City Brings Back Fourth Parking Permit With Affidavit System

Council votes to reverse 2023 restrictions; self-certification process allows households with more drivers than parking spaces to obtain fourth permit

After three contentious meetings debating parking permit limits, the Hermosa Beach City Council voted Monday to reinstate fourth parking permits—reversing restrictions implemented in 2023 that capped most households at three.

The council unanimously approved (4-0, with Councilman Dean Francois abstaining) Mayor Rob Saemann's proposal establishing an 'affidavit' system for fourth permits based on household need rather than bureaucratic review.

Under the new system, residents must sign an affidavit stating the number of licensed drivers at the residence and the number of on-site parking spaces. If drivers exceed spaces, they qualify for a fourth permit. The affidavit is proposed to be subject to penalty of perjury and a two-year ban if found fraudulent.

"Nobody's looking into your family life, for God's sakes," Saemann said. "We're asking you to fill out an affidavit and say, I got six drivers (and only five spaces) in this household and I swear to it."

The mayor argued the self-certification approach is simpler and less intrusive than having staff conduct on-site inspections or review property diagrams. "You said that and you signed it and you agreed that under penalty of perjury and a two-year ban for all parking passes for your property, including your kids, I think that's enough motivation for you to tell the truth."

The decision marks a significant shift from the 2023 restrictions, which were implemented by the previous council.

In a separate 3-2 vote, the council also gave the City Manager limited discretion to approve additional permits beyond four in special circumstances, though Mayor Pro Tem Mike Detoy and Councilman Jackson opposed the move, saying it lacked clear guidelines.

Staff indicated only 822 households (27%) currently have three permits, suggesting perhaps only some fraction of that number might seek a fourth under the new affidavit system.

Detoy later proposed charging $3,000 annually for any fifth or sixth permits—matching the city's downtown parking lot rate of $250 per month. But Councilman Michael Keegan objected, noting state law prohibits charging fees that exceed the cost of running a program. "We can only charge what it costs to do the item," Keegan said. "This is easily unreasonable just on face value." Detoy eventually withdrew the motion.

Angry Residents: "You're Discriminating Against Families"

The parking debate drew passionate public comment from sand section residents impacted by the 2023 changes.

Robb Stroyke, who has five drivers in his household, said his kids will have to park six blocks away at Valley Park during summer months and walk home late at night.

"You're penalizing and discriminating against families," Stroyke said. "Do you not want families here? Because you're discriminating against them."

He said the previous system—two vehicle stickers and one guest pass for his five-person household—worked fine for 40 years, and questioned why the city was "bending over to the Coastal Commission" to change it. Stroyke is a 50 year resident, and a prominent local realtor.

"You're breaking it now by doing this," he said, adding that sand section residents would "come out in force" against council members who voted for the changes. "I guarantee you, they're gonna go after the people who voted to destroy our parking permit life." At next year's city council election, three seats will be up for grabs, currently occupied by Jackson, Francois and Saemann.

Resident Victoria Igloi said she lost her guest pass and a vehicle sticker for her garage-parked car under the new rules. She described feeding parking meters in front of her house in pouring rain during a plumbing emergency.

"It feels really unfair when I'm living across the street from these huge apartment buildings" where residents get stickers and hang passes "no questions asked," Igloi said. "I'm a homeowner. I pay some of the highest property taxes in the country. I never would have bought this house if I knew what a hassle it was to park my car."

Sand section homeowner Nancy Schwappach delivered perhaps the sharpest rebuke, challenging the rationale for the 2023 changes and directly confronting Jackson.

"When this program was implemented, how many addresses were there? There aren't more," Schwappach said. "So we are not taking up more parking spaces with our permits. So I don't understand why we would say this is no longer rational when the situation has become less intense."

She traced the restrictions back to the city's decision to convert public parking spaces to city-vehicle-only lots. "This all came up because the city took over public parking lots. They took spaces which were intended for public parking and designated them as city vehicles only. So the city needed to find more parking."

Then she turned her attention to Jackson, noting he lives on a street in the impacted parking zone with planters blocking his garage.

"Council Member Jackson, I cannot even believe you are saying the words you are saying and your family better not have gotten one residential parking pass. You have a two car garage blocked with planters. You have two car driveway parking and you may be eligible for a parking pass to block your driveway. If your family has one parking pass, you are hypocritical beyond belief." Nancy Schwappach

Non-Resident Owners Under Attack

The council directed staff to research how to close a loophole allowing non-resident property owners to obtain parking permits using utility bills.

Jackson raised the issue, noting that while the council previously eliminated "owner guest permits," landlords who pay utilities at rental properties can still apply for permits by showing utility bills—even though they don't live there.

"We specifically voted against owner non-resident permits," Jackson said, referring to earlier changes. "This is why we want you to go back and figure this out and come back with some information about how we can fix it." Jackson has been a vocal opponent of historic parking concessions for second home owners who may spend less than six months in their Hermosa Beach property. Second home owners have pointed out that they pay full property tax, and do not take up street parking spaces when they are not occupying their homes.

Staff said requiring an affidavit of residency "might be as far as we can go" but will research options. The motion to return with options eventually passed 3-2, with Francois and Keegan voting against.