HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 9473Resolution No. 9473
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Establishing
the Downtown Residential Preferential Parking District Under
Chapter 10.50 ofthe Municipal Code
RECITALS
A. California Vehicle Code Section 22507 authorizes the establishment, by city
council action, of permit parking programs in residential neighborhoods for residents
and other categories of parkers.
B. A stakeholders' group comprised of Downtown residents and business interests
met 9 times and made its recommendations to the City on (1) the provisions of a master
ordinance establishing city-wide procedures for Residential Preferential Parking Districts
(RPP Districts) and (2) the particular program rules to be applied to the Downtown RPP
District.
C. On June 11, 2014, September 10, 2014 and November 12, 2014, the Planning
and Transportation Commission held public hearings to consider the proposed master
ordinance and the proposed Downtown Neighborhood preferential parking programs.
D. On December 15, 2015 the Council adopted Ordinance No. 5294, adding Chapter
10.50 to Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) ofthe Palo Municipal Code. This Chapter
establishes the city-wide procedures for RPP Districts in the city.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES, as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings. The criteria set forth in Section 10.50.030 for designating a
Residential Preferential Permit Zone have been met as follows:
(1) That non-resident vehicles do, or may, substantially interfere with the
use of on-street or alley parking spaces by neighborhood residents;
(2) That the interference by the non-resident vehicles occurs at regular and
frequent intervals, either daily or weekly;
(3) That the non-resident vehicles parked in the area ofthe proposed district
create traffic congestion, noise, or other disruption (including shortage of
parking spaces for residents and their visitors) that disrupts
neighborhood life;
(4) Other alternative parking strategies are not feasible or practical.
SECTION 2. Duration and Trial Period. The Trial Period for the Downtown RPP
District shall be divided into two phases.
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1. Phase 1: The first phase shall start from the date that the both installation of
signage is complete and enforcement of the District has begun, and last for a
period of 6 months. Resident permits will be distributed pursuant to the
criteria listed under Section 5.C of this Resolution. During the first phase the
City shall also issue permits to Employees pursuant to the criteria listed
under Section 5.C of this Resolution. All permits shall expire at the end of the
trial period. The City will collect parking occupancy data on all blocks within
the Downtown RPP District to determine how many Employee Permits (both
low-wage and professional) should be sold during the subsequent phase of
the program. During Phase 1, both Employee and Resident permits will be
valid anywhere within the boundaries ofthe RPP District. During this phase
the City may issue a survey to elicit qualitative and quantitative feedback on
the program.
2. Phase 2: The second phase shall follow Phase 1 and last for at least 12
months. The City will make permits for Phase 2 available prior to the
initiation of Phase 2. During the second phase the City will regulate the
number of Employee Permits issued based on parking occupancy data
collected in the first phase. It is expected this distribution of permits will be
iterative and adjusted during the course of Phase two.
3. The RPP District shall remain in force until the City Council takes action to
extend, modify, or rescind. The City Council shall consider whether to make
the RPP District and its parking program permanent, modify the District
and/or their parking regulations, or terminate them no later than December
31, 2016.
SECTION 3. District Established. Pursuant to Chapter 10.50, the Downtown
Residential Preferred Parking District is hereby established. The boundaries of the
Downtown RPP District are shown on Exhibit A attached to this resolution and made a
part of it.
Blocks that are directly adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity ofthe Downtown RPP
District may become subject to the regulations of the Downtown RPP District in the
future if the council approves a resident petition for annexation as provided in Palo Alto
Municipal Code Section 10.50.080.
SECTION 4. Hours and Days of Enforcement. In both Phase 1 and Phase 2, the
parking regulations shall be in effect Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00 PM.
During the regulated days and hours of enforcement, no person shall park in the same
on-street parking space within the Downtown RPP for more than two continuous hours
without a valid permit. A vehicle lawfully displaying an Employee Parking Permit or a
Resident Parking Permit shall be exempt from the two-hour limit. Other vehicles
exempt from the parking regulations are contained in Chapter 10.50. Outside of these
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141016 jb 0131252B Rev. November 17, 2014
enforcement hours, any motor vehicle may park in the Downtown RPP, subject to other
applicable parking regulations.
SECTION 5. Residential Parking Permits.
A. Duration. With the exception of the 6-month trial period, both Employee
and residential permits shall be made available on a monthly, quarterly and
annual basis and may be renewed if the applicant continues to be eligible to
receive a permit. One-day visitor permits for residents will also be available
during both Phases 1 and 2.
B. Purchase of Permits. Requirements and eligibility for purchase of permits for
both residents and Employees shall be listed in the Administrative
Regulations.
