Showing posts with label Parking: Nov 2006 election arguments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parking: Nov 2006 election arguments. Show all posts

October 20, 2006

Long Beach Press Telegram endorses YES on measures C and F to ban street parking

Yes on measures C, F
Lakewood can park the RV flap for good on Election Day.
Article Launched:10/19/2006
Long Beach Press Telegram

Getting Lakewood to let go of the long-standing feud over recreational vehicle and trailer parking is a bit like getting a starved terrier to surrender a London broil. We can hardly imagine Tomorrow's City Today without its best-known battle of yesterday (our apologies to those who want their own school district).

But it's time to curb the RV and trailer issue. Residents have an opportunity to settle a major portion of the exhausting flap by voting yes on measures C and F on the Nov. 7 ballot. We back both.

The measures would offer clarity to the various interpretations of the existing law, which is abused in spirit, if not letter, and, more importantly, get those mammoth RVs and trailers off the streets most of the year while still allowing proper loading and unloading.

The measures are essentially the same, but Measure C regulates RVs while Measure F applies to trailers. The initiatives would ban on-street RV and attached and unattached trailer parking except for limited periods of time. They would require residents to get permits, which would be good for one to three days, up to 16 days a year, for the times they are outfitting their vehicles for trips.

Readying RVs for sojourns would be the only legal reason to park them on the street. This will be a problem, of course, for those who use their RVs as guest rooms, but the practice of suburban camping is incompatible with today's tidy tracts.

Under the new system, Lakewood residents would simply apply for and print out their permits from an online website, providing they have registered their rigs with City Hall. The law would also require three days between permits so residents could load their trailers, leave town for a weekend, come back and unload it.

These new laws would go beyond easy-to-manipulate existing city codes, which allow RV and semi-trailer parking on city streets for up to 72 hours in the same spot. Many owners just move their rigs across the street or down a few feet from their original locations to meet the law.

Neither measure would apply to driveway or backyard parking of RVs or trailers, which are subject to different requirements. We can't see telling people what they can do on their own property as long as they follow existing regulations.

But city streets are another matter. On-street RV parking benefits the few - RV and trailer owners - to the detriment of many. This is the opposite of the utilitarian spirit that pulses through Lakewood.

In addition, the rolling motels detract from the appearance of the city's attractive postwar neighborhoods, which went from good to great in the recent housing boom as residents pulled out equity to make improvements and newcomers came in and made their own fixes.

Streets free of RVs and trailers could certainly do nothing but help property values threatened by a slowing market.

RVs and trailers, when not in use, generally belong in parks and lots made for such uses or out of sight on private property. The arguments to allow RVs to remain on public streets have finally run out of gas.

October 7, 2006

RV parking issue spills over to L.B.

RV parking issue spills over to L.B.
Lakewood measure could force oversized vehicles to neighboring districts.
By Karen Robes, Staff writer

Article Launched:10/06/2006 11:03:54 PM PDT Long Beach Press Telegram

LONG BEACH - The recreational vehicle and trailer parking issue in Lakewood has spilled over to neighboring Long Beach.

City Councilwomen Gerrie Schipske and Rae Gabelich will ask City Attorney Bob Shannon Tuesday to draft an ordinance that would address problems that could arise if Lakewood voters ban rigs and motorhomes from city streets.

In August, the Lakewood City Council agreed to place on the Nov. 7 ballot two measures that would limit Lakewood residents from parking their RVs and trailers on city streets without a permit.

Lakewood also approved a series of parking enforcement measures, including a law banning RVs and trailers belonging to out-of-towners unless they have a special temporary permit. That law went into effect in late September.

"The 5th Council District is immediately adjacent to Lakewood, and if in fact those residents do approve removing RV and oversized vehicles, we know people are going to come across Del Amo (Boulevard)... and they can park their vehicles because we have a very loose ordinance regarding oversized vehicles," Schipske said. "I think we need to be proactive and figure out if this is the best thing for our residential areas and see if we can get ahead of the curb instead of react to it."

Currently, Long Beach has a series of ordinances to deal with parking concerns, said City Traffic Engineer Dave Roseman.

The city can restrict vehicles over 6 feet high from parking within 100 feet of an intersection if the restriction is posted. The city can also restrict commercial and non-commercial oversized vehicles on thoroughfares and in residential communities.

There is a petition process that allows neighborhoods to post signs restricting any oversized vehicle exceeding 85 inches high, 80 inches wide or 20 inches long, Roseman said.

If posted, residents have to obtain a permit from the Fire Department for loading and unloading their belongings.

The proposed ordinance could include banning non- Long Beach residents from parking non-motorized or oversized vehicles without a permit and outlawing street parking of limousines in residential areas.

The ordinance would address the parking of vehicles advertised for sale. The proposal also calls for banning the parking of "For Sale" vehicles within 100 feet of any street right-of-way unless a business is selling the vehicles and conforms with the city's zoning requirements and development standards.

