HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-03-04 City Council (6)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
3
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: POLICE
AGENDA DATE:
SUBJECT:
March 4, 1996
Resolution Adopting Restricted
Minute Zones
CMR:158:96
Parking Zones and Excluding 30-
REQUEST
The restrictions contained in the resolution adopted by Council a year ago that established the
color zone parking program expire on March 16, 1996. After a year’s trial period and an
evaluation of all the associated issues, City staff and members of the Chamber’s Parking
Subcommittee believe the program has been successful. There are, however, some issues that
have surfaced during the year that still need some attention. Staff requests Council approval
of the attached resolution extending the restrictions for another year. During the second year,
additional work will be done to address the issues identified during the first year. ¯
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution which: 1) continues the use of
four parking zones in the downtown area and prohibits reparking a~er the time limit expires in
each zone in excess of two hours on weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or the time
allowed by the parking signs, and 2) excludes the 30-minute zones from the reparking
restrictions of the specific parking zones.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The color zone parking program was established to address the sleeper parking issues and to
increase the number of available parking-spaces for visitors to the downtown area, by dividing
the downtown area into four zones and prohibiting reparking within each zone for more that/
the time allowed.. This resolution would continue that policy for an additional year.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In November 1994, Council approved a resolution that resulted in a change in the downtown
parking reslrictions to a color zone program that was developed to address the sleeper parking
CMR:158:96 Page 1 of 9
problem. The elements of the program were provided in CMR:505:94. The resolution and the
associated restrictions expire on March 16, 1996. During the year’s trial period, staff and
Chamber members closely monitored several factors that included neighborhood intrusion,
availability of parking spaces, requests and issuance of parking permits, and responses from
citizens, merchants, and visitors. A summary of information obtained is provided below.
Summary_ of Enforcement Efforts
After a month’s grace period following the approval of the color zone restrictions during which
only warnings were given, Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs) began issuing parking
citations. Instead of chalking tires, PEOs enter license numbers of all vehicles parked on the
streets and in lots into their hand-held computers. When the PEOs return approximately two
hours later, they again enter license numbers of vehicles and issue parking citations to those
vehicles who were parked in that color zone over two hours earlier. Between April 14 and
December 30, 1995, 455,131 vehicle license numbers were recorded by the PEOs in the
downtown area. Citations were issued to 12,666 vehicles. This may be interpreted as 2.8
percent of those who parked downtown received citations and 97.2 percent complied with the
parking regulations. While a compliance comparison tot he same time period prior to the
implementation of the color zones is not possible due to the fact that actual numbers of license
numbers were not previously recorded, a comparison of the actual numbers of citations issued
in the color zone area between April and December 1994 indicates that 2,889 fewer citations
were issued (20 percent decrease) during the same time period in 1995. While some people
have argued that ~s is simply the result of fewer people ~siting the downtown area, sales tax
information for t_his period does not substantiate that argument.
Surranary of Parking Permit Requests/Issuance
During the educational outreach efforts conducted prior to implementation of the color zone and
during the last year, an emphasis was placed on encouraging people who worked downtown to
obtain parking permits for those lots with available spaces.
Attachment A shows the number of total permits, number of people on the wait list and the
number of permits released for sale since April 1994 (prior to color zone implementation to
date). It should be noted that the same people may appear on different wait lists for different
parking locations. Based upon this data and staiTs past experience several observations are
noted:
CMR:158:96 Page 2 of 9
1)Prior to the color zone implementation, generally most lots had a wait hst except the
Webster-Cowper (WC) Garage and the Holiday Inn parking lot, identified as Lot X in
the attachment. As a result, staff usually could offer a permit somewhere downtown.
2)After the color zone implementation, permits have generally been available for the WC
Garage, but not for Lot X. There have been times when people have had to be on the
wait list for a few weeks for the WC Garage as well. As a result, sometimes staff has
been unable to offer permits.
3)The number of total permits issued in the WC Garage increased after the color zone
implementation (425 to 497).
4)The number of people on the wait list has substantially increased since the
implementation of the color zones (634 to 859).
5) The wait lists for the Civic Center and Q Garages, and Lot R are the longest.
