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Santa NFonica, California, Octobe~~' 1974
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SITBJECT
Background
Mayor and City Council ~,;
City Staff ~rxas S~~a 1
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.Drag Racing - 2500 Beach Parking Lot carr ¢iesms ° ~H~
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Introduction
This report concerns remedial measures to be taken to help
eliminate the drag"racing on Beach Parking Lot 2600.
Drag racing of high performance cars, as well as ordinary cars,
.has led to_a great deal of neighborhood disturbance ih this parking
lot area. T'ne police have had difficulty stopping said activity
due to a fairly elaborate warning system to alert the participants
of the .police approaching. Through the use of police band radios
and "look outs" most of the activity is "shut down" when the police
arrive.
.The parking lot presents an "ideal track" for this activity
in that there is about a one-half mile "clear run" before it is
necessary for the participants to slow down. The noise generated
by this activity is extremely -loud and at 2:.40 A.M. in the morning
it is unbearable.'. Many residents of this area have justifiably
complained and are seeking relief from the City.
There are two groups of citizens who use the parking lot
legitimately and need to be taken into. consideration yohen seeking
a solution to this problem. They are residents who purchase a
monthly parking permit to park in this lot betzaeen 2:00 A.:~S. to
5:00 A.M. and surfers who use the area around tower. no. 22 for
parking and .surfing.
Alternate Solutions:
The simplest and least expensive solution would be to block
all entrances and exits between tha-hours of xnidnight end 6:.00 A.M.
and not allow any parking on this lot. The permit group could be
.transferred to the Parking Authority lot on Neilson Way. The
.surfers have indicated that a 6:00 A.M. opening for parking would
be satisfactory to them.
This solution creates the following problem though: Requires
lady residents to walk through a poorly lighted parking lot, crossing
a busy street at signals where non-resident vehicles can pass at
various speeds, restricted pedestrian exits due to ,the. necessary
traffic safety channels the "escape routes", and walking along
Pieilson tray to the street inhere their home is located without the
.opportunity of help if needed from friendly neighbors. Parking in
the beach lot allows direct access to their resident streets and
the .area is much better lighted.
Another solution would be to sink steel i beams into the lot
to restrict vehicular traffic and break up the tat at Bay Street,
Hollister and Ocean Park Boulevard. While this is the most vandel
proof of the alternatives available its cost is -pro'nibitive -
(approximately $20,000),
The anticipated necessary control to prevent the drag racing
can be achieved through using a 4.5' vinyl covered chain link fence
at Bay'Street,'Hollister Avenue and using chain-and saw horses at
the Ocean. Park BoulE yard entrances.. Gates tigill be installed and
locked to a11gw opening these sections when crowd and weather
conditions require. Using this method, certain sections. of the
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beach parking lot will not be available for parking except on an
as `needed basis.
The area between Bay Street and .Bicknell: will be open for
parking and will be used especially by the surfers. From Bicknell
to Hollister.Avenue wih be closed to parking as-now planned most
of the winter months except for large crowd days. From Hollister
Avenue to the Ocean Park Boulevard entrance the lot will be o en
for parking at all times.. This wi11 accommodate the permit holders.
The area from the Ocean Park Boulevard entrance. to POP-will be -
closed to parking except on an as needed-basis,
Recommendation
Authorize .the .appropriation of $3500 for the fencing of the
various portions of the 2600 Beacn Parking Lots to prevent drag
racing.
Prepared by; Donald T. Arnett
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