Abalone Cove Parking Fees (Waters)
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM:
CORY LINDER, DIRECTOR, RECREATION AND PARKS
DATE:
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
SUBJECT:
ABALONE COVE PARKING FEES
REVIEWl;:D:
CAROLYNN PETRU, ACTING CITY
~CL.
MANAGER~
Staff Coordinator: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst, Recreation and Parks
@
RECOMMENDATION Direct staff to process a Coastal Permit to increase the current parking fee structure at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park (Abalone Cove). BACKGROUND Abalone Cove parking fees have not increased for over twenty years. The following chart shows the current fees for cars, busses, senior, and disabled parking. PARKING
Current Fee
ABALONE COVE PARKING - CAR
$5
ABALONE COVE PARKING - BUS
$15
ABALONE COVE PARKING SUMMER - SENIORS
$5
ABALONE COVE PARKING FALL TO SPRING - SENIORS
NO CHARGE
ABALONE COVE PARKING DISABLED RATE
NO CHARGE
Abalone Cove parkin_g lot revenue has increased steadily in recent years as shown below: Abalone Cove Parking Fee Revenue
FY FY FY FY
10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14
$46,062 $59,451 $67,259 $117, 734
Actual Actual Actual Actual
6-1
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Page2
Abalone Cove was closed for the first few months of FY 14-15 due to construction and improvements related to the Abalone Cove Improvement Project and improvements to the Parking Lot and Staff building. Projected FY 14-15 parking fee revenue is $98,000. An automated payment system has been recently installed which will allow visitors to pay at a pay station using cash or a credit card. DISCUSSION Recreation staff has conducted a survey of parking rates at other public beaches and nature/marine preserves and tide pools in California. RPV's parking fees are well below the rates charged at other locations. The average fee for a car is $11.00. The average fee for seniors is $10.57. Of the twenty-two surveyed agencies, six offered a reduction for seniors, with an ov~rall average discount of $.39. Disabled fees were slightly lower, but followed the same pattern with the fees either remaining the same or reduced modestly in most instances. Several locations offered larger reductions for disabled visitors and only one location did not charge any fee. The average fee for disabled visitors was $9.02. Nine agencies offered a reduction for disabled visitors with an overall average discount of $2.39. Among agencies that allowed busses or had a separate bus fee, the average for large buses was $59.67. Parking Fee Survey
Bolsa Chica State Beach
Flat Rate
$15.00
$100.00
$14.00
$7.50
Cabrillo Beach
$1.00/hr
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00
Cabrillo National Monument
Flat Rate
$5.00
$100.00
$2.50
Free
Coal Oil Point
Flat Rate
$8.00
na
$8.00
$8.00
Corona Del Mar
Flat Rate
$15.00
na
$15.00
$15.00
Crystal Cove
Flat Rate
$15.00
$30.00
$14.00
$7.50
Doheny Beach
Flat Rate
$15.00
na
$14.00
$7.50
Fitzgerald Reserve Tidepools
Flat Rate
$6.00
$20.00
$6.00
$6.00
Gerstle Cove Tidepools
Flat Rate
$8.00
$100.00
$7.00
$3.50
Hermosa Beach
$1.25/hr
$10.00
na
$10.00
$10.00
Huntington Beach
$1.50/hr
$12.00
$100.00
$12.00
$12.00
MacKerricher Tidepools
Flat Rate
$8.00
$14.00
$7.00
$4.00
Manhattan Beach
$1.50/hr
$12.00
na
$12.00
$12.00
National Bridges Tidepools
Flat Rate
$10.00
na
$9.00
$5.00
Point Lobos Marine Preserve
Flat Rate
$9.00
$100.00
$9.00
$5.00
Redondo Beach San Onofre State Beach & Tide Pools
$1.50/hr
$12.00
na
$12.00
$12.00
Flat Rate
$15.00
na
$14.00
$7.50
Santa Monica - North Beach
Flat Rate
$8.00
$48.00
$8.00
$8.00
6-2
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Pagel
Santa Monica - Pier
$3/hr
Santa Monica - South Beach
Flat Rate
Santa Monica - Central Beach
Flat Rate
Torrance Beach
Flat Rate
$24.00 $12.00 $8.00 $7.00
na
$24.00 $12.00 $8.00 $7.00
$24.00 $12.00 $8.00 $7.00
$15.00
$0.39 $0-5.00
$2.39 $0.00
na
$72.00 $24.00
Average Discount City of Rancho Palos Verdes
$5.00
For agencies with an hourly rate, the dollar amounts for the various categories of vehicles/ visitors represent the maximum daily charge that would be imposed. Since Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is within the City's Coastal Zone, Staff contacted the California Coastal Commission Staff and was informed that any increases to existing public parking fees in the Coastal Zone that exceed a 25% increase in one year or a 50% increase in 3 years requires the approval of a Coastal Permit. While the City has the ability to issue its own Coastal Permit for a parking fee increase, said City decision is appealable to the Coastal Commission since Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is located in the "Appealable Area" of the City's Coastal Zone. Raising the parking fees incrementally on an annual basis to avoid the need for a Coastal Permit would result in multiple rate changes which could cause confusion and consternation to residents and regular park visitors. It would take six years and four separate rate increases to reach the above survey's $11.00 average fee. Further details of this option are in the report's "Alternatives" section.