As a part of the color zone program implementation, Council approved converting the WC
Garage basement and one-half of Lot T to permit parking on an as needed basis. In consultation
with the Chambers Parking Subcommittee, staff converted spaces in the WC Garage basement
to permit parking spaces. Staffhas also made arrangements with the Peninsula Corridor Joint
Powers Board (JPB) for the City to issue up to 30 permits to downtown employees in the JPB
parking lot. As a result, more permits were released for sale after the color zone
implementation (mainly due to additional permit spaces available in the WC Garage basement
and JPB parking lot). Staff will continue to monitor the situation and make appropriate changes
in the WC Garage basement and Lot T. While free public parking spaces in the Civic Center
Garage and Lot R could be converted to permit parking spaces to meet the additional demand,
staff believes that such conversion would have an adverse impact on customer parking in the
area and recommends that no changes be made at this time.
Evaluation from Merchants, Business Owners, Employees, Visitors
~e no formal survey has been conducted, both staff and the Chamber of Commerce have
tracked the responses and complaints from the various groups who have interest in the
downtown parking situation. Those groups include retail merchants, restaurants, non-retail
businesses, employees who work in the downtown area, and visitors. Based upon the
information that both the Police Department and the Chamber of Commerce have received,
differences in perspectives are dependent upon the specific needs of the groups. As an example,
the general consensus of owners/managers of restaurants and most retail enterprises is that the
CMR:158:96 Page 3 of 9
color zone program has definitely increased the number of available parking spaces and thus
has been positive for their establishments. This information is substantiated by visitors to the
downtown area. Prior to the color zone program, numerous complaints were received about
the lack of available parking. Staff received only one such complaint during the last year.
A total of 309 complaints were received and recorded by staff (complaints included telephone,
in-person, written, and all incidents of people contesting their citations.) Of those, 87 percent
of the complaints dealt with the reparking problem. This problem arises when someone parks
their vehicle in a color zone for a short period of time during the early part of the day and then
reparks later in the day in the same zone. Many of those people who voiced this complaint
believed that they were entitled to two hours a day in a specific color zone, whether the time
was consecutive or spread out in different increments during the course of the day. Staff and
Chamber representatives have discussed potential solutions to address this specific problem.
Because there is not an easy method for a PEO to determine which vehicles belong to
downtown visitors and which belong to people who work in the downtown area and/or sleepers,
the number of alternative options is very limited. However, one change in the current parking
restrictions has been identified that may assist in reducing this problem. That change would
exclude parking in 30 minute green curb zones from the color zone restrictions. Currently, if
a person parks in a 30 minute green curb zone in the coral zone as an example, and returns later
in the day and parks again in any space within the coral zone, they are in violation and may
receive a citation, By excluding the 30-minute zones from ~s restriction, a person would be
able to park in a 30-minute zone to run short errands and repark in the same color zone at a later
time without receiving a citation. Staff believes that this change, together with the addition of
more 30-minute zones in the downtown area, should help to alleviate ~s specific problem.
In order to ~ the potential abuse of 30-minute zone parking, pending Council approval
of the recommendations, staffwould propose a $30 penalty for violations during the upcoming
budget process.
It is important to point out several other observations about the number and types of complaints
that have been received. While the number of complaints certainly does not accurately reflect
the number of people who have concerns about the parking restrictions, when one considers that
the number of complaints received represents less than seven-one hundredth percent of the
number of license plates recorded during in the year, the scope of the problem does not appear
to be.negatively affecting a large number of people.
Additionally, of the 309 complaints, 39 percent were received from Palo Alto residents and 45
percent were non-residents (the residency of 16 percent could not be determined). Also,
approximately 24 percent of the complaints regarding the color zone parking plan were received
from people who worked in the downtown area.
CMR:158:96 Page 4 of 9
Members of the Parking Subcommittee and City staffhave met with the Downtown Merchants
Association to obtain their input. The consensus of the members who were present at the
meeting was that the color zone program is working and has been successful in providing more
parking spaces for visitors, There was agreement that additiona! work needs to be done to
educate employees who work in the downtown area. Comments were also heard about the lack
of parking in the evenings and weekends. (Staff conducted a parking survey in August during
the evening hours and found available parking in the Webster-Cowper Garage, Lots Q, E, G and
the lower level of the Civic Center Garage. A second evening parking survey will be conducted
during the next month.)