C. Permit Sales
a. Phase 1.
i. Each residential address within the Downtown RPP District may
receive up to two 6-month permits at no cost.
ii. Guest and Visitor permits may be sold at the costs listed in section
GB and GC.
iii. Permit costs will be pro-rated for the 6 month period (e.g. half of
the annual fee).
iv. All Employees may purchase permits pursuant to the costs listed
in Section GD, pro-rated for 6 months.
b. Phase 2.
141016 jb 01312528
i. Resident Permits.
1. Residential Permits. Each residential address may
purchase permits at the costs listed in Section GA.
2. Daily Visitor Permits. Each residential address may
purchase up to 50 Daily Visitor Parking Permits annually.
These permits may be in the form of "scratcher" hang tags,
an on-line issuance system, or such other form as the city
may decide. The permit shall clearly indicate the address
to which it was issued and the date for which it is valid.
3. Annual Guest Permits: Each residential address may
purchase up to two (2) annual guest permits, which are
transferable within a household. The permit shall clearly
indicate the address to which it was issued and the date
for which it is valid.
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Rev. November 17, 2014
ii. Employee Permits. The City may issue Employee Parking Permits
for use by employees working in the area as specified in Exhibit A.
Employee Permits shall be subject to the following regulations:
1. Commuting Only. Employee Parking Permits are for the
exclusive use by employees working for businesses within
the proposed District boundaries while commuting to
work.
2. Limit of Sales. The Director will limit Employee permit sales
according to a threshold listed in the Administrative
Regulations, and give priority to low-wage workers.
Employees may purchase permits at the costs listed in
Section 6D.
3. Reduced Allocation. After Phase 1, the Director may
reduce the allocation of Employee Parking over time as
additional parking and transportation options become
available.
D. Signage and Allocation of Spaces. During Phase 2, the City shall regulate
which on-street parking spaces shall be dedicated to Employee Parking by
selecting one of the following methods:
1. Employee Parking Permit spaces shall be clearly signed and marked as
such by the City;
2. Employee Parking Permits shall be assigned by block/blocks; or
3. Other reasonable method designed to distribute Employee Parking
throughout the Downtown District and to avoid undue parking saturation in
one neighborhood at the expense of others.
E. Permit Priority. During Phase 1, the Director will recommend to the City
Council the maximum number of Employee permits to be issued during
Phase 2, such that the issuance of Employee Permits does not adversely
affect parking conditions for residents and merchants in the District in
accordance with Section 22507 (b) of the Vehicle Code. The Director shall
give permit priority to lower wage earners.
SECTION 6. Cost of Residential and Residential Visitor Parking Permits. During
the Initial Trial Period the cost of Parking Permits shall be:
A. Resident Permit:
a. Phase 1: Residents shall receive up to two permits per residential address
at no cost.
b. For Phase 2, the prices are as follows: First permit $0/year; second permit
$50/year; third permit $50/year; fourth permit $50/year. No more than
four parking permits will be sold per residential address in either phase.
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141016 jb 01312526 Rev. November 17, 2014
B. Annual Guest Permit-A residential address may purchase up to two Annual
Guest Permits at $50/year ($25 each for Phase 1).
C. Visitor Daily Permit--$5/each
D. Employee Permits
a. Standard Permit --$466/year ($233/6 months)
b. Reduced Rate for income qualifying employees--$100/year ($50/6
months)
SECTION 7. ~· This ordinance is exempt from the requirements ofthe
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of Title 14
of the California Code of Regulations since it can be seen with certainty that there is no
possibility the adoption and implementation of this Ordinance may have a significant
effect on the environment and Section 15301 in that this proposed ordinance will have a
minor impact on existing facilities.
SECTION 8. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect upon the effective
date of Ordinance No. 5294, amending Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code by Adding Chapter 10.50 (Residential Preferential Parking Districts) and
Section 10.04.086 (Parking Enforcement Contractor). Enforcement shall commence,
pursuant to Chapter 10.50 and the California Vehicle Code, when signage is posted.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: December 2, 2014
AYES: BERMAN, BURT, HOLMAN, KLEIN, KNISS, PRICE, SCHARFF, SCHMID, SHEPHERD
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
~
Interim City Clerk
APPROVED:
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141016 jb 01312526 Rev.November17,2014
Exhibit A -Boundaries of Downtown RPP District
Fig. 1
PRELIMINARY DOWNTOWN RPP DISTRICT
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SOFA
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Hawthorne Ave
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University Ave
Hamilton Ave
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:l Ul Channing Ave
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Boundary includes
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block of Lincoln,
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Figure 1 illustrates the Downtown RPP District as currently proposed. Residents living within the bound-
ary would need to purchase Parking Permits to park on the streets for more than two hours during the
hours of the permit enforcement if the program is implemented.
*Downtown Business District and the SOFA Business District (shown on the map) are not included in the
RPP District Existing 2-hour parking will not be altered as part of the RPP District plan.