Recommended Approach Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize Staff to process a Coastal Permit for a parking fee increase from $5 to $10 for all automobiles and a fee increase from $15 to $55 for buses. The current reduced fees for disabled and senior visitors would be eliminated. Previously, disabled visitors were not charged and seniors were only charged during the summer. Disabled parking spaces would still be available. The proposed changes would align Rancho Palos Verdes parking fees with rates charged at similar locations. The proposed Coastal Permit for the parking fee increases would be heard by the City Council at a future duly noticed public hearing. The following chart shows the proposed fee changes.
6-3
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Page4 Current Fees
Proposed New Fees
ABALONE COVE PARKING - CAR
$5
$10
ABALONE COVE PARKING - BUS
$15
$55
$5
$10
NO CHARGE
$10
NO CHARGE
$10
PARKING
ABALONE COVE SUMMERSENIORS ABALONE COVE FALL TO SPRINGSENIORS ABALONE COVE DISABLED RATE
There are several justifications for this one-time increase and standardization of fees. • •
•
•
•
•
•
First, as stated before, Abalone Cove parking fees have not been increased for over twenty years. The current $5 automobile fee is only 45% of the parking survey average of $11. The proposed increase would bring it to over 90% of the average fee. Bus fees would also be raised to over 90% of the average fee. Most locations in the survey either do not charge lower rates for senior or disabled visitors, or offer modest reductions. Charging all vehicles the same rate would bring Abalone Cove in line with standard practice with most surveyed locations. Preferred parking spaces would still be reserved for visitors with official disabled placards. Free public parking lots are available within the City's coastal zone for senior or disabled visitors, as well as the general public, at Ocean Front Estates, Point Vicente Interpretive Center, Pelican Cove, Terranea Resort, and Trump National Golf Club. Attendance at Abalone Cove has increased dramatically in recent years as evidenced by a doubling of parking fee revenue since FY 11-12. Increased awareness of the site, particularly through social media, has certainly been a factor in its attendance growth. It is not possible to accurately forecast the ongoing impact of social media or an increase in parking fees on future attendance. Increased part-time recreation staff presence is planned to patrol Abalone Cove's ecological reserve and tide pool areas during the summer to help educate the public and enforce rules at an estimated annual cost of $2,500.00. The City has recently made a significant fiscal investment to improve the upper portion of the park, including the public parking lot and staff building. The increase in parking fees will partially off-set the on-going costs for maintenance of the new improvements, including approximately $53,000 in anticipated landscaping maintenance, irrigation and repairs associated with the Abalone Cove Shoreline Improvement Project, $50,000 in annual maintenance and operation costs associated with the parking lot system over the next seven years, and additional ongoing costs for maintaining the improved parking lot, restrooms, and staff building.
6-4
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Pages
ALTERNATIVES 1) Recommended Option but Maintains Subsidy for Seniors and Disabled: Same as recommended option discussed above; increases fees for automobiles to $10, but maintains current senior and disabled subsidies.
2) 25% lncrease/3 Year Maximum 50% Increase for Cars and Busses, with Elimination of Subsidy for Seniors and Disabled: This alternative would require staff to initiate a public hearing process recommending an initial 20% increase of entry fees from $5 to $6 per auto. It would eliminate current free admission for disabled visitors and seasonal free admission for seniors (Fall-Spring). Staff would return to Council in two years with an increase to $7.50. This option would not require a Coastal Permit and would not be subject to an appeal to the Coastal Commission. The Commission allows agencies to increase parking fees by 25% per year with a maximum of 50% over a three-year period. The following chart outlines one scenario for an incremental increase approach: Current
Year1
Year2
Year3
ABALONE COVE PARKING - CAR
$5
$6
$6
$7.50
ABALONE COVE PARKING-BUS
$15
$18
$18
$22.50
PARKING
3) 25% lncrease/3 Year Maximum 50% Increase for Cars and Busses with Continued Subsidies for Senior and Disabled: Same as Alternative 2, with current parking subsidies for Senior and Disabled visitors maintained. PARKING ABALONE COVE PARKING - CAR ABALONE COVE PARKING - BUS ABALONE COVE PARKING SUMMERSENIORS ABALONE COVE PARKING FALL TO SPRINGSENIORS ABALONE COVE PARKING DISABLED RATE
Current
Year1
Year2
Year3
$5
$6
$6
$7.50
$15
$18
$18
$22.50
$5
$5
$5
$5
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
4) No Change to Current Status: Maintains the current parking fee structure.
