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National City panel approves two residential permit parking districts, directs review of apartment parking rules
Summary
The Traffic Safety Commission voted to approve two residential permit parking districts on E Avenue and F Avenue and authorized staff to forward the recommendations to city council; commissioners also directed staff to return with a review of how apartment parking is treated under city rules after residents raised concerns about tenant access.
The National City Traffic Safety Commission voted to approve staff recommendations to establish residential permit parking districts on the 2000 block of E Avenue and the west side of the 1400 block of F Avenue, sending both measures to city council for final consideration.
Chair Cynthia Quinuz moved to approve the petitions — submitted, respectively, by Elias Garcia and by Mr. Moreno — subject to corrections to the staff reports. The motion also included a direction that staff return with an analysis of city parking ordinances as they relate to apartments. A second was recorded and the motion carried.
Staff presented parking-survey data showing the petition areas met the citys three policy criteria: (1) a contiguous block section, (2) petitions signed by at least 60% of property owners, and (3) daytime occupancy by commuter vehicles meeting the 70% threshold cited in the staff report. Staff also cited California Vehicle Code section 22507 as the enabling authority for preferential parking programs.
Residents who spoke during the public-comment period objected that on-street permit districts can disadvantage apartment residents, who said their buildings provide limited assigned parking. Renee Arias said apartment tenants often walk several blocks to reach available on-street spaces and called the change "unfair" if it reduces access for families who lack assigned stalls. Cynthia Quinuz and other commissioners acknowledged those concerns and emphasized that approval by the commission forwards the matter to city council, where opponents may submit formal comments and request the item be pulled from the councils consent calendar.
Commissioners also discussed accommodations for disabled drivers. Staff said California disabled-person placards allow holders to park without an additional residential permit; temporary visitor permits are available online for short terms (staff described a two-week temporary permit option and noted different speakers referenced a two-dollar or three-dollar fee). Commissioners asked staff to confirm visitor-permit length and cost in the corrected paperwork.
The commission recorded its approval so the city council may act as the next step; staff will notify petition-area residents by mail and post the item to the council agenda. The commission also requested that staff return with a focused report on apartment parking rules and any feasible adjustments, such as eligibility or proximity exceptions, that comply with state law.
The action on these permit districts was part of a larger meeting that also approved a blue-curb disabled-parking space request and endorsed several Active Transportation Program grant applications.
