Small businesses and gym owners warn council parking meters will harm customers; council approves 17% TOT ballot measure

A large public-comment block focused on the Hawthorne Boulevard parking-meter pilot and its perceived impacts on small businesses and community members. Multiple speakers said the pilot, as drafted, is harsher than other zones (no free first hour for curbside on Hawthorne Boulevard) and warned that frequent customers, parents of youth-program participants and gym members would face recurring costs that could exceed $200-400 per year. Michelle Eder of Systems Training Center said: "For a working family...that's $2 to $400 a year in parking just to bring their kids to train...That's real money." Chamber representatives and other small-business owners asked council to consider validations, an hour-free grace period and specific criteria for evaluating the pilot.

Council heard staff presentations and consultant analysis separately on transient-occupancy tax (TOT) revenue options. A consultant recommended raising the TOT from 12% to 17% to capture visitor-generated demand from nearby stadium events (Super Bowl, World Cup, Olympics) and to avoid future general-fund shortfalls. After discussion council voted to place a 17% TOT measure on the November ballot and directed the city attorney and city manager to finalize ballot language and the ordinance for council approval.

What to watch: The parking-meter pilot remains under review; business requests for validation programs and an adjusted curbside rate were circulated during comments. The TOT ballot measure will proceed to a campaign and notice timeline; staff will prepare the ballot materials.