There were 26 members of the Venice community in attendance, inclusive of
the GRNVC Parking Committee. Also in attendance were Senior Field Deputy, Sandy
Kievman and DOT Representatives, Allyn Rifkin, Principal Transportation
Engineer and Ben Chan, Transportation Engineer with the City of Los Angeles, Department of Transportation.
The meeting was gathered to
discuss the cost and issues involved in the development and on-going
maintenance of the proposed Electric Avenue parking lots.
Allyn Rifkin gave a presentation
regarding the process of maintaining parking lots throughout the City of LA and how funds are collected, why and how
they are distributed. Meters and parking
fees collected throughout the City total approximately $30 million per year. When
general administration, maintenance, repairs, repaving, refurbishing from
vandalism, trash collection and beautification are entered into the picture,
approximately $3 million remains for new projects per year. Additionally, it costs nearly $16,000 dollars
each to maintain the current lots on Electric Avenue, Lots 616 and 617. It costs
approximately $6,000 to $8,000 per space to build a new parking lot, the new
lots between Santa Clara and California will create approximately 60 spaces at
an estimated cost of $360,000 to 480,000 dollars or more depending on the final
engineering estimates.
General questions were taken
from stake-holder and Committee attendees and here are some of their concerns
and replies:
Wayne G., business owner of
Surfing Cowboys on Abbot Kinney Blvd. was concerned about the impact of
parking on AK Blvd. stating that currently there is no
monitoring of the time limits along the boulevard which invites extended beach
parking. He said there needs to be uniform parking requirements on that street,
not 1 hour at one end of the street and 2 hours at another.
Phil R. asked how the new
parking lot projects are chosen for implementation. Ben Chan said that the projects are chosen by
“readiness”, meaning the need, land, money and City support the project. Ben
further said that 10 years ago about $800,000 was used to refurbish the Dell Avenue lot.
Ron R., business owner,
re-iterated that meters on Abbott Kinney Blvd. would assist in customer turnover. John
Curtis echoed that we continue to strangle business until we have meters.
Stephanie T., restaurant owner
of Wabi Sabi was interested in the adjacent and existing Irving Tabor lots
being paved as was Donna F. It was
suggested that money be used from the Venice Surplus Fund to pave that lot which
is currently a dirt lot. Robert F. said that he personally picks up trash and
maintains the Irving Tabor lot.
Daryl D. said that there
needs to be a balance between residents and businesses.
Carolyn W. asked where does
the meter money go and Ben Chan said that it just goes in a general city parking
fund.
Residents on Cabrillo, Lisa
O., to the west of Abbot Kinney, and residents to the east are concerned about
spill-over parking into their areas if meters are put in place on Abbot Kinney Blvd. which adds problems to an already
congested traffic problem. Sandy Kievman stated that she is working with the
Coastal Commission to see if a permit parking system is an option, especially
if proposed angled parking is to be put into place.
Finally, Milt S. asked when
the Electric Avenue Lots project might start and Allyn Rifkin and Ben Chan said
that the process is about 9 months from start to finish.