Both councilwomen said the parking issue in Lakewood was not the primary reason for the request, but one more to consider amid other ongoing parking concerns in their districts.

Gabelich said there have been problems with cars parked with "For Sale" signs north of Del Amo Boulevard near 55th Street and issues with non-motorized trailers and boats.

"There are motorhomes that park in front of people's homes, hook up with electricity and use it as an extra bedroom," she said.

"I think that, ultimately, if we don't take a look at it, do I think that it could filter over to our neighborhoods? Yes, I do," Gabelich said. "The timing is perfect."

Karen Robes can be reached at karen.robes@presstelegram.com or (562) 499-1303.

August 30, 2006

Statement in favor of prohibiting the parking of trailers and RV's on streets

This is the argument that will appear in the County Ballot for the Nov 7, 2006 Special Election. There was no argument filed in opposition to either the RV or Trailer Measure. This was filed with the city on Aug 17, 2006:

The proposed trailer parking measure on the ballot reads: “Shall Ordinance No. 2006-5, which would prohibit the parking of trailers and semi-trailers on streets in the City, except while in the process of being loaded or unloaded or by City permit, be approved?”

The proposed RV parking measure on the ballot reads: “Shall Ordinance No. 2006-6, which would prohibit the parking of motorized recreational vehicles on streets in the City, except while in the process of being loaded or unloaded or by City permit, be approved?”

As Lakewood Homeowners and RV owners, we understand that it’s time to end LONG TERM storage of boats & trailers on our neighborhood STREETS. We believe that boats & trailers should be legally parked on our properties or in storage. This street parking issue has long pitted neighbor against neighbor reducing the neighborhood quality of life and creating many problems including:

A) FINANCIAL BURDEN to the City of Lakewood with hundreds of complaints each year

B) SAFETY RISKS to our CHILDREN due to poor visibility near driveways and intersections

C) TRAFFIC HAZARDS caused by choking already narrow streets

D) UNCLEAN STREETS due to the inability of street-sweepers to clean under parked boats & trailers

E) DECLINING PROPERTY VALUES when prospective buyers are scared off by large rigs stored nearby that are often poorly maintained with tattered covers and/or on blocks.

The Good Sam Club, one of the largest RV clubs, expressly discourages the long term parking of boats & trailers on neighborhood streets stating it will cause community resentment of RV’s and result in severe parking restrictions. We agree. The City of Lakewood has developed a system (similar to many surrounding cities) by which boat & trailer owners will be able to park on city streets with up to 16 three-day parking permits each year. Longer permits will be available for special needs. These permits can be obtained over the phone or Internet for FREE. Also, no permits will be required for rigs that are in the process of being loaded or unloaded. These provisions are more than fair. In the interest of preserving our rights to enjoy our boats & trailers, while addressing community concerns about the small percentage of discourteous RV owners, we encourage you to vote YES on Measures C and F.

Brandon Yung

Lakewood Homeowner

Lakewood RV owner

Lakewood Business owner

August 23, 2006

Prohibiting the on-street parking of non-Lakewood-registered trailers and RVs.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Council Recap: Restrictions on non-Lakewood RVs and trailers adopted; enforcement begins September 21

At its Tuesday evening meeting, the Lakewood City Council took the final steps to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the on-street parking of non-Lakewood-registered trailers and RVs. The new parking ordinance will go into effect on September 21.

The parking limitation on non-Lakewood RV and trailers is part of the framework for regulating on-street parking adopted by the city council at its August 8 meeting. The city council also placed on the November 7 special election ballot two additional measures that would limit the parking of Lakewood-registered RVs and trailers.

The RV and trailer parking ordinance adopted on Tuesday does not require further voter approval, however.

Under the new ordinance, RVs and trailers (attached and detached) not registered to a Lakewood address can be cited if parked on a Lakewood street. To accommodate "short-term needs" while out-of-town family or friends visit, Lakewood residents will be able to request a free, city-issued permit for their guests.

Non-Lakewood vehicle owners cited under the new ordinance face a $40 fine for each day of on-street parking (plus additional costs assessed by the courts).


Statement in favor of prohibiting the parking of trailers and semi-trailers on streets

This statement was filed by LAAG on Aug 17, 2006 for the Nov 7, 2006 ballot but Mr. Yung's statement was chosen.

The parking situation is out of control in Lakewood. Part of the problem is that most people no longer park in their garages. Also, the number of cars per house has increased as well as the size of their vehicles. Cars and small trucks are competing for street parking with RVs and trailers which take up to two or three times the parking space as a car (in length and width). They are rarely moved, turning streets into campgrounds.

Lakewood must deal with the parking problem now or parking regulations will be thrust upon us by State and County agencies that govern the water runoff issues into the San Gabriel and LA Rivers. Gutter runoff pollutants increase without proper weekly sweeping and debris removal which in turn pollutes our beaches and surrounding rivers. If Lakewood does not remedy this, our property taxes will increase dramatically to pay for outside remediation efforts. Regulating long term RV and trailer parking on public streets Lakewood will ease implementation of citywide mandatory no parking on street sweeping days. Having to shuffle RVs and trailers around every week will be difficult. Voting YES on Measure __ will remedy this.

Most residential streets are 25 feet wide. RVs and trailers can restrict the passage area to less than 9 feet. This impedes the flow of traffic and even with ONE vehicle traveling down the street, impairs safety. Large RVs and trailers create blind spots (a hazard for pets and children who play near them) and make it difficult for residents to enter and exit driveways safely. They also make trash collection more difficult and time consuming as even more thru traffic blockage occurs with trash trucks present.

Vote YES on Measures C and F.

See additional arguments in statement supporting the RV parking measure

Lakewood Accountability Action Group | www.LAAG.us

Statement in favor of measure prohibiting the parking of RV’s on streets

This statement was filed by LAAG on Aug 17, 2006 for the Nov 7, 2006 ballot but Mr. Yung's statement was chosen.

Cities surrounding Lakewood have limited street parking; most cities in LA and Orange counties have limits (and have done so without costly taxpayer funded elections). This has turned Lakewood into a parking lot for non-resident RVs and trailers. A minority of RV and trailer owners create the majority of problems for their neighbors, but unfortunately the only way we can deal with this problem is to put laws into effect that govern all equally. This rationale is true for all zoning and parking laws.

The city council has not effectively dealt with this issue for 30 years and is no excuse not to resolve the problem now (like all other cities did before us). This is the reason the we have the current problems. Some RVs and trailers are increasing visual blight, which is only going to increase with more RVs and trailers. Ownership of a “second home” entails responsibilities just like a regular home. Owners need to find off-site parking or build parking space for it their lot--not dumping it on the street and making it your neighbors’ problem. Measure C does not ban proper parking of RVs and trailers on your property. If there is no room to park on your lot then you need to make room or get off-site parking.

RVs and trailers on the street for months also invite crime. Vehicle theft and vandalism is one of Lakewood’s biggest crime problems. RV’s and trailers are even bigger targets due to all the valuables they often contain.

Measure C does not ban all street parking. A free resident permit system will be created. Lakewood is falling behind on dealing with this problem. Vote YES on Measure C and lets catch up with everyone else.

See additional arguments in statement supporting the Trailer parking measure.

Statement in favor of prohibiting the parking of trailers and RV's on streets

This is the argument that will appear in the County Ballot for the Nov 7, 2006 Special Election. There was no argument filed in opposition to either the RV or Trailer Measure. This was filed with the city on Aug 17, 2006:

The proposed trailer parking measure on the ballot reads: “Shall Ordinance No. 2006-5, which would prohibit the parking of trailers and semi-trailers on streets in the City, except while in the process of being loaded or unloaded or by City permit, be approved?”

The proposed RV parking measure on the ballot reads: “Shall Ordinance No. 2006-6, which would prohibit the parking of motorized recreational vehicles on streets in the City, except while in the process of being loaded or unloaded or by City permit, be approved?”

As Lakewood Homeowners and RV owners, we understand that it’s time to end LONG TERM storage of boats & trailers on our neighborhood STREETS. We believe that boats & trailers should be legally parked on our properties or in storage. This street parking issue has long pitted neighbor against neighbor reducing the neighborhood quality of life and creating many problems including:

A) FINANCIAL BURDEN to the City of Lakewood with hundreds of complaints each year

B) SAFETY RISKS to our CHILDREN due to poor visibility near driveways and intersections

C) TRAFFIC HAZARDS caused by choking already narrow streets

D) UNCLEAN STREETS due to the inability of street-sweepers to clean under parked boats & trailers

E) DECLINING PROPERTY VALUES when prospective buyers are scared off by large rigs stored nearby that are often poorly maintained with tattered covers and/or on blocks.

The Good Sam Club, one of the largest RV clubs, expressly discourages the long term parking of boats & trailers on neighborhood streets stating it will cause community resentment of RV’s and result in severe parking restrictions. We agree. The City of Lakewood has developed a system (similar to many surrounding cities) by which boat & trailer owners will be able to park on city streets with up to 16 three-day parking permits each year. Longer permits will be available for special needs. These permits can be obtained over the phone or Internet for FREE. Also, no permits will be required for rigs that are in the process of being loaded or unloaded. These provisions are more than fair. In the interest of preserving our rights to enjoy our boats & trailers, while addressing community concerns about the small percentage of discourteous RV owners, we encourage you to vote YES on Measures C and F.

Brandon Yung

Lakewood Homeowner

Lakewood RV owner

Lakewood Business owner