Evaluation of Neighborhood Intrusion
From the onset of the initial color zone development stage and during the year’s trial period,
a great deal of attention and monitoring has been given to the issue of neighborhood intrusion
because of concerns raised about the potential increased parking in the neighborhoods north and
south of the downtown area. In order to assess the impact, staff conducted five neighborhood
parking surveys. (Attachment B provides the numerical results of those surveys.) Surveys were
conducted during March 1995, just prior to the color zone implementation and in May, August,
October 1995 and February 1996. The surveys were conducted of on-street parking in an area
bounded by Palo Alto Avenue, Alma Street, Middlefield Road, and Lincoln Avenue. The
objective of the surveys was to establish some quantifiable indicators of changes in the amount
of non-residential parking since beginning the enforcement of the color zones. ~en reference
is made to non-residents in this section, the reference is specifically being made to non-
downtown residents.).
The surveys are conducted by placing a chalk mark on a tire of each vehicle parked on-street
prior to 6:00 a.m. and recording the total number of vehicles parked along each block face.
Thereafter, at periods beginning at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 12 noon, the number of vehicles
with and without chalk marks, were recorded for each block face. The assumption made is that
the majority of vehicles chalked between 8:00 a.m. and 12 noon are non-residents.
While the surveys were completed at different times of the day, the data indicate that the highest
number of parked cars, together with the number of cars presumably associated to non-
residents, were observed at 12 noon.
Analysis of the survey results show that non-residential parking in the neighborhoods has
increased since the initiation of the color zone program. The larger increase noted in August
is attributed to the construction that was occurring in the downtown area at that time. The non-
resident numbers do not necessarily represent only downtown employees but also may include
CMR:158:96 Page 5 of 9
parkers associated with the residences themselves, such as friends, visitors, repair and delivery
vehicles; residents who may work fights and were absent prior to 6:00 a.m. and returned during
the survey period; and residents who may have left after 6:00 a.m. and returned during the
survey period. As a result, the number of non-resident parkers is somewhat overstated and
should be viewed in that context.
While clearly, some of the 300 sleepers have moved into the neighborhoods, the impact has not
been as significant as originally perceived. If one concludes that the additional 110 (on
average) vehicles are attributed to some sleepers moving into the adjacent neighborhoods, the
other 200 are continuing to sleep, have purchased permits, or found alternative means of
transportation.
Parking Subcommittee members and City staff have met on several occasions with
representatives of the neighborhoods. The general consensus of people in the neighborhoods
is that there has been a negative impact created by the color zones. Initially, a number of
complaints were heard from neighborhood association representatives. While the number of
complaints has leveled off over the last six months, some frustration still exists.
Some interesting observations were noted as a result of these discussions. One person observed
that she recently noted twelve vehicles associated with two residences in the neighborhood as
opposed to the normal two or four. Of even more interest is that neighbors have observed a
decrease in available neighbol~ood parking inthe evenings and on weekends, when color zone
parking enforcement is not conducted. Based upon their observations, employees who work
downtown on weekends and evenings, as well as visitors to the downtown area, frequently park
in the neighborhood. This information lends credence to the premise that sleepers and/or the
color zone are not the only influencing factors associated with increased parking in the
neighborhoods.
Conclusion
After a review of the information and taking into consideration all the different perspectives,
City staffand the Parldng Subcommittee believe that the color zone parking program has been
successful in achieving its primary purpose of reducing sleeper parking and freeing up more
parking spaces for visitors to the downtown area. The plan certainly has not resolved the entire
downtown parking problems nor decreased the overall parking deficit, but it was not projected
to do so in that it was only one of the 13 steps inthe comprehensive plan developed to address
downtown parking. Other steps, most specifically the construction of additional parking
facilities, are needed to achieve more substantial, long,term results. Therefore, staff
recommends the extension of the color zone program for another year.
CMR:158:96 Page 6 of 9
Pending Council approval of the recommendations, in partnership with the Parking
Subcommittee, a new action plan has been developed. The action plan would be jointly
implemented by City staff and Chamber representatives and includes the following:
1.Increase marketing efforts to educate visitors about parking opportunities.
While some work in this regard was done during the first year through the
distribution of the award-winning parking brochure and other activities,
additional work would take place during the second year.
2.Increase outreach efforts to employers/employees in the downtown area.
Again, some outreach was done during the first year that has resulted in more
people obtaining permits and some people using alternative means of
transportation. Additional, ongoing work to address the sleepers who have
moved to the neighborhoods is planned.
Conduct some customer- and employee-specific surveys in attempts to capture more
definitive information about their opinions.
