La Palma Municipal Code Art. VI Residential Permit Parking

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Residential permit parking area means any area designated by resolution of the City Council in accordance with this article where on-street parking is restricted, at all times or at specified times as set forth in the resolution, to residents of the designated area holding permits issued by the City.

Residence means each single-family dwelling unit, condominium dwelling unit, townhome dwelling unit, apartment dwelling unit, or other multifamily dwelling unit with access to a street within a residential permit parking area.

Nonresident vehicles means those vehicles owned or operated by persons who reside in dwelling units outside the proposed or designated residential permit parking area.

(Code 1975, § 16-66; Ord. No. 2008-01, § 1)

(a) Initiation and investigation. Upon receipt and verification of a petition signed by residents living in at least two-thirds of the dwelling units of the area proposed for designation, or upon adoption of a motion by the City Council, the City Manager shall undertake surveys or investigations as deemed appropriate to determine whether to recommend that an area be designated a residential permit parking area.

(b) Required findings. The City Council may designate an area as a residential permit parking area only if all of the following findings of fact are made:

(1) That nonresident vehicles do or likely may substantially and regularly interfere with the use of the majority of the available public on-street parking spaces by persons residing in the proposed residential permit parking area;

(2) That the interference by the nonresident vehicles occurs regularly on a daily or weekly basis;

(3) That restrictions upon or the prohibition against on-street parking by nonresident vehicles within the proposed residential permit parking area will not result in overcrowded or unsafe on-street parking within residential areas adjacent to the proposed residential permit parking area; and

(4) That alternative solutions are not feasible or practical.

(c) Resolution for designation of parking area. Residential permit parking areas may be designated by resolution of the City Council after the conduct of a public hearing in accordance with this section. Notice of the public hearing shall be published and posted, and mailed to the owners of the dwelling units within the proposed residential permit parking area, in accordance with section 44-518, at least ten days prior to the hearing. If the City Council makes the findings required by subsection (b) of this section and determines in its discretion that the proposed residential permit parking area shall be designated, it may designate by resolution a residential permit parking area with appropriate boundaries, and with such prohibitions or restrictions on on-street parking as the City Council determines are in the best interests of the City.

(Code 1975, § 16-67; Ord. No. 2008-01, § 1)

(a) A street or portion of a street not currently within a residential permit parking area may be added to an existing residential permit parking area by following the same procedures set forth in section 40-263. Notices shall be mailed to all owners of property within the existing and proposed residential permit parking area.

(b) The City Council may, by adopting a resolution following the same procedures set forth in section 40-263, terminate an existing residential permit parking area.

(Code 1975, § 16-68; Ord. No. 2008-01, § 1)

(a) Posting.

(1) The City Manager shall cause appropriate signs to be erected and maintained on each street within each residential permit parking area.

(2) The signs that the City Manager causes to be erected pursuant to this section shall provide clear notice of the days and times of the parking prohibition or restriction applicable to the street upon which the sign is erected.

(3) The parking prohibition or restriction authorized by this article shall not be effective and enforceable on any street within a residential permit parking area until the signs required by this section have been erected.

(b) Display of permits.

(1) Parking permits shall be placed in the left corner of the dashboard of the permitted vehicle.

(2) Any person holding a valid residential parking permit properly displayed in his or her vehicle shall be entitled to park on any street within the applicable residential permit parking area regardless of posted parking restrictions or prohibitions applicable to nonresident vehicles.

(3) A person holding a valid residential parking permit properly displayed in his or her vehicle shall be entitled to park on any street only within the residential permit parking area for which the permit was issued.

(4) Each vehicle displaying a parking permit shall be parked in a manner that conforms to all other parking and vehicle regulations and laws established by this Code and by the California Vehicle Code.

(5) A valid parking permit issued under this article shall not guarantee or reserve to the holder an on-street parking space on any street or portion of any street within the residential permit parking area for which the permit was issued.

(c) Prohibition. Except as otherwise specified in this article, no person shall park a vehicle on any street or any portion of any street within a residential permit parking area on the days and during the times posted unless such vehicle has a properly displayed and valid parking permit issued pursuant to this article.

(Code 1975, § 16-69; Ord. No. 2008-01, § 1)

The following types of vehicles may park at any time within a residential permit parking area without a parking permit:

(1) Any commercial vehicle while making a pickup or delivery of goods, wares or merchandise from or to any building or structure located within a residential permit parking area;

(2) Any commercial vehicle while under the control of a person involved in, or while delivering materials to be used in the maintenance, repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction of any property that is located within a residential permit parking area;

(3) Any vehicle owned by a public utility or a licensed contractor while in use in the construction, installation, or repair of any public utility located within a residential permit parking area;

(4) Any vehicle owned and operated by a government agency while engaged in government business;

(5) Any emergency vehicle, including, but not limited to, an ambulance, fire engine, or police vehicle, while being operated on official business; or

(6) Any vehicle that displays the identifying disabled person's license plate or the disabled person's placard issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

(Code 1975, § 16-70; Ord. No. 2008-01, § 1)

(a) Application; proof of residency. A resident may obtain a residential parking permit upon submitting to the City a proper application and presenting proof of residency in the residential permit area. Each qualified applicant is entitled to one permit for each vehicle registered at his or her residence within the residential permit parking area. The address of vehicle registration and driver's license must be the same as the applicant's residence address, as documented in his or her proof of residency.

(b) Duration. A parking permit issued by the City for a residential permit parking area shall remain in effect for as long as the permit holder continues to reside in the dwelling unit for which the parking permit was issued, or until the City Council adopts a resolution terminating the applicable residential permit parking area, whichever occurs first.

(c) Visitor permits. Upon application by a resident within a residential permit parking area, the City Manager will issue up to two visitor parking permits for the use by visitors to that resident's dwelling unit.

(Code 1975, § 16-71; Ord. No. 2008-01, § 1)

(a) No person shall sell, transfer or allow another person to use a residential parking permit issued pursuant to this article unless authorized to do so by this article. Upon the sale or transfer of any vehicle owned by the holder of a valid parking permit, the permit holder shall remove the permit from the transferred or sold vehicle and present the same to the City, and the City shall reissue a parking permit for any replacement vehicle acquired by that person.

(b) No person shall purchase, transfer, acquire or obtain a residential parking permit described in this article unless otherwise authorized to purchase, transfer, acquire or obtain such parking permit by this article.

(Code 1975, § 16-72; Ord. No. 2008-01, § 1)

The City Manager may deny an application for issuance or renewal of a residential parking permit described under this article, or revoke a residential parking permit issued under this article, upon determining that the applicant or permittee has:

(1) Provided the City Manager with incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information relevant to the issuance of the parking permit;

(2) Violated any condition placed upon the residential parking permit; or

(3) Otherwise failed to comply with the provisions of this article.

(Code 1975, § 16-73; Ord. No. 2008-01, § 1)