City implements comprehensive plan to solve parking problems in Laguna

By Jackie Connor, exclusively for the Independent

In a decisive move to address Laguna Beach’s chronic parking woes, the City Council has agreed on a multi-pronged plan to expand parking capacity and improve enforcement of parking laws and regulations. The plan includes utilizing existing lots, negotiating leases with private property owners and potentially increasing parking fines to deter illegal parking.

Parking issues, especially during the summer months when there are the most tourists, continue to cause frustration and concern among residents, and the majority of the population calls for stricter regulations.

“I would encourage a huge increase in parking tickets,” the Laguna Beach resident said during public comment. “When you drive north on PCH on 10th (Street), there are cars parked in the ‘no parking’ zone, and that’s a real safety hazard. And there’s constant enforcement.”

In June 2023, the City Council approved the Parking and Transportation Demand Management Report, which aims to improve parking conditions for residents and visitors and manage parking burdens in residential areas. Under the leadership of the subcommittee, the City conducted a 15-month study that included public consultation and three different community meetings to discuss options, including revised regulations.

A large part of the city’s strategy involves maximizing the use of current parking resources, and in this regard, the city council has been discussing various options with property owners and management companies. The Aliso Beach parking lot has been identified as a potential candidate.

The city is also looking at underutilized parking structures, such as the one under the shuttered Gelson shopping center. While there’s no concrete news yet about the future of Gelson, council members are hopeful that collaboration will be an option.

Additionally, efforts are underway to revive a previously stalled parking deal under Laguna Beach Terrace.

“(Hopefully) we can bring it back and put it in the mix … we had a pretty good deal,” Mayor Sue Kempf said. “We can get a lot of revenue and I’ve heard from a lot of people, ‘Why is it still there?’ I hear that all the time, especially in the summer.”

Public Works is also addressing issues with mismarked zones and red curbs along the Aliso Beach shoreline. Residents have complained about illegal parking in those areas, and parking ticket prices haven’t been high enough to force them to move their vehicles.

The city is also exploring expanding lease options with companies like Laguna Drug, which currently provides seven parking spaces for permit holders. In addition, the city council is considering hiring outside companies to manage the parking, which the council says would streamline operations and allow for more efficient use of existing parking spaces.

“I really think the easiest way is to use private parking lots,” said Alex Rounaghi, mayor pro tem. “I hope we can do more than just three to five leases to work out an agreement with property owners.”

City Council also discussed potential solutions to address employee parking needs, which included evaluating strategies to manage parking without impacting the availability of parking spaces for residents.

The city is also considering raising parking fines, which residents say have remained the same for years, which would help deter illegal parking and generate additional revenue. Parking rates could be changed to dynamic, according to the city council, which would mean higher rates during peak season and lower rates during off-season.