Council Approves Free Parking for Riviera Village, Pier

In an effort to encourage residents to patronize local businesses, Redondo Beach will provide free parking in Riviera Village and at the Redondo Beach Pier in December.

The Riviera Village parking meters—in addition to the meters along South Catalina Avenue and Pearl Street—will be bagged from Dec. 16 through Jan. 1, 2014.

The holiday parking at the Redondo Beach Pier and Pier Plaza parking lots will be offered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Dec. 14-30. People who use the parking lots after 8 p.m. and before 8 a.m. will pay normal rates.

"You can park for free in Riviera Village—shop locally," said Councilman Bill Brand, who represents the waterfront as part of his District 2, at Tuesday's city council meeting. "You can park for free at the pier. Shop locally."

Providing free parking to shoppers will cost the city about $61,000—$31,000 from Riviera Village and $30,000 from the pier lots. Nevertheless, the pier area parking lots will provide the city with approximately $45,000 in total revenue during the first two weeks of the month and the overnight hours.

"Sticking the bags over meters does cost the city money, and it's worth it," Brand said.