FULLERTON : Green Light Sought for Car Swap Meets

Fullerton College plans to seek city permission to hold a used-car swap meet in its parking lot.

The college had allowed the weekend event as of Oct. 21, but the City Council closed it in November after a 3-2 vote. The council said that private auto sales were inappropriate at a public college and that the sales hurt commercial dealers.

But in February, college officials hope to ask the council to change its mind, said Ronald J. Krimper, vice president of institutional advancement.

“We’re hoping that by working together to address the issues that were raised (in November) we could convince the council this was a legitimate function for the college,” Krimper said Tuesday.

In November, three of the council members said the auto sales might hurt dealers who pay rent on commercial property and have high overheads. Also, council members said, because the swap meet was coordinated by a private company, it was making a profit from the use of public land.

The short-lived auto swap meet was held on campus by Irvine-based CarFaire Inc., which has held a similar operation since August at Irvine Valley College.

CarFaire charges sellers $15 a day or $25 a weekend to display the cars in the college parking lot and then advertises the sale to attract buyers.

CarFaire also gives listings of cars’ average selling prices, supplies sellers and buyers with Department of Motor Vehicle forms and provides staff to go along on test drives, said David Anderson, company vice president.

CarFaire benefits the college by renting the parking lot space on a monthly basis, school officials said.

So far, the company has only the Irvine college location.