By Jorge Casuso

June 17, 2026 -- The City Council on Tuesday will consider creating a Preferential Parking zone on a north side street after residents complained the occupants of vehicles parked overnight are jeopardizing the neighborhood's welfare.

The zone would cover Larkin Place, a curving, secluded dead end street that stretches approximately two blocks north of San Vicente Boulevard between 9th and 11th streets.

Residents of the street submitted a petition representing the required two-thirds of the residential units on a block requesting overnight parking regulations, according to City staff report to the Council from the Public Works Department and the Mobility Division.

The residents reported occupied vehicles parked "for extended durations" overnight that generated "noise during late night and early morning hours," staff said.

They also reported "nuisance activity, conflicts between residents and vehicle occupants, reduced perception of neighborhood safety, and· sanitation concerns."

Staff explored alternatives to creating a preferential parking zone that included relying "solely on existing parking enforcement and general municipal code enforcement mechanisms."

But the approach was determined to have "limited practical effectiveness in addressing the recurring overnight conditions identified by residents absent clearly observable and independently enforceable violations."

In addition, staff considered using "additional outreach or parking occupancy analysis" in evaluating the request, but determined the tools used to gauge "traditional daytime parking demand conditions" did not apply.

In the end, staff recommended "regulations focused specifically on the overnight period rather than broader daytime parking restrictions."

The City’s preferential parking ordinance, staff noted, "allows Council to consider public safety, environmental impacts, and neighborhood welfare impacts when determining whether preferential parking regulations are appropriate.

"Council retains broad legislative discretion in determining whether the reported conditions warrant establishment of a preferential parking zone," staff said.

If the Council approves the new preferential zone, the City would install signage, notify residents and institute a grace period before enforcing the new regulations.

The zone would be implemented within eight to ten weeks after Council approval, staff said.

The staff report does not address what impacts, if any, the new preferential zone could have on similar neighboring streets.

However, it notes staff intends "to return to Council later this year for a holistic review of preferential parking policy within the City."