During the initial year, most information gathered was from adjacent
neighborhoods and merchants. While that process will continue during the
second year, some specific emphasis will be placed on obtaining first-hand
information from customers and employees.
4.Conduct additional neighborhood parking surveys.
One pre- and four post neighborhood parking surveys were conducted during the
first year. These surveys will continue to be conducted during the second year.
Include representatives from the neighborhood associations as active participants on the
Parking Subcommittee.
While meetings with neighborhood associations occurred during the year, and
will continue during the second year, in order to increase dialog and participation,
representatives of the neighborhood associations will become members of the
subcommittee.
6.When opportunities arise, continue to pursue the temporary use of privately owned lots.
CMR:158:96 Page 7 of 9
Prior to the implementation of the color zone program, staff was able to gain
some additional temporary spaces through the use of the former Peninsula Times
Tribune property. During this past year, staffwas able to gain 35 more permit
spaces through an agreement with the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board.
Additionally, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation ~AMF) has recently received
conceptual approval for use of a piece of their property for PAMF employee
parking. This would make available the equivalent number of public spaces.
During the second year, staff would continue to look for similar opportunities.
FISCAL IMPACT
Becanse the number of citations that have been issued has decreased due to the high compliance
rate, parking citation revenue has also decreased. A comparison between April 1994 and
January 1995, and April 1995 and January 1996 reflects about a $221,000 decrease in revenue
(29 percent).
Staff believes that this trend would continue and when projected over an entire year, would
result in a $265,500 decrease in revenue.
ENVIRONMENTAL ~ASSESSMENT
No environmental assessment is required for this resolution because the program has been
determined to be categorically exempt.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
CMR:505:94
Attachment A - Permit/Wait List Information
Attachment B - Parking Surveys Results
PREPARED BY:Lynne Johnson, Assistant Police Chief
Ashok Aggarwal, City Traffic Engineer
CMR:158:96 Page 8 of 9
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
CC:Susan Frank, Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
Barbara Gross, Downtown Palo Alto Marketing Committee
CMR:158:96 Page 9 of 9
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
APPROVING AND ADOPTING CHANGES IN THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO’S RESTRICTED PARKING ZONES
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as
follows:
SECTION I. The City Council finds as follows:
(a) Council is authorized pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal
Code Section 10.44.010 to adopt parking restrictions on city
streets and in city-owned parking lots through ordinance or
resolution; and,
(b) On November 14, 1994, Council approved and adopted by
Resolution No. 7413 parking restrictions which prohibit reparking
within designated zones of the University Avenue business district
(the. "Downtown District") for a tria! period to commence on
February 13, 1995, and to terminate on February I0, 1996; and,
(c) On January 23, 1995, by Resolution No. 7479 Council
rescheduled this trial period of reparking prohibitions to commence
on March 17, 1995, and to terminate on March 16, 1996; and,
(d) Council has determined that the reparking prohibitions
have been effective and desirable in serving the parking needs of
the Downtown District and therefore desires to extend the trial
period for the reparking prohibitions for an additional year.
(e) Council has determined that the thirty minute duration
"green" parking zones should be exempt from the reparking
prohibitions during this additional trial period to better
accommodate the need for short term parking within the Downtown
District.
SECTION 2. Within the Downtown District in which parking
restrictions are established by Section 1 of this resolution, there
are established subsidiary zones described below and indicated on
the diagram entitled "Dogrntown Palo Alto Parking Lots and Parking
Zones", which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference. It shall be a parking violation for the operator of any
motor vehicle or trailer to park in any parking space on a city
street or within a city-owned or leased parking !ot or structure
where the duration of parking is limited (and the limitation is so
indicated by signs and/or curb markings) and subsequently park that
vehicle in the same parking space or in another such duration-
limited parking space within the same zone during the samebusiness
day (Monday through Friday, holidays excepted), during the hours of
8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.). The thirty minute duration limited
parking zones (marked with green curb painting) in the Downtown
District shall be exempt from this reparking restriction.
960221 syn 0042464
(1)The Purple Zone is established as including all
parking spaces on city streets and city-owned or
leased parking lots or structures within that area
bounded by Alma Street (east side only), Lytton Avenue
(north and south sides), Forest Avenue (north side
only) and Emerson Street (east and west sides).
