CC SR 20190115 F - Preserve Permit Reservation System
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 01/15/2019
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to receive and file a report on the Preserve Permit
Reservation System.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Receive and file an update on a Preserve Permit Reservation System.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: NA
Additional Appropriation: NA
Account Number(s): NA
ORIGINATED BY: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst
Cory Linder, Recreation and Parks Director
REVIEWED BY: Gabriella Yap, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Doug Willmore, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: NONE
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The City Council reviewed a comprehensive Preserve Parking and Access analysis at
its July 31, 2018, meeting. The report analyzed the entire Palos Verdes Nature
Preserve and made specific recommendations for Forrestal Reserve, Portuguese Bend
Reserve and Point Vicente Interpretive Center. Council directed Staff to follow-up on a
number of measures designed to mitigate and better manage parking and access
issues, including red-striping sections of Forrestal Drive and installing gates at the
Burma Road and Rattlesnake Trailheads.
The City Council also directed Staff to further analyze the feasibility a Preserve permit
reservation system. The July 31, 2018, Staff Report noted that reservation systems can
be an effective method to control access and limit usage levels. It also noted that an
effective reservation system needs to have a high level of enforcement in combination
with controlled access.
However, research shows that allowing free or reduced rates for residents compared
to non-residents is in direct conflict with restrictions that the City received with certain
funding for acquisition of some of the properties. In 2001, Los Angeles County
Regional Park and Open Space District (District) granted the City $4,000,000 in 1996
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Prop A grant funding to facilitate the acquisition of open space land. While the majority
of the funding was used to acquire the Three Sisters Reserve (former Barkentine
Property), funds were also used to offset the acquisition and administrative costs related
to Portuguese Bend Reserve, Filiorum Reserve and Malaga Canyon North and Malaga
Canyon South. The District has confirmed to the City that all the properties that
received Grant funds be subject to all grant restrictions, including public access.
Section 10 (C) of Prop A requires that properties acquired with Grant Funds be: “open
and accessible to the public without discrimination as to race, color, physical or medical
handicap…or place of residence, …The recipient shall not discriminate against or grant
preferential treatment to any person or organization seeking to use such facility based
upon the place of residence of such person or the members of such organization
(emphasis added).” This section clearly states that City non-residents are to be treated
equally to residents and therefore cannot be accorded different treatment regarding
entry fees or access rights. A permit system needs to be applied in the same manner to
all Preserve visitors. A permit system is allowable and could be implemented in a
number of different ways, but access requirements must be the same for residents and
non-residents alike.
Residents in the Del Cerro Park/Portuguese Bend Reserve area have informed Staff
that current mitigation measures have been effective in reducing parking and
neighborhood impacts from Preserve visitors. They have expressed support for
gauging the effectiveness of current measures before proceeding with more expensive
and impactful measures such as paid parking stations. 94% of respondents to a
December 2018 survey conducted by the Del Cerro HOA voted to defer consideration of
an online reservation system until a series of other mitigation measures are
implemented and evaluated.
A number of mitigating measures, including red-striping and establishing a designated
Preserve parking area in the park, have also been implemented in the Ladera
Linda/Forrestal Reserve area with initial positive results. Given the early success of
these measures, along with the measures undertaken and being considered at Del
Cerro Park/Portuguese Bend Reserve, Staff is not recommending further analysis or
implementation of a Preserve permit system at this time.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available
for the City Council’s consideration:
1. Direct Staff to continue with analysis of Preserve permit systems.
2. Provide other direction to Staff, as appropriate.
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