Council Modifies Multifamily Development and Demolition Standards, Consolidates Downtown Parking Contracts

By Jorge Casuso

In an effort to preserve neighborhood character, the City Council Tuesday night extended for two years an emergency ordinance that modifies development and demolition standards in multi-family districts.

The measure - which extends a 45-day emergency ordinance adopted on May 2 - expands standards in place within the North of Wishire District. The standards will reduce the height and mass of buildings and provide more articulation.

In addition, the interim ordinance requires a 60 day review period by the Landmarks Commission before a building that is at least 40 years old can be demolished. Landmarks currently reviews buildings that are at least 50 years old.

"This may lead to smaller units but not necessarily less units," said Councilman Paul Rosenstein, who has been advocating ways of encouraging garden style and courtyard buildings and who voted for the measure.

The council also amended the emergency ordinance to reduce stairwell enclosures from 12 feet to 10 feet above the roofline unless a parapet is required.

In a separate action the council voted unanimously to award a $2.9 million first-year contract to Standard Parking for a consolidated downtown, pier and beach parking operation that will place more than 8,309 parking spaces under the company's management.

Standard Parking will assume responsibility for the downtown parking structures as of July 1 and the pier lots on October 1. The consolidation - which will increase the city's cost by $1 million a year -- is expected to improve reporting and financial accountability for the city's parking operations, which collect between $9.3 million and $10.3 million a year, depending on the beach season.

The operation, which will be consolidated within the Planning and Community Development department, is expected to improve service in the congested downtown and beachfront areas by directing motorists to available spaces when a lot is full.

Standard Parking will implement a $60,000 a year customer care program to orient, train and reward new employees and conduct customer surveys, promote new services and implement new marking and customer service ideas. In addition a "Parking Host" service will monitor the cleaning of the structures and provide on-call customer assistance.

The contract requires that Standard pay its employees a minimum wage comparable to the Los Angeles County living wage.

To pay for the $1 million in increased costs, the plan hikes monthly parking rates from $65 to $75 and the hourly parking rate by 25 cents to $1 per half-hour. (The first two hours would continue to be free before 6 p.m. and there would continue to be a flat $3 rate at night.)

The rate hikes would raise approximately $980,000 a year.

"This is a crucial step forward," said Councilman Michael Feinstein, who called the plan "awesome and big."

"I think this is a very substantial and positive step forward," said Councilman Richard Bloom.

"We have a long way to go and we're on our way," said Mayor Ken Genser.