Hermosa Beach will charge for parking this holiday season after the City Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday, Oct. 13, to suspend the city's complimentary parking program.
The three-week program, which covered nearly 400 meters with two- or three-hour time limits, costs the city an estimated $200,000 in lost meter revenue and citations, as first reported by the Daily Breeze. City staffers estimate the program costs about $66,000 per week.
Mayor Mike Detoy, who cast one of the three yes votes, acknowledged the decision would not be popular.
"I can already see my (artificial intelligence) posters all over town as a Grinch," Detoy said. He argued the $200,000 represents real public safety and road repair costs, noting the city already cut more than $4 million from its budget in the past year.
Councilmember Michael Keegan initially backed one week of free parking but ultimately voted with Detoy to end the program entirely, citing the city's financial difficulties. Keegan said Measure HB, a half-cent sales tax increase on the Nov. 3 ballot, could help close some gaps but warned the city would still face a structural deficit.
Councilmember Rob Saemann also switched his position. He initially argued that three weeks of free parking, from Dec. 4 to Christmas Day, was adequate for holiday shopping. But Saemann voted to suspend the program after agreeing that $200,000 was a meaningful sum the city could not afford to lose.
Councilmembers Dean Francois and Ray Jackson voted no. Francois wanted a four-week program comparable to Manhattan Beach's and called the free parking "a small price to pay to be in good holiday spirit." Jackson said the program was more feel-good than practical but favored a two-week compromise.
Council members said they plan to use this year's suspension to gather data from the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce and local businesses on whether free parking actually boosts holiday sales. Detoy called suspending the program for one year and then restoring it the next the cleanest way to compare results.
The decision comes as Hermosa Beach faces a structural deficit that city staff projected at more than $3 million when building the current fiscal year budget. At a May 26 council presentation, staff had identified roughly $4 million in spending cuts, including deferred equipment replacement and operational efficiencies, according to the Hermosa Review.
Measure HB, which needs a simple majority to pass, could generate about $2 million annually. If approved, the sales tax in Hermosa Beach would rise to 10.25%. Voters rejected similar measures in 2022 and 2024.
Neighboring cities still offer some free holiday parking. Redondo Beach provides complimentary parking during the week of Christmas, and Manhattan Beach offers free parking from Thanksgiving to Christmas, according to Ken Bales, senior management analyst for Hermosa Beach.
Hermosa Beach voters will decide on Measure HB on Nov. 3.
