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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 194-05On June 21, 2004, Council adopted a resolution authorizing the continuation of free three-hour parking in the two parking structures in the California Avenue area; namely, City garages 3 and 5, until February 28,2005. These two resolutions were intended to attract more individuals to the downtown and California Avenue areas, which had experienced notable reductions in parking demand as a result of the general economic downtown, by providing improved parking options for the varying types of patrons which frequent these districts. Additionally, the extended parking time was seen as an opportunity to encourage visitors to use the two new parking structures, which added approximately 700 new spaces to the downtown area. DISCUSSION Businesses, retail establishments and restaurant representatives from both districts indicate that the added parking time has had a favorable impact. The different types of establishments in the downtown and California Avenue areas attract patrons with varying parking needs. Three-hour parking in adjacent parking garages provide a measure a convenience and choice to those visitors not quite needing an all day permit, but needing a longer parking period than the two-hour on-street spaces provide. Additionally, staff has detected an increased use of the City garages. While it is difficult to empirically substantiate, staff believes that many of those opting to park in the extended time garages would have otherwise employed on street parking spaces, thus creating an increased availability of premium on-street spaces for those visitors needing the ease of a closer space for shorter time durations. In addition to extended three-hour parking, staff is presently working on other measures intended to improve the user friendliness of parking downtown. In collaboration with the Chamber Parking Committee, an updated parking brochure encompassing all of the parking changes in the Downtown area has been published and is currently being distributed. The brochure also provides supportive information pertaining to public transit stops and access, bicycle parking locations, public restrooms, notable landmarks and key reference numbers and website addresses for information. Additionally, staff and the Parking Committee have developed new directional signage for the downtown area. The new signs will be more visible and easier to understand than the present signage. The.new signs will be installed at a greater number of locations in an effort to enhance public awareness and encourage garage usage. Installation is anticipated to begin within the next couple of months. Another noteworthy beneficiary of public parking time extensions in the downtown garages has been the A venidas Senior Center located at 450 Bryant Street. Although the facility has 25 dedicated permit parking spaces in Lot C, located off of Ramona Street directly behind the Center, at times it is insufficient to accommodate the numerous seniors who regularly participate in daytime events. Classes and activities at Avenidas frequently exceed the two-hour parking time limit. The CMR:194:05 Page 2 of 4 addition of an additional hour of parking has ameliorated this issue and enhanced participants' ease of access. Although this one-year trial period has been generally well received as a favorable option towards supporting retail businesses in Palo Alto, it is not without some concern or consequence.' As compared with two-hour parking time limits, three-hour parking may be more likely to promote employee monopolization of garage parking spaces designed for use by visitors and customers. While staff has observed some instances of this technique to avoid parking citations, it has not yet been pervasive enough to have had a notable impact on the availability of three-hour spaces. Staff does believe however that as the economy recovers and vehicle traffic increases, this could become a factor in parking availability and as a result will continue to monitor the situation. RESOURCE IMPACT Based on an analysis of the three-hour parking extension during calendar year 2004, staff observed a reduction in parking citations of 10 percent in the downtown area and 18 percent in the two California Avenue garages as compared to citations issued the year prior under the two-hour time limitations. The reduction is primarily in overtime parking violations. This equated to an approximate reduction of $190,000 in citation revenue over the 12-month period. If three-hour parking is continued for an additional one-year trial period, staff expects to see a similar citation and revenue reduction trend. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The one one-hour extension of free public parking in downtown garages is consistent with the 13- Point Parking Program goal (Goal T-8) for attractive, convenient public and private parking facilities. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The provisions of this resolution do not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act because it can be seen with certainty that no significant environmental impact will occur. CMR:194:0S Page 3 of4 t;:; .. ***NOT YET APPROVED*** date of adoption of this resolution through the date of February 28, 2006. SECTION 3. The updated parking zone m ap for the Downtown District of Palo Alto, entitled "Downtown Palo Alto Parking Lots and Parking Color Zones" and the updated parking zone map for the California Avenue District of Palo Alto, entitled "California Avenue Area", which are attached hereto is hereby approved and adopted. These documents supercede all previous similar parking zone maps for the Downtown and California Avenue Districts. SECTION 4. The Council finds that the provisions of this resolution do not constitute a project under the Cal ifornia Environmental Quality Act because it can be seen with certainty that no significant environmental impact will occur as a result of the changes in parking duration in specified public parking lots and garages approved by this resolution. