Item No.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: MATTHEW BAUMGARDNER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY
ENGINEER
DATE: AUGUST 26, 2025
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE CITY’S PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT PROGRAM
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will receive and file an update on the City’s existing preferential parking district program. The program was established through an ordinance by City Council in 2011 to address parking in residential neighborhoods experiencing overflow impacts from nearby commercial and multi-family properties. The procedures for establishing a new district are discussed, including the eligibility requirements. There are total of nine preferential parking districts located in the City.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1) Receive and file an informational update on the City’s preferential parking district program; and
2) Discuss and provide direction to staff on any modifications to the program.
BACKGROUND
The City’s Residential Preferential Parking Program was initially adopted through Ordinance No. 11-1284 on June 13, 2011 and later amended through Ordinance No. 18-1402 on November 13, 2018. The program, as initially created, was oriented for the establishment of preferential parking districts on individual street blocks or segments only and for the exclusive benefit of the contiguous single-family residential properties and multi-family properties (duplex, triplex, and fourplex only) located on said street block or segment.
ANALYSIS
Since its inception in 2011, a total of 9 preferential parking districts have been established in the City (see location maps in Attachment A). These districts have each been established through adoption of a resolution following a public hearing noticed to all affected property owners on the street block. The process for establishing a preferential parking district is as follows:
UPDATE ON PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT PROGRAM
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1) Demonstration of support for the proposed district. a. Description and/or map showing the proposed district; b. Petition contacting the signature, printed name, date, and address of at least 75 percent of the property owners of the dwelling units within the proposed district;
c. Name and telephone number of the applicant who will be the designated representative of the applicant; and
d. The requested hours and days of the parking restriction.
2) Eligibility of the proposed district shall be evaluated upon the following criteria:
a. The district is at least 75 percent single-family residential and includes whole blocks (intersection to intersection) and includes both sides of the street, unless the City Traffic Engineer determines that including both sides is impractical; b. Multi-family properties must not occupy more than 25 percent of the residential street and shall be duplex, triplex, or fourplex only. c. At least 75 percent of the on-street parking spaces within the proposed restriction time must be occupied.
d. A minimum of 50 percent of the occupied spaces must be nonresidents (outside the proposed district boundary).
e. The street block in question must be designated as a residential street, which is any street located within an area zoned as residential which does not appear on the Circulation Plan contained within the City’s adopted General Plan.
3) After the application and petition is received and deemed to demonstrate sufficient support from the affected neighborhood, the City Traffic Engineer will undertake surveys to determine if the eligibility requirements are met, the designated representative will be notified that the district will be recommended to the Public Works Committee.
4) The committee will then make a recommendation to the City Council for consideration through a public hearing.
5) Once the resolution is adopted, parking permits must be issued to 50 percent of the residents in the district before signs will be installed designating the district.
6) Up to two (2) parking permits may be issued to each single-family unit and up to one (1) permit may be issued to each multi-family unit.
Over the years, staff has been able to identify certain factors that lead to a successful establishment of a preferential parking district, as well as challenges that have been experienced by applicants. These successes include the following:
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• The designated representative is proactive and does a good job of relaying information to and from staff.
• Consensus among the neighborhood on the requested time of the prohibition. • Returning all required information being requested by staff in a prompt manner.
Challenges to establishing a district have included:
• Having a designated representative that was no knowledgeable on the process. • Lack of consensus on the requested time of the prohibition. • Slow turnaround times on requested information to staff. • Residents not wanting to pay for the permits.
• Residents wanting more than the allotted permits per household (up to 2 permanent and 1 guest).
Residential neighborhoods that are interested in establishing a preferential parking district can begin the process by designating a representative to meet at City Hall with engineering staff to discuss their parking issues and develop their specific petition process.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Location maps of existing preferential parking districts.
11806 11812 H:\Pubworks\Traffic\Preferential Parking\ Preferential Parking Zone_Opt 1 w Bellflower 9068 9040-9070 RAEBERT STREET 11700-11800 CORRIGAN AVENUE 9010-9060 BUCKLES STREET 9042 11708 11738 11744 11802 11810 11702 11726 11744 11732 11720 9071 11725 11731 11717 9043 11736 9043 9051 11730 11724 11718 9057 9060 9042 9052 9064 9046 9051 9033 9045 9061 9067 11661 9055 9039 9063 11715-11729 BELLFLOWER BLVD 9119 11755 11751 11729 11723 11719 11715 9119 STEWART & GRAY ROAD 11700-11800 VULTEE AVENUE 11751-11756 BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS CITY OF DOWN EY
LOCATION MAP
ENGINEERING DIVISION
PROPOSED PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT
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- Portion of District to be Removed
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS CITY OF DOWNEY ENGINEERING DIVISION
PROPOSED PREFERENTIAL PARKING DISTRICT
PROJECT LOCATION MAP