(2)The Coral Zone is established as including all parking
spaces on city streets and city-owned or leased
parking lots or structures within that area bounded by
Lytton Avenue (north and south sides), Forest Avenue
(north side only), Bryant Street (east and west
sides), and Emerson Street (both sides of which are
included in the Purple Zone rather than the Coral
Zone).
(3)The Lime Zone is established as including all parking
spaces on city streets and city-owned or leased
parking lots or structures within that area bounded by
Lytton Avenue (north and south sides), Forest Avenue
(north side only), Waverley Street (east and west
sides), and Bryant Street (both sides of which are
included in the Coral Zone rather than the Lime Zone).
The Lime Zone also includes city-owned Parking
Lot "K".
(4)The Blue Zone is established as including all parking
spaces on city streets and city-owned or leased
parking lots or structures within that area bounded by
Lytton Avenue (north and south sides), Forest Avenue
(north side only), Webster Street (east and west
sides), and Waverley Street (both sides of which are
included in the Lime Zone rather than the Blue Zone).
The restrictions established by this section shall not
apply to (a) vehicles or trailers displaying parking permits issued
by the city, (b) vehicles or trailers displaying commercial license
plates while parking in a designated loading space, or (c) vehicles
or trailers otherwise exempt from such restrictions by law.
SECTION 3. The Council of the city of Palo Alto finds that
this project qualified for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption under
CEQAguidelines (Section 15301--Existing Facilities) and procedures
adopted by the City of Palo Alto, and therefore no further
environmental assessment is necessary.
SECTION 4. The effective date of this resolution and the
restrictions against reparking in the Downtown District approved
and adopted hereby shall be March 16, 1996, in order to provide
continuity between the initial trial period of such restrictions
and the reenacted restrictions adopted by this resolution as a one
2960221 syn 0042464
year extension of the trial period.
extended by this resolution shall terminate on March 16,
unless otherwise extended or modified by Council.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
The reparking restrictions
1997
APPROVED:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Senior Asst. City Attorney
Mayor
City Manager
Deputy City Manager,
Administrative Services
Chief Transportation Official
Police Chief
3960221 syn 0042464
ATTACHMENT A
Parking Permit Management Table
Pedod Facility No. of PermitsReleased for Sale
Janua~ 1994
Total
PermitsIssued
CC 287
CW 352
EG 102
KT 106
Q 176
R 59
X 22
Apd11994
CC 283
CW 350
EG 101
KT 108
Q 157
R 58
X 26
July1994
October 1994
CC 253
CW 374
EG 98
KT 99
Q 171
R 53
X 20
1068
CC 260
CW 405
EG 91
KT 96
Q 179
R 52
X 16
Janua~ 1995
CC 228
CW 352
EG 94
KT 92
Q 164
R 42
X 23
No. ofPeople on
Waitlist
7O
0
3O
5
9
73
0
187
127
12
64
12
23
76
0
314
154
33
60
18
31
83
0
379
180
26
26
26
79
98
0
435
187
89
25
46
73
143
1
564
Information forthis pedodnot available
5
60
10
12
30
0
10
127
15
5O
15
8
20
0
10
118
2O
5O
25
9
35
0
10
149
0
9O
15
17
2O
4
12
158
Page 1 of 2
Pedod Facility
April 1995
CC
CW
EG
KT
Q
R
X
U
Total No. of
Permits People on
Issued Waif.list
246 254
425 0
103 35
100 50
170 100
48 173
29 22
July 1995
cc
cw
EG
KT
Q
R
X
U
October 1995
CC
CW
EG
KT
Q
R
X
U
CC
CW
EG
KT
Q
R
X
U
Janua~ 1996
217
444
92
88
154
41
2O
25
1081
246
¯446
111
85
169
33
17
23
1130
244
497
113
77
158
52
27
25
1193
313
0
40
73
156
222
26
13
843
262
42
39
8O
186
214
31
5
859
287
33
63
9O
194
190
2
0
859
iNo. of Permits
Released for Sale
65
120
26
17
36
6
25
40
335*
5O
40
3O
10’
24
12
10
188
30
50
20
10
20
6
15
12
163
4O
60
19
20
20
8
12
10
189
[oe]c:~ash ok\,parkJng~zon es~ermsale.wpd
*This number is a combination of permits that were released in March 1995
prior to implementation of the Color Zone Parking Program and in May 1995.
