TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the information provided regarding a parking fee exemption for certain classifications of Veterans. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On August 1 2006, Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal and Councilmember Val Lerch requested the City Manager to report back to City Council within 90 days on the analysis of an ordinance exempting vehicles belonging to specified classifications of veterans from certain municipal parking fees. As pointed out in the request, parking fee exemptions have been adopted by the cities of Fresno and Culver City. For purposes of providing free parking, these vehicles are identified by license plates issued at no cost by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This provision would not exempt a vehicle from compliance with any other parking regulation including parking time limits or street sweeping restrictions.
Classifications to be addressed are as follows, together with the statewide number of vehicle license plates issued to the recipients, according to the DMV:
Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients: 16
Legion of Valor: 92
Pearl Harbor Survivors: 973
Purple Heart Recipients: 6,373
Former POWs: Unknown
According to the DMV, approximately 24 percent of all cars licensed by the State of California are located in Los Angeles County, which gives an idea of the magnitude of the issue.
Parking, which the City has jurisdiction, together with any restrictions, are as follows:
. Marina parking: Provision of a parking fee exemption would require approval of the Coastal Commission.
. Belmont Shore parking meters: Parking meter revenue in Belmont Shore is committed to the creation and maintenance of parking spaces within that business district. Within that context, The Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission is charged with advising the City on the use of the parking meter revenue, but that role is purely advisory. The Commission, at its meeting of September 21, 2006, has agreed to su...
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