6-5
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Page6
FINANCIAL IMPACT The financial impact of these alternatives cannot be determined precisely. •
•
•
•
•
The recommended option doubles the fee from $5 to $10 which could result in a 100% increase of parking fees from the current budgeted $98,000 to $196,000, presuming there was no accompanying decrease in attendance. The fiscal impact of eliminating the subsidy for senior and disabled visitors would likely further increase revenue, but the exact increase is not known. Approving Alternative One doubles the fee from $5 to $10 but keeps the existing senior and disabled subsidy. This would result in a potential 100% increase of parking fees from the current budgeted $98,000 to $196,000, presuming there was no accompanying decrease in attendance. Approving Alternative Two would result in an estimated 20% increase in parking fee revenue in year one ($117,600) with an overall 50% increase in revenue by year three ($147,000). The fiscal impact of eliminating the subsidy for senior and disabled visitors would increase revenue, but the exact increase is not known. Approving Alternative Three would result in an estimated 20% increase in parking fee revenue in year one ($117,600) with an overall 50% increase in revenue by year three ($147,000). Approving Alternative Four would have no discernible financial impact.
CONCLUSION Abalone Cove Parking Fees are below the norm for similar nature areas and beaches in California and have not increased in over 20 years. Attendance and revenue figures have increased dramatically in recent years and significant City resources have been expended at Abalone Cove to improve the public's experiences and enjoyment of the park. Staff is recommending a one-time increase in parking fees from $5 to $10 per vehicle as preferable to increasing the fees a small amount, multiple times.
6-6
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM:
CORY LINDER, DIRECTOR, RECREATION AND PARKS
DATE:
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
SUBJECT:
ABALONE COVE PARKING FEES
REVIEWl;:D:
CAROLYNN PETRU, ACTING CITY
~CL.
MANAGER~
Staff Coordinator: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst, Recreation and Parks
@
RECOMMENDATION Direct staff to process a Coastal Permit to increase the current parking fee structure at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park (Abalone Cove). BACKGROUND Abalone Cove parking fees have not increased for over twenty years. The following chart shows the current fees for cars, busses, senior, and disabled parking. PARKING
Current Fee
ABALONE COVE PARKING - CAR
$5
ABALONE COVE PARKING - BUS
$15
ABALONE COVE PARKING SUMMER - SENIORS
$5
ABALONE COVE PARKING FALL TO SPRING - SENIORS
NO CHARGE
ABALONE COVE PARKING DISABLED RATE
NO CHARGE
Abalone Cove parkin_g lot revenue has increased steadily in recent years as shown below: Abalone Cove Parking Fee Revenue
FY FY FY FY
10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14
$46,062 $59,451 $67,259 $117, 734
Actual Actual Actual Actual
6-1
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Page2
Abalone Cove was closed for the first few months of FY 14-15 due to construction and improvements related to the Abalone Cove Improvement Project and improvements to the Parking Lot and Staff building. Projected FY 14-15 parking fee revenue is $98,000. An automated payment system has been recently installed which will allow visitors to pay at a pay station using cash or a credit card. DISCUSSION Recreation staff has conducted a survey of parking rates at other public beaches and nature/marine preserves and tide pools in California. RPV's parking fees are well below the rates charged at other locations. The average fee for a car is $11.00. The average fee for seniors is $10.57. Of the twenty-two surveyed agencies, six offered a reduction for seniors, with an ov~rall average discount of $.39. Disabled fees were slightly lower, but followed the same pattern with the fees either remaining the same or reduced modestly in most instances. Several locations offered larger reductions for disabled visitors and only one location did not charge any fee. The average fee for disabled visitors was $9.02. Nine agencies offered a reduction for disabled visitors with an overall average discount of $2.39. Among agencies that allowed busses or had a separate bus fee, the average for large buses was $59.67. Parking Fee Survey
