NEWS UPDATE: COUNCIL VOTES TO ALLOW COMMERCIAL TRAINERS IN PALISADES PARK

October 9, 2013 -- Santa Monica City Council voted 5-1 last night to approve a measure that will permit commercial trainers to operate in Palisades Park and other city parks. The measure bars trainers from Palisades Park on Sunday, and imposes sliding fees for trainers. A surcharge was placed on fees for trainers who operate in Palisades Park. 

Voting in favor of the measure were Council members Kevin McKeown, Ted Winterer, Bob Holbrook, Gleam Davis and Terry O'Day, with Council member Tony Vazquez voting against. Mayor Pam O'Connor was absent. 

The vote followed a failed effort by Council member McKeown to add Palisades Park to a list of city parks in which commercial trainers would be prohibited from operating. McKeown's motion was seconded by Council member Vazquez, and failed to gain a majority. Voting in favor of McKeown's motion were Council members McKeown, Vazquez and Holbrook; opposed were Davis, Winterer and O'Day. 

The North of Montana Association has consistently opposed the idea of allowing commercial trainers to use Palisades Park for profit-making businesses. (See letter below.)

Following the vote, Council Member McKeown sent the following email to NOMA representatives: 

From: Kevin McKeown <[email protected]>
To: Kevin McKeown <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, Oct 9, 2013 12:26 am
Subject: Palisades Park disappointing outcome

I tried tonight to stop all commercial training in Palisades Park, making a motion to add Palisades to the list of parks where all training is prohibited. There just weren't the votes. With six Councilmembers on the dais, the closest we got was a 3-3 stalemate. 

 I tried to move the rest of the licensing scheme forward, but with a one year moratorium on any use of Palisades Park. Again, a 3-3 deadlock. 

What finally passed was a program prohibiting commercial use of Palisades Park on Sunday (I wanted all weekend, but, again, couldn't get a majority of four votes) and with a 50% surcharge for trainers on permits for Palisades Park, which may be an incentive for them to use other parks, particularly Reed Park where there is a discount on permits.

Thank you to those who came and testified, or wrote to the Council via email. You changed my mind, but needed to change one more.

Kevin 

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See also:

Santa Monica City Council Approves Limited Use of Palisades Park by Person Trainers -- surfsantamonica.com

Trainers Say New Fitness Fees Too High -- Santa Monica Daily Press

Letter: Finding a Middle Ground at Palisades Park - by Phil Brock in surfsantamonica.com