HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 1878City of Palo Alto (ID # 1878)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 7/25/2011
July 25, 2011 Page 1 of 3
(ID # 1878)
Council Priority: Land Use and Transportation Planning
Summary Title: Resolution to Modify Coral Zone Parking Area
Title: Adoption of a Resolution Amending the Restricted Parