Agenda Report
Fullerton Transportation and
Circulation Commission
MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 6, 2025
TO: TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION COMMISSION
SUBMITTED BY: PUBLIC WORKS/TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION
PREPARED BY: MICHAEL PLOTNIK, CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER
SUBJECT: EARLY MORNING PARKING PERMIT PILOT PROGRAM
UPDATE
SUMMARY
Staff update on Early Morning Parking Pilot Program.
RECOMMENDATION
It is requested that the Transportation and Circulation Commission take the following action:
Receive and file.
DISCUSSION
On April 4, 2023, Council directed staff to review existing Early Morning Parking Regulations, Policies and Procedures to find a more streamlined, resident friendly program that would reduce neighborhood conflict while addressing the needs of residents with unusual parking challenges. After substantial review, research, and discussion amongst various departments, the City Traffic Engineer developed three options in moving forward as outlined below:
• Option 1 - Repeal the Early Morning Parking Ordinance • Option 2 - Develop a Citywide Parking Permit Program
• Option 3 - Modify the Existing Hardship Exemption Permit
Early Morning Parking Permit Pilot Program Update
October 6, 2025 - Page 2
The aforementioned options were presented to Council for consideration on March 19, 2024, where after much public testimony and discussion, Council approved proceeding with a more resident friendly online pilot parking permit program as outlined in Option 3.
The eighteen-month pilot program officially terminates on December 31, 2025 , unless extended by Council. Council provided staff leeway to customize the pilot program criteria, rules, requirements, and permit costs, to create a fair and efficient program.
Council also asked staff to return with an assessment of the pilot program prior to its termination date, so that Council could decide if the program should become permanent or be abandoned.
It should be noted that prior to the implementation of the pilot program, Traffic Engineering staff was inundated with requests for Early Morning Parking Exemptions through emails, phone calls, and in -person counter visitations. Since implementation of the pilot program such requests have diminished significantly, and currently staff has no active Early Morning Parking Exemption requests. Additionally, staff has not received any complaints related to the administration or permitting cost of the pilot program. It is estimated that the pilot program has resulted in significant staff time savings which has allowed Traffic Engineering staff to focus on other infrastructure and safety projects.
To date, there have been approximately 700 parking permits issued. Staff expects that this number will increase over time as residents become more aware of the availability of th is program. Implementation of the pilot program has amounted to approximately $18,000 to-date, including staff time, the cost of permits, and vendor fees . Permit fees were initially set at $50 each, which resulted in $17,000 as a net revenue which offset the administration of the pilot program. In order to achieve full cost recovery of the permit program, staff estimates that the permit fee can remain at $50 annually but may need to be raised in the future should costs increase . For comparison purposes, a single overnight parking violation citation is $39.
It is the City Traffic Engineer’s intent t o return to Council in November, to recommend that the pilot program become permanent and that the annual permit fee remain at $50 each.
Attachments:
• Attachment 1 - Council Agenda Report (March 19, 2024)