Bolsa Chica State Beach
Flat Rate
$15.00
$100.00
$14.00
$7.50
Cabrillo Beach
$1.00/hr
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00
$8.00
Cabrillo National Monument
Flat Rate
$5.00
$100.00
$2.50
Free
Coal Oil Point
Flat Rate
$8.00
na
$8.00
$8.00
Corona Del Mar
Flat Rate
$15.00
na
$15.00
$15.00
Crystal Cove
Flat Rate
$15.00
$30.00
$14.00
$7.50
Doheny Beach
Flat Rate
$15.00
na
$14.00
$7.50
Fitzgerald Reserve Tidepools
Flat Rate
$6.00
$20.00
$6.00
$6.00
Gerstle Cove Tidepools
Flat Rate
$8.00
$100.00
$7.00
$3.50
Hermosa Beach
$1.25/hr
$10.00
na
$10.00
$10.00
Huntington Beach
$1.50/hr
$12.00
$100.00
$12.00
$12.00
MacKerricher Tidepools
Flat Rate
$8.00
$14.00
$7.00
$4.00
Manhattan Beach
$1.50/hr
$12.00
na
$12.00
$12.00
National Bridges Tidepools
Flat Rate
$10.00
na
$9.00
$5.00
Point Lobos Marine Preserve
Flat Rate
$9.00
$100.00
$9.00
$5.00
Redondo Beach San Onofre State Beach & Tide Pools
$1.50/hr
$12.00
na
$12.00
$12.00
Flat Rate
$15.00
na
$14.00
$7.50
Santa Monica - North Beach
Flat Rate
$8.00
$48.00
$8.00
$8.00
6-2
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Pagel
Santa Monica - Pier
$3/hr
Santa Monica - South Beach
Flat Rate
Santa Monica - Central Beach
Flat Rate
Torrance Beach
Flat Rate
$24.00 $12.00 $8.00 $7.00
na
$24.00 $12.00 $8.00 $7.00
$24.00 $12.00 $8.00 $7.00
$15.00
$0.39 $0-5.00
$2.39 $0.00
na
$72.00 $24.00
Average Discount City of Rancho Palos Verdes
$5.00
For agencies with an hourly rate, the dollar amounts for the various categories of vehicles/ visitors represent the maximum daily charge that would be imposed. Since Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is within the City's Coastal Zone, Staff contacted the California Coastal Commission Staff and was informed that any increases to existing public parking fees in the Coastal Zone that exceed a 25% increase in one year or a 50% increase in 3 years requires the approval of a Coastal Permit. While the City has the ability to issue its own Coastal Permit for a parking fee increase, said City decision is appealable to the Coastal Commission since Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is located in the "Appealable Area" of the City's Coastal Zone. Raising the parking fees incrementally on an annual basis to avoid the need for a Coastal Permit would result in multiple rate changes which could cause confusion and consternation to residents and regular park visitors. It would take six years and four separate rate increases to reach the above survey's $11.00 average fee. Further details of this option are in the report's "Alternatives" section.
Recommended Approach Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize Staff to process a Coastal Permit for a parking fee increase from $5 to $10 for all automobiles and a fee increase from $15 to $55 for buses. The current reduced fees for disabled and senior visitors would be eliminated. Previously, disabled visitors were not charged and seniors were only charged during the summer. Disabled parking spaces would still be available. The proposed changes would align Rancho Palos Verdes parking fees with rates charged at similar locations. The proposed Coastal Permit for the parking fee increases would be heard by the City Council at a future duly noticed public hearing. The following chart shows the proposed fee changes.
