Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Lawndale council over parking, Airbnb and code enforcement; council suggests parking district and staff follow-up
Summary
Several residents told the council that new development on 153rd Street has worsened street parking and cited limited enforcement and possible illegal short-term rentals; councilmembers urged patrols, owner outreach, and formation of a parking committee or district to study solutions.
Multiple Lawndale residents used the public‑comment period on July 20 to press the council about long‑standing parking shortages around a large new building on 153rd Street, alleged Airbnb activity, code enforcement practices and a disputed $500 citation for feeding wildlife.
Ali Zady, a lifelong Lawndale resident, described streets where vehicles are left for 72 hours with few repercussions and said visitor parking at the building often is cordoned off with caution tape. He asked the council to consider permit parking in that neighborhood. Another resident, Sabina Arain, said tenants and visitors from the new building regularly park on the street, sometimes occupying two spaces, and asked the city to take action. Several council members responded by urging staff to investigate the property owner and enforcement options; the mayor asked staff to contact the landlord about residents using the street for parking and noted that short‑term rentals (Airbnb) are illegal in Lawndale.
Separate comments raised a code‑enforcement dispute: Edie Warwick said she received a $500 citation based on a neighbor complaint that described peanut shells in a bed; she said the material was mulch and appealed to the council. Code enforcement staff (Reyes) told council that Ms. Warwick had received prior warnings and two valid citations for feeding wildlife but that the third citation was voided after she demonstrated the material was mulch. Councilmembers asked staff to provide the relevant municipal code language and said they would revisit the ordinance if needed.
Other public commenters praised the city’s new Zoom option for meetings (Matthew Harvison) and public-safety volunteers noted fewer fireworks incidents this year but flagged staff departures and a pending lawsuit that may affect workplace morale.
Council responses were procedural and investigative rather than immediate policy changes: Councilmember Pat Kearney recommended intensified patrols near the problem block and owner outreach; Councilmember Frank Talavera suggested forming a parking committee to study marking streets, petitions, and district formation; Councilwoman Bernice Suarez supported a proactive approach including exploring city-owned lots for parking structures. Staff were directed to report back on enforcement possibilities and to provide the municipal-code citation underlying the wildlife-feeding ordinance.
Next steps: staff will investigate reported Airbnb activity, contact property owners about parking, provide the municipal-code language relating to wildlife feeding, and report back to the council; residents were told how to start a formal residential parking district if they wish to pursue that option.
