Results tagged “rates”

Without too much discussion last year, the L.A. City Council raised parking meter fees citywide to at least $1 an hour at all meters. Times were also extended, angering some businesses, especially theatres in the NoHo Arts District where patrons potentially had to leave during intermission or in the middle of the show to refill a meter. A year later, some businesses still see a drop in business with blame towards increased rates, says the Daily News:

Following suit with the LA Department of Water (LADWP), a city agency, the LA County Board of Supervisors declared a water emergency today for three the county areas. Residents served by the Department of Public Works (LADPW) will have to meet a lower 15% tier usage rate or face higher fees, a similar system to the city of Los Angeles. Also, the Board approved to charge customers for "water service availability" in Kagel Canyon, Malibu, Val Verde, Acton and the Antelope Valley.

Hello, June. Today means two basic new water rules. Firstly, no using sprinklers on days other than Monday and Thursdays. Easy enough, right? Well, if you're the tattling type and catch a neighbor breaking the new law, you can contact the LA Department of Water & Power's drought buster unit at (800) DIAL-DWP or via e-mail at waterconservationteam@ladwp.com. Also, new rates begin today trying to get people to reduce use by 15%. If not, you could be charged more. It's based on tiers, not what your average use has been over the last year so in theory, you're current habits may already be 15% under what they're looking for. Confused? Here's their Fact Sheet (.pdf) and their FAQ sheet (.pdf).

Beginning Monday, mandatory water conservation in Los Angeles begins. That means things like a different rate structure (.pdf) and a stricter sprinkler ordinance (.pdf). Speaking to watering lawns, which consumes the most amount of water in households, homeowners don't necessarily have to sprinkle anything. Isla Earth, the daily podcast from the Catalina Island Conservancy explains some xeriscaping basics in an episode from 2007 that are still relevant today:

As part of a city-wide, Mayor-back, and City Council-approved plan that went into effect more than a month ago, parking meter rates in San Pedro got a significant hike--in fact, the rates quadrupled, and the applicable time extended into evening hours. This left not only motorists flustered, but merchants as well, who are already facing a decline in revenue thanks to the economy.

Are the new parking meter rates and time limits affecting you? Let us know in the comments. Reader "db" shares his frustration: "I went down to Hollywood Blvd for lunch last Sunday and had to park blocks away, not because of the ridiculous $2/hour (on a Sunday!) rates, but because of the absurd one hour limit. Please tell me how one is supposed to park, walk to the restaurant, wait to be seated, orders taken and the meal enjoyed, all in one hour! Never mind the possibility of strolling around and perhaps (shock!) spend some money at the local stores. Nope."

The Daily News opined yesterday on the higher parking rates (from $1 to $4/hour): "Let's give credit where it's due. Los Angeles officials might not do a very good job of providing services, maintaining the integrity of city government, or enhancing the local quality of life, but they excel at siphoning taxpayers' money for the bottomless pit that is the city treasury... The new meters are just the latest in a long litany of City Hall's money-grubbing schemes. But they're small potatoes compared with, oh, the city's practice of overcharging residents for water and power, then transferring the profit to the general fund. Or multiple garbage-fee hikes that were supposed to go entirely to hiring new cops, but instead ended up funding sundry other political priorities." Yesterday, the LA Times found that the extended hours (now beyond 6 p.m.) and a 2-hour limit are hurting local theatre companies in the NoHo Arts District.

Since the Fall, Los Angeles has been adjusting parking meter rates throughout the city to an increased $1 per hour rate at the minimum (you'll find some meters up $4 an hour) and they expect to be done by the end of January. Not only that, beware of the time. The days of free parking after 6 p.m. is over--numerous areas will now have meters in force until 8 p.m. The worst part of this transition is that in some areas, meters say they are enforced to 6 p.m. and the signs above say 8 p.m. What to do? What to do?

A reader writes in about their experience with the newly raised parking meter fees across the city. At a minimum across Los Angeles, meters are prorated at $1 per hour (that means, if you put a quarter in, you get 15 minutes). Here's the LAist tipster's experience with these:

Yesterday, the LA City Council voted for increases in fees for things relating to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (like the boot fee went up $30 to $150). What the majority of the city deals with are parking meters, which are going to a minimum rate of $1.00 an hour citywide (but remember, it's prorated, so a quarter is 15-minutes).