6-3
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Page4 Current Fees
Proposed New Fees
ABALONE COVE PARKING - CAR
$5
$10
ABALONE COVE PARKING - BUS
$15
$55
$5
$10
NO CHARGE
$10
NO CHARGE
$10
PARKING
ABALONE COVE SUMMERSENIORS ABALONE COVE FALL TO SPRINGSENIORS ABALONE COVE DISABLED RATE
There are several justifications for this one-time increase and standardization of fees. • •
•
•
•
•
•
First, as stated before, Abalone Cove parking fees have not been increased for over twenty years. The current $5 automobile fee is only 45% of the parking survey average of $11. The proposed increase would bring it to over 90% of the average fee. Bus fees would also be raised to over 90% of the average fee. Most locations in the survey either do not charge lower rates for senior or disabled visitors, or offer modest reductions. Charging all vehicles the same rate would bring Abalone Cove in line with standard practice with most surveyed locations. Preferred parking spaces would still be reserved for visitors with official disabled placards. Free public parking lots are available within the City's coastal zone for senior or disabled visitors, as well as the general public, at Ocean Front Estates, Point Vicente Interpretive Center, Pelican Cove, Terranea Resort, and Trump National Golf Club. Attendance at Abalone Cove has increased dramatically in recent years as evidenced by a doubling of parking fee revenue since FY 11-12. Increased awareness of the site, particularly through social media, has certainly been a factor in its attendance growth. It is not possible to accurately forecast the ongoing impact of social media or an increase in parking fees on future attendance. Increased part-time recreation staff presence is planned to patrol Abalone Cove's ecological reserve and tide pool areas during the summer to help educate the public and enforce rules at an estimated annual cost of $2,500.00. The City has recently made a significant fiscal investment to improve the upper portion of the park, including the public parking lot and staff building. The increase in parking fees will partially off-set the on-going costs for maintenance of the new improvements, including approximately $53,000 in anticipated landscaping maintenance, irrigation and repairs associated with the Abalone Cove Shoreline Improvement Project, $50,000 in annual maintenance and operation costs associated with the parking lot system over the next seven years, and additional ongoing costs for maintaining the improved parking lot, restrooms, and staff building.
6-4
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Pages
ALTERNATIVES 1) Recommended Option but Maintains Subsidy for Seniors and Disabled: Same as recommended option discussed above; increases fees for automobiles to $10, but maintains current senior and disabled subsidies.
2) 25% lncrease/3 Year Maximum 50% Increase for Cars and Busses, with Elimination of Subsidy for Seniors and Disabled: This alternative would require staff to initiate a public hearing process recommending an initial 20% increase of entry fees from $5 to $6 per auto. It would eliminate current free admission for disabled visitors and seasonal free admission for seniors (Fall-Spring). Staff would return to Council in two years with an increase to $7.50. This option would not require a Coastal Permit and would not be subject to an appeal to the Coastal Commission. The Commission allows agencies to increase parking fees by 25% per year with a maximum of 50% over a three-year period. The following chart outlines one scenario for an incremental increase approach: Current
Year1
Year2
Year3
ABALONE COVE PARKING - CAR
$5
$6
$6
$7.50
ABALONE COVE PARKING-BUS
$15
$18
$18
$22.50
PARKING
3) 25% lncrease/3 Year Maximum 50% Increase for Cars and Busses with Continued Subsidies for Senior and Disabled: Same as Alternative 2, with current parking subsidies for Senior and Disabled visitors maintained. PARKING ABALONE COVE PARKING - CAR ABALONE COVE PARKING - BUS ABALONE COVE PARKING SUMMERSENIORS ABALONE COVE PARKING FALL TO SPRINGSENIORS ABALONE COVE PARKING DISABLED RATE
Current
Year1
Year2
Year3
$5
$6
$6
$7.50
$15
$18
$18
$22.50
$5
$5
$5
$5
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
NO CHARGE
4) No Change to Current Status: Maintains the current parking fee structure.
6-5
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Parking Fees Date: November 4, 2014 Page6
FINANCIAL IMPACT The financial impact of these alternatives cannot be determined precisely. •
•
•
•
•
The recommended option doubles the fee from $5 to $10 which could result in a 100% increase of parking fees from the current budgeted $98,000 to $196,000, presuming there was no accompanying decrease in attendance. The fiscal impact of eliminating the subsidy for senior and disabled visitors would likely further increase revenue, but the exact increase is not known. Approving Alternative One doubles the fee from $5 to $10 but keeps the existing senior and disabled subsidy. This would result in a potential 100% increase of parking fees from the current budgeted $98,000 to $196,000, presuming there was no accompanying decrease in attendance. Approving Alternative Two would result in an estimated 20% increase in parking fee revenue in year one ($117,600) with an overall 50% increase in revenue by year three ($147,000). The fiscal impact of eliminating the subsidy for senior and disabled visitors would increase revenue, but the exact increase is not known. Approving Alternative Three would result in an estimated 20% increase in parking fee revenue in year one ($117,600) with an overall 50% increase in revenue by year three ($147,000). Approving Alternative Four would have no discernible financial impact.
CONCLUSION Abalone Cove Parking Fees are below the norm for similar nature areas and beaches in California and have not increased in over 20 years. Attendance and revenue figures have increased dramatically in recent years and significant City resources have been expended at Abalone Cove to improve the public's experiences and enjoyment of the park. Staff is recommending a one-time increase in parking fees from $5 to $10 per vehicle as preferable to increasing the fees a small amount, multiple times.
6-6
