Pasadena Preferential Parking Program Has the Hiccups

Pasadena Parking Office (Photo – Staff, ©ColoradoBlvd.net).

The Preferential Parking Program for the city of Pasadena has a case of the hiccups.

By Rebekah Seeger

With the existing permits set to expire on July 1st, residents who applied and paid on time find that they still have not received their permits for the coming year. A sign posted in the parking office on Walnut Street notifies people that the deadline has been extended, to July 31st. However, residents need to go to the office or call in to find this information. No communications have been sent out. Nothing turns up when searching the website.

On Wednesday the 29th, residents concerned about the prospect of being ticketed waited in the office. They were hoping that they could take permits home with them. They were informed that the plan is to mail them. One city employee, who spoke to us unofficially, admits that the project has been understaffed. Only one employee has the task of issuing permits.

Preferential Parking sign (Photo – Staff, ©ColoradoBlvd.net).

One person is not enough to handle the volume of work. Additionally, the lack of communication has led confused residents to go to the office or call in. This also takes up the clerks’ time. City employees and residents alike would benefit from improved communication between the Parking Office and the public.

If you’re affected: don’t worry, the deadline has been extended. But you’ll have to take our word for it.

Permits—including residential, guest permits and hangtags—that have been delayed due to an unanticipated increase in permit applications, are:

• Time Limited Preferential Parking District (T-District)
• Catalina Preferential Parking District (C-District)
• Holliston Preferential Parking District (H- District)
• Allen Preferential Parking District (A-District)
• Lake Preferential Parking District (L-District)
• Maranatha Preferential Parking District (M-District)
• Oak Knoll Preferential Parking District (O-District)
• Pasadena City College Preferential Parking District (PCC-District)
• State Preferential Parking District (S-District)

Permits not affected by the backlog are:

• Annual Daytime and Overnight Permits
• Temporary Day and Night exemptions
• Moving Vehicle Parking Permits
• Construction Vehicle Parking Permits
• Valet Parking Permits
• City Surface Lots Parking Permits
• Storage Container Parking Permits
• RV Parking Permits

Rebekah Seeger is a writer and Pasadena resident. She loves a good story, and her curiosity has taken her all over the map. She’s been writing forever, it’s hard to think of a time when she wasn’t writing. She dabbles in acting, likes vegetable gardening, dogs, and sports.