Page 2 of 2
ATTACHMENT B - PARKING SURVEYS RESULTS
March 1995
Survey
May 1995
Survey
August 1995
Survey
October 1995
Survey
February 1996
Survey
Total On-Street
Parking
N. of
Univ.
835
909
952
888
841
S. of
Univ. Total
875 1710
953 1862
1001 1953
987 1875
1015 1856
N. of
Univ.
235
270
268
265
251
Resident
Group
S. of
Univ.
249
235
251
281
279
Total
484
5O5
519
546
530
Non-Resident
Group
N. of
Univ.
600
639
684
623
590
S. of
Univ.Tot~
626 1226
718 1357
750 1434
706 1329
736 1326
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: Police
AGENDA
DATE:November 10, 1994 CMR:505:94,
SUBJECT:Sleeper Parking Resolution Adopting Restricted Parking Zones
REQUEST
In efforts to ameliorate the parking situation in the downtown area, and as part of the
comprehensive downtown parking plan, a restricted parking zone or "sleeper parking"
program is recommended. Therefore, a resolution to that effect is required. Due to
associated issues that will need to be monitored, such as neighborhood intrusion, a year’s trial
period for the resolution is being requested. A map of the downtown restricted parking zones
is also included with the proposed resolution.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution to establish four parking zones
in the downtown area and prohibit reparking after the time limit expires in each zone in
excess of two hours, on weekdays between 8 a.m. and. 5 p.m., or the time allowed by *.he
parking signs. This program will commence on February 13, 1995 and end February 10,
1996.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Existing City ordinances and resolutions provide for time-restricted parking in the downtown
area limited to 30-minutes, two- and three- hours on-street and in City lots. Currently, there
is nothing to prohibit people from parking in an on-street space for two hours, and then
moving their vehicle to an adjacent parking space and parking for another two hours. The
proposed resolution would divide the downtown area into four zones and would prohibit
reparking within each particular zone for more than the time allowed for parking by the
signs.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the comprehensive downtown parking plan developed in cooperation with the Palo
Alto Chamber of Commerce, staff recommended the idea of a "sleeper parking 9rdinance’’
to address the monopolization of some of the most convenient parking spaces in the
downtown area. On January 24, 1994, Council approved the sleeper parking approach in
concept. The City Attorney has cortfim~ed that a resolution, rather than an ordinance, would
CMR:505:94 Page 1 of 3
be the appropriate, legislative vehicle to use in this situation to allow for enforcement of the
new restrictions.
Elements of the Resolution
Since Council provided conceptual approval, staffhas worked with the Chamber’s parking
subcommittee in the development of a sleeper parking program.
Under the proposed program, the downtown area would be divided into four zones delineated
by colors (purple, coral, lime and blue) as depicted on the attached map (Exhibit 1). The
zones would include all time-limited on-street and off-street (City parking lots) parking
spaces. Drivers would be allowed to park in a zone for not more than two hours (the Civic
Center garage and Webster/Cowper garage would be the only exceptions and would retain
their three-hour designation), Mondays through Fridays, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (holidays
excepted). Drivers would be allowed to park in each zone for two hours, but not repark in
the same zone beyond the two-hour limit.
Staff considered other delineations for the downtown area, including up to eight zones and
.as few as two. The four zones are proposed, as staff believes that too many zones would
dilute the effect and make it much easier for people to move from zone to zone; and too few
zones would result in a significant hardship for downtown parkers.
The color of certain designated traffic regulation and parking signs is mandated by both
Federal and State manuals on uniform control devices. Colors such as red, green, brown, etc.
have been designated for various sign classifications. Four other colors--purple, light blue,
coral and strong yellow-green-have been reserved as suitable for future use by the Federal
Highway Administration. Also, these colors are the only choices in reflective material
available f~om sign manufacturers. Therefore, the four colors were selected. Additionally,
staff chose these colors for their visual effects and a desire for a unique downtown identity.
The parking signs will be white with a different colored lettering (Exhibit 2).
As part of the parking plan, the names of the parking lots of the downtown area have been
changed from letter designations (e.g., Lot K, Lot Q) to location designations (e.g., Lot A -
Emerson!Lytton Lot). This change is being made to make it easier for visitors to locate
parking lots.
Enforcement
The attached resolution includes an effective date of February 13, 1995. Following Council
approval, City staff and the Chamber of Commerce will f’malize the educational brochure,
conduct training sessions for downtown employers and employees, and purchase and install
the appropriate signs. Information about the resolution, alternative modes of transportation,
and the availability of other parking facilities will be provided during the training sessions.
