Judge to Review Measure 2P on April 29

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ann Jones has set a date of April 29 to hear the city's application for a preliminary injunction against Measure 2P, an initiative that would require Beverly Hills to increase free parking from one hour to two hours at five city-owned lots.

A preliminary injunction would effectively prevent further action on the measure until Jones could review the case and make a formal judgment on the matter.

"We appreciate that the judge set an expedited date for hearing our request for a preliminary injunction," City Manager Jeff Kolin said in a statement. "Of course, no matter how Judge Jones rules on Measure 2P, the City Council has no plans to reduce or eliminate the city's long-standing, two-hour free parking program."

Beverly Hills already offers free two-hour parking at seven of its 18 city-owned parking facilities and has estimated that Measure 2P would cost the city $1.4 million a year in lost parking revenue.

Jones had struck down Measure 2P in January, calling it "impermissibly vague and clearly invalid." However, a Court of Appeal issued a temporary emergency stay of that ruling, allowing the initiative to be printed on the city's March election ballots.

Though the measure was approved with 62 percent of the vote, its legality remains unclear after a decision last month by the 2nd District Appellate Court to  that sought the review of Jones’ initial ruling, which was to keep the measure off the ballot. The Appellate Court sent the matter back to Jones so that she could issue a new order regarding Measure 2P now that her decision to keep it off the ballot is moot.

Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and "Like" us on Facebook.