sr-121476-11d
Santa Monica, California, December 7, 1976
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To: Mayor and City Council ~~~'
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~,~ From: City Staff y
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°~ Subject: Access to Beach Parking Lots -.Control Measures
2600 Parking Lot
Introduction:
This. report is in response to Gity Council direction at the
August 10, 1976, meeting, requesting a report in 120 days.
Background:
In the summer of 1975, citizens living in the Ocean Park area
bounded by Barnard Way. and veilson Way brought to the city's
attention the problems created for them by the accessibility,
design and heavy use of the 2600 Beach Parking Lot on the Santa
Monica State Beach. Their complaint centered mainly around drag
racing of cars at all hours of the night. The accompanying
conduct of drinking and drugs has been a problem of enforcement
for the Police Department.
Several community meetings were held to find the solutions to
the problems. The immediate action of closing the lot with
sawhorses and chains proved to be unworkable because the chains
were cut by violators. Amore permanent design change was made
changing the parking stalls and putting in bumpers. This broke
up the long run (one half mile), but did not resolve the problem.
Police efforts to alleviate the problems have been saturation of f
To: Mayor and City Council -2- December 7, 1976
the area with police patrol, and strict enforcement of the laws.
These efforts are successful to a degree, providing they are
continuous and constant.
Although .not primarily involved with drag racing, disturbances
that affect residents around the 2600 beach parking lot also
affect the other beach residents living around other lots. This
is particularly true at the 810 Beach Parking Lot (Sorrento Grill
Apartments).
No complaints have been received from the 1550 lot (north of
Santa Monica Pier) or the 1150 lot (Roadside Rest area),
primarily due to the fact that the lots are located between
homes. The other smaller lots north of the pier have been
historically closed each evening. This policy has existed
for at least fifteen years.
Council Action:
The City Council. at the August 10, 197b, meeting, amended
Ordinance 3201, to change the curfew restrictions on overnight
parking from 3:00 am to 6:00 am to 10:00 pm to 6:00 am, with
the provision that the change expire in 120 days. The expiration
became effective December 8, 197b, so that now the 3:00 am to
6:00 am restriction is again in effect.
Alternatives:
1. Establish a policy of completely closing the lots except to
the residents current permit area. This does not recognize
the regional and Statewide character of the beach, and the
To: Mayor and City Council -3- December 7, 1976
inability of some residents to use the beach only at night,
and does not take into consideration the residents desires
for guests and where they park..
2. The City of Santa Monica may proceed with its present policy
of combating the escalating problems in the beach lot by
sporadic saturation of the area with police officers, and
by strict enforcement of all laws. This alternative, although
somewhat effective, causes a deployment problem of police
personnel in other parts of the city, and has no lasting
effect, since. the problem. is only temporarily solved, and
subsequently returns again and again.
3. A full-time parking attendant could be hired to collect
parking fees on a twenty-four basis, excluding, of course,
those persons with monthly parking permits. Although this
procedure has been successful for the parking lot on the
Santa Monica Pier, there is certainly no guarantee that such
a procedure would alleviate the problems in the beach lot.
This alternative also penalizes those individuals, as does
the preceeding alternative, who have a sincere desire to
utilize the area for rest, relaxation, and other legal
activities.
4. "Speed-bumps" could be constructed throughout the parking
lot at designated intervals, which would most likely control
the drag-racing. This alternative, however, would not pre-
vent the congregation of youth, who have frequented the area
on past occasions, drinking, fighting, and generally causing
To: Mayor and City Council -4- December 7, 1976
a disturbance.
5. Establish a permit holder only area in the 2600 lot and
change the uses of the other beach parking lots. Undertaking
a new approach to the use of the beach parking lots could
change the present disturbance patterns and discourage the
undesirable element from finding our lots a good hangout.
accomplish this the following changes should be made.
2600 Lot
Close off all but 120 spaces immediately north of Beach
Park ~E1 with heavy pipe gates (see attached) at 10:00 pm in
summer, restricting access to the total lot but permitting
public parking in the 120 spaces with 3:00 am to. 6:00 am
To
curfew.' The permit holders would park as presently allowed.
The lack. of opportunity for drag racing should eliminate
the associated disturbing conduct at this lot. This would
cost approximately $7,000.
All remaining lots north to the Santa Monica Pier would
continue to function under the old 3:00 am to 6:00 am curfew.
1550 Lot
Establish this as an open, no curfew lot. Overnight parking
would not be permitted. The lot is under direct visual contact
of the Harbor Patrol and police on routine pier patrol, in
.addition to any beach patrol.
1150 Lot
Open to R.V. parking, not storage. Install two dump stations
To: Mayor and City Council -5-
December 7, 1976
and two water supply points. No curfew, open for general
beach parking. The R.V. fee would be collected by the
parking lot attendant in the morning as the vehicles leave.
Use would be restricted to 24 hours to prevent the develop-
ment of a trailer park. The fee would be based upon current
space occupied vehicle. Attendant would be duty at 6:00 am.
The cost for the installation of the dump stations and
water will be presented at budget review.
A11 of the beach lots north of the 1150 lot, which are
adjacent to homes, should be locked at closing time except
for the lot 810, which should. be locked at 10:00 pm and
opened at 8:00 am. Heavy galvanized gates would be in-
stalled to close the .lot, plus an exit trap to allow leaving
after lock-up and curfew from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. Cost
would be approximately $2,500.
Guest parking on the closed lots can be arranged with 24
hour notice to the Recreation and Parks Department. Other
last moment guest parking would be accommodated on the 1150
lot and. be shuttled by the host to the host parking spot.
Daytime Pass
Another item that would change the. approach to the use of
these lots would be the selling of an annual pass, used
year-round,. for daytime use only (8:00 am to 6:00 pm).
Because of the State ownership, the pass would be sold to
all State residents. The permit would be sold either by
To: Mayor and City Council -6-
December 7, 1976
mail or in person at the Recreation and Parks Office. The
annual fee would be $75.00. his would allow those residents
not now able to purchase permits to have a means of using
the beach without having to pay every day and would provide
a basic service to beach users.
Recommendation:
Approve Alternative ~~5. Authorize the transfer of $9,500 from
the Beach Parking Lot unappropriated reserve to Account 8522-
920 for the installation of gates and exit standards.
Prepared by: Donald T. Arnett
DTA:11
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