CMR:505:94 Page 2 of 3
Special events and considerable publicity are planned around the effective date. Warnings
will be issued to violators for the first four to six weeks after the effective date. The
resolution is drafted to sunset after one year. During the year of implementation, staff and
the Chamber will assess the impacts the program has on the downtown parking situation, on
businesses, adjacent neighborhoods, etc. and will return to Council with recommendations.
FISCAL IMPACT
It is di~cult to estimate any change in revenue that would result from the proposed sleeper
parking resolution. Currently, overtime parking fines represent 65 percent of all parking
fines. The same free ($20)will be used for violators of the sleeper parking resolution. As
the result of the educational meetings, staff hopes there will be fewer violators, thus a
decrease in the amount of fines received. A loss of about $43,000 in net revenue is
anticipated with the approximate four- to six-week warning period.
Included in the adopted 1994-95 Public Works Department’s budget is $33,000 that will be
spent on changing the signage associated with the change in parking restrictions.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
No environmental assessment is required for this resolution because the program has been
determined to be categorically exempt.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution.
Exhibit 1 (map)
Exhibit 2 (signs)
CC:Susan Frank, Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
Barbara Gross, Downtown Palo Alto Marketing Committee
PREPARED BY: Lynne Johnson, Assistant Police Chief
DEPARTMENT HEA~ REVIE~V:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Manager
CMR:505:94 Page 3 of 3
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
APPROVING ANDADOPTING CHANGESIN THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO’S RESTRICTED PARKING ZONES
WHEREAS, Council is authorized pursuant to Palo Alto
Municipal Code Section 10.44.010 to adopt parking restrictions on
city streets and in city-owned parking lots through ordinance or
resolution; and,
WHEREAS, Council now desires to update the parking zone map
for the Downtown District of Palo Alto to supersede that map
updated map approved and adopted by Resolution No. 6106, adopted
April 12, 1982; and,
WHEREAS, Council now desires to adopt further parking
restrictions which prohibit reparking within designated zones of
the University Avenue business district (the "Downtown District")
to better serve the parking needs of that business district; and,
WHEREAS, Council further desires to terminate the
restriction On parking in city-owned or leased parking lots or
structures in excess of once during any consecutive five hour
period in order to cons±stently apply to such parking facilities
the prohibition against reparking within the Downtown business
district.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION i. The updated parking zone map for the Downtown
District of Palo Alto, attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference, is hereby approved and adopted. The parking zone map
for the Downto,~n District approved and adopted by Resolution No.
6106 is hereby superseded. It shal! be a parking violation for the
operator of any motor Vehicle or trailer to park in any parking
space on a city street orwithin a city owned or leased parking lot
or structure for a duration in excess of that provided on the
updated parking zone map approved and adopted in this resolution.
SECTION 2. Within the Downtown District in which parking
restrictions are established by Section 1 of this resolution, there
are established subsidiary zones~described below and indicated on
the diagram entitled "Downtown Palo Alto Parking Lots and Parking
Zones", which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference. It shall be a parking violation for the operator of any
motor vehicle or trailer to park in any parking space on a city
street or within a city-owned or leased parking lot or structure
where the duration of parking is limited (and the limitation is so
indicated by signs and/or curb markings) and subsequently park that
vehicle in the same parking space or~in another such duration-
limited parking space within the same zone during the same business
day (Monday through Friday, holidays excepted), during the hours of
8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.).
941109 syn 0042013
!
(2)
The Purple Zone is established as including all
parking spaces on city streets and city-owned or
leased parking lots or structures within that area
bounded by Alma Street (east side only), Lytton Avenue
(north and south sides), Forest Avenue (north side
only) and Emerson Street (east and west sides).
The Coral Zone is established as including all parking
spaces on city streets and city-owned or leased
parking lots or structures within that area bounded by
Lytton Avenue (north and south sides), Forest Avenue
(north side only), Bryant Street (east and west
sides), and Emerson Street (both sides of which are
included in the Purple Zone rather than the Coral
Zone).
(3)The Lime Zone is established as including all parking
spaces on city streets and city-owned or leased
parking lots or structures within that area bounded by
Lytton Avenue (north and south sides), Forest Avenue
(north side only), Waverley Street (east and west
sides), and Bryant Street (both sides of which are
included in the Cora! Zone rather than the Lime Zone).
