Hearings Set : Fees to Park on Street Overnight to Be Discussed

The Glendale Parking Commission will send letters to the city’s 70,000 households early next month announcing public hearings to discuss adoption of overnight parking restrictions to force residents to use their garages.

Tom Horne, the city’s traffic and transportation administrator, introduced a draft letter at Monday’s commission meeting giving public hearing dates and explaining why the city supports implemention of a permit program for street parking between 2 and 6 a.m.

The proposal, aimed at easing congestion in densely populated neighborhoods, calls for fees ranging from $15 to $120 per year for apartment and condominium residents, depending on the number of permits needed per household and on the amount of off-street parking available to the applicant.

Guest parking would be available for up to 14 days at a cost of $5 for the first night and $1 for each additional night under the proposal.

Horne said the overnight parking plan would reduce traffic congestion, force residents to use their garages, reduce traffic accidents and facilitate police work.

He said Burbank, Pasadena, Beverly Hills and Anaheim are among a growing list of cities that have successfully implemented overnight parking permit programs.

‘Not a Solution’

Parking Commissioner Zaven Hanessian said he opposes the plan. “I don’t feel comfortable with . . . senior citizens having to pay a fee to park overnight,” he said. “The permit process is going to create a lot of paper work, and I don’t think it’s a solution.”

He said that unless he is persuaded otherwise during the upcoming hearings, he will vote against recommending the parking permit program to the City Council. Commission members Beth Doty and Michael Moro, on the other hand, stated in previous meetings that they support the proposal.

City Councilman Carl Raggio said Tuesday that the council asked Horne to draft an overnight parking ordinance after receiving numerous complaints from residents.

Commission hearings are scheduled in the City Hall council chambers, 613 E. Broadway, at 3:30 p.m. July 17, 7 p.m. Aug. 21 and 3:30 p.m. Sept. 18.