BREA : Overnight Parking Permits to Cost $5

After more than three months of debate, the City Council decided Tuesday night to charge residents a fee for overnight parking permits.

Currently, people who park their vehicles on the city’s streets between 2 and 6 a.m. must have permits displayed in the cars. Under the new program, those who need permits must apply for new ones and pay $5.

In addition, the permits will have to be renewed annually, at no charge. But lost permits must be replaced at a cost of $5.

Only two permits will be issued per single-family house and one per apartment.

Residents had tried to get the city to abolish the use of parking permits altogether but council members voted 3 to 2 to keep the current ordinance, which requires overnight parking permits, and to charge for them. Council members Kathryn E. Wiser and Carrey J. Nelson voted against the ordinance, questioning the need for parking permits.

“It’s another fee that the people shouldn’t have to bear,” Nelson said, adding that the permits should be eliminated.

Brett R. Barbre, a representative of the Apartment Assn. of Orange County, agreed. He called the ordinance “bureaucratic overkill” and said it is unfair to renters.

Homeowners who favor the parking ordinance said it does not discriminate against renters.

Many residents said the parking ordinance causes undue hardship and they can’t understand why they will not be allowed to park more than one or two cars in front of their own homes.

Said Sandra Nolte: “I don’t think (the ordinance) is going to serve the people at all. People have to park somewhere and they should be able to park wherever they want.”

Mayor Glenn G. Parker said the ordinance helps to cut down on street maintenance and is “in the best public interest.”

Vehicles without permits receive parking citations and owners who repeat violations face fines of up to $1,000 or jail terms of up to six months for parking on city streets longer than 30 minutes between 2 and 6 a.m.

The current parking ordinance requires that free, unlimited parking permits be obtained every three years.

Currently, street sweeping is done between 5:30 and 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.