The Lime Zone also includes city-owned Parking
Lot "K".
(4)The Blue Zone is established as including all parking
spaces on city streets and city-owned or leased
parking lots or structures within that area bounded by
Lytton Avenue (north and south sides), Forest Avenue
(north side only), Webster Street (east and west
sides), and Waverley Street (both sides of which are
included in the Lime Zone rather than the Blue Zone)-.
The restrictions established by this section shall not
apply to (a) vehicles or trailers displaying parking permits issued
by the city, (b) vehicles or trailers displaying commercia! license
plates while parking in a designated loading space, or (c) vehicles
or trailers otherwise exempt from such restrictions by law.
SECTION 3. The restrictions on stopping, standing or
parking to once in any consecutive five hour period within each
city-owned or leased parking lot or structure located in the area
bounded by E1 Camino Real,~ Everett Street, Middlefield Road and
Homer Avenue, which restrictions were adopted by Resolution No.
4538, are hereby rescinded. Those parking restrictions designated
for city owned and leased parking lots or structures on the diagram
entitled "Downtown Palo Alto Parking Lots and Parking Zones", which
is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, are hereby
approved and adopted. It shall be a parking violation for the
operator of any motor vehicle or trailer to park in any parking
space within the city owned or leased par~ing lots or structures
designated on that diagram for a duration in excess of that
indicated on that diagram or without a permit where permit parking
is indicated on that diagram.
941109 syn 0042013
SECTION 4. The Counci! of the city of Palo Alto finds that
this project qualified for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption under
CEQAguidelines (Section 15301--Existing Facilities) and procedires
adopted by the City of Palo Alto, and therefore no further
environmental assessment is necessary.
SECTION 5 The effective date on which the parking restrictions
established by section 2 of this resolution shall be applicable is
the date of February 13, 1995 and shall terminate on February i0,
1996, unless otherwise amended by resolution. The effective date
on which the restrictions referenced in section 3 of th~s
resolution shall be rescinded is the date of February 13, 1995 and
such restrictions shall be reinstated on February i0, 1996, unless
otherwise amended by resolution.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Senior Asst. City Attorney
Mayor
City Manager
Director of Finance
Chief Transportation Official
Police Chief
941109 syn 0042013
Exhibit 1
’III
Downtown Palo Al~o
~. ~_~.~.~ ~..~_
Parking Lots Street
and " I
Parking Zoneslt ,~
l u~
Tasso Street u~
Free 2 hour | ~=
parking ~
~ Free 2 hour 400 Cowper Street 500 600[//i/,d and permit parking ~~~////~
Free 3 hour ~i.~
~
and permit parking
~
~
.~.
~ Permit parking
~Kipling
Stree~
"////~o o Blu~ ~.T~~~e
Parkhlg lot restrictions L O
in ef[ect Barn - 5pro ~ ~ -, ~ m ~ ~,., ~
Monday - Friday 400 Waverley Street 500 600
excepted.
~
Florence Street ~Gilman Street
o one
KEY TO LOTS AND GARAGES 400 Bryant Street 500 600
B.Ramona/University garage
C.Ramona/L~rtton Lot
D.Hamilton/Waverley lot
E.Gilman/Bryant lot
F.Florence/Lytton lot -- ~ .....~
G.Gilman/Waverley lot -- ~400 600Ramona.~.~Streei 500
K.Lytton/Waverley lot
L.Bryant/Lytton lot,
N.Emerson/Ramona lot-
0.Emerson/High lot --
P.High/Hamilton lot 400 Emerson Street 500 600
Q"
High/Alma N°rth garage -- I ~ ]
~~/~~:
R.High/Alma South lot
S.Bryant/Florence lot ,
T.Lytton/Kipling lot
CC.Civic Center Garage -- ~ ’ 400 High ~ Street 500 ¢~600WC.Webster/Cowper Garage --ur e
ZoneaCity of Palo Alto
Transportation Division
415/329-2520
510Ct94 AB61702
AM TO
MON
WELCOME TO THE PURPLE ZONE.
AFTER 2 HOUR LJM~qF EXPIRES
NO REPARK~NG ~N PURPLE ZONE
BEFORE 5P~.
Z p~
O0
0~
Ok’-
0