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Senior Asst . City Attorney 050405 cl 0044409 2 Mayor APPROVED: City Manager Police Chief Director of Administrative Services DISCUSSION Based upon the success of the extended holiday season parking program, the Chamber's Parking Committee and City staff believe that in order to facilitate shopping and visits to the downtown area, continuance of the three-hour free parking in specified City garages is needed for a full year. The additional hour of public parking was implemented under the City Manager's authorization at three of the six downtown parking garages: R Garage-High/Alma South Garage; S/L Garage:-Bryant/Lytton Garage; and, B Garage-RamonalUniversity Garage. Of the remaining three parking garages, the Civic Center and the Webster/Cowper garages were already designated as three-hour public parking facilities and the sixth garage, Q Garage, located on High Street south of Lytton, is limited to permit parking for downtown employees and consequently does not have public parking during · the weekdays. The attached resolution includes a provision for extending the time in all of these garages until February 28,2005. One of the beneficiaries of public parking time extensions in the downtown garages has been the Avenidas Senior Center located at 450 Bryant Street. Although the facility has 25 dedicated permit parking spaces in Lot C, located off of Ramona Street directly behind the Center, it is insufficient to accommodate the numerous seniors who re~larly participate in daytime events .. Moreover, the classes and activities at Avenidas frequently exceed the two- hour parking time limit. The addition of an additional hour of parking has ameliorated this issue and enhanced participants' ease of access. Although the addition of an extra hour of free public parking has been generally well received as a favorable option towards supporting retail businesses in Palo Alto, it is not without some concern or consequence. As compared with two-hour parking time limits, three-hour parking may be more likely to promote employee monopolization of garage parking spaces designed for use by visitors and customers. Additionally, the change will reduce citation revenue as less overtime parking tickets will be issued. RESOURCE IMPACT Based on a five-month analysis of the three-hour parking extensions, staff estimates an average 12 percent reduction in parking citations, principally in overtime parking violations. This equates to an approximate reduction of $215,000 in citation revenue over a 12-month period. CMR:260:04 Page 2 of 4 ***NOT YET APPROVED** (h) Council has determined that these extended three- hour parking limits have been effective and desirable in serving the parking needs of the Downtown District arid desires to extend these three-hour parking limit through February 28, 2005; Now therefore, the Council does hereby resolve: SECTION 1. The two-hour parking limits in the off-street public parking garages B, SIL, and R located in the Downtown District are hereby extended to three-hour parking limits effective on the date of adoption of this resolution through the date of February 28~ 2005. SECTION 2. The updated parking zone map for the Downtown District of Palo Alto, entitled "Downtown Palo Alto Parking Lots and Parking Color Zones" which is attached hereto is hereby approved and adopted. This document supercedes all previous similar parking zone maps for the Downtown District. SECTION 3. The Council finds that the provisions of this resolution do not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act because it can be seen with certainty that no significant environmental impact will occur as a result of the changes in parking duration in specified public parking lots and garages approved by this resolution. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Senior Asst. City Attorney 040512 cI 0044387 2 Mayor APPROVED: City Manager Police Chief Director of Administrative Services parking in the two California Avenue area garages would be beneficial. This resolution is similar to the one the City Council approved for several Downtown parking structures on May 17, 2004. The additional hour of public parking in the attached resolution includes a provision for extending the time in the two California Avenue area garages until February 28,2005, the same date approved for the Downtown garages. Although the addition of an extra hour of free public parking has been generally well received as a favorable option towards supporting retail businesses in Palo Alto, it is not without some concern or consequence. As compared with two-hour parking time limits, three-hour parking may be more likely to promote employee monopolization of garage parking spaces designed for use by visitors and customers. Additionally, the change will reduce citation revenue as less overtime parking tickets will be issued. In view of the above, staff will evaluate any impacts this change may have and work both with the Chamber of Commerce Parking Committee as well as CAADA and make appropriate recommendations to the Council in February 2005. RESOURCE IMPACT . Based on a five-month analysis of the three-hour parking extensions, staff estimates an average 21 percent reduction in parking citations, principally in overtime parking violations, in California Avenue area parking structures 3 and 5. This equates to ' an approximate reduction of $1 0,500 in citation revenue over a 12-month period. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The extension of two-hour free public parking to three hours is consistent with the overall goal of providing convenient parking for customers and visitors to Palo Alto. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The provisions of this resolution do not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act because it can be seen with certainty that no significant environmental impact will occur. CMR:324:04 Page 2 of 3 ***NOT YET APPROVED** SECTION 3. The Council finds that the provisions of this resolution do not constitute a project under the Cal ifornia Environmental Quality Act because it can be seen with certainty that no significant environmental impact will occur as a result of the changes in parking duration in specified public parking structures approved by this resolution. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Senior Asst. City Attorney 040616 c1 0044393 2 Mayor APPROVED: City Manager Police Chief Director of Administrative Services