The City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 4, directed staff to draft new language to clarify the Avalon code dealing with autoette permits.
The decision came following a study session on autoette permits obtained by property owners for renters.
Mayor Bob Kennedy said the new language would say that the occupant of a dwelling, not the owner, could have an autoette permit.
Kennedy said the matter would come back to the next Avalon City Council meeting.
The City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 4, directed staff to draft new language to clarify the Avalon code dealing with autoette permits.
The decision came following a study session on autoette permits obtained by property owners for renters.
Mayor Bob Kennedy said the new language would say that the occupant of a dwelling, not the owner, could have an autoette permit.
Kennedy said the matter would come back to the next Avalon City Council meeting.
According to the staff report by City Attorney Scott Campbell, the Hermosa Hotel and Cottages in March approached the city about applying for 32 autoette permits for the 32 units owned by the Hermosa.
The council responded by placing a moratorium on issuing autoette permits to anyone other than the residents of dwellings.
“The moratorium allowed residents of dwelling units to obtain autoette permits, it just prohibited the issuance of autoette permits (to) owners of dwelling units who would not be using the autoette permits for their personal use,” Campbell wrote.
According to his report, code 4-4.1703(g)(1) could be interpreted to allow a permit to be issued to a residence instead of to the person living in that residence.
The report also said the code could be interpreted to allow transient and non-transient residents of a unit to use the owner’s autoette.
Campbell report said that representatives of the Hermosa Hotel have argued that the hotel is entitled to apply for 32 autoette permits over the counter, without City Council approval.
City Attorney Campbell’s report said there were approximately 1,116 residential autoette permits in Avalon in October.
“There is space for approximately 990 autoettes to park in the flats area of the city, traditionally the most congested parking area,” the report said. “This figure assumes no other vehicles are parked on the flats and that no parking restrictions are in place.”
The report said there are 598 dwelling units in Avalon, 526 in “multiunit” buildings and 72 in hotels. The report concluded that an additional 260 autoette permits could be issued if those permits were issued to property owners rather than to residents.
“This influx of autoettes would add to traffic congestion, compound the scarcity of parking and could harm local autoette businesses,” Campbell’s report said.
Funding the centennial celebration
That same night, the City Council asked staff to look at what the Avalon Centennial Celebration will cost. Mayor Kennedy said Avalon would not hire a consultant or public relations firm to represent the city’s 100th anniversary celebration.
Lions to name concession stand
The Avalon Lions Club offered to make a $4,000 donation to Joe Machado Field in exchange for the right to name the field’s concession stand. Staff presented the request to the council and asked for direction on how the city should handle future requests for “naming rights” in the city’s recreational areas.
Council OKs fire equipment grant
The council authorized the Avalon Fire Department to apply for a cost-sharing grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for $8,096. The application will be for a 50/50 grant to buy new personal safety equipment for firefighters, according to City Manager Steve Hoefs.
The council also:
• Approved the renewal of 29 waterside permits.
• Authorized the finance director to apply for $106,643 in transportation funds from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
• Moved Prop 1B funds from the Lower Terrace Road Project to citywide street repairs. Los Angeles County gave Avalon $400,000 in Prop 1B funds in 2008-09. Avalon designated those funds for the Lower Terrace Road Project.
However, the project has been extended.
The problem: Prop 1B funds must be spent by June 30, 2013, or the city has to return the money with interest.
Avalon staff recommended moving the money from the Lower Terrace Road Project to the city road repair project.
• Authorized city staff to apply for a grant to replace the city’s trolleys with three electric buses.
