LCP amendments), and present detailed merchant permit and metered‑rate options with stakeholder outreach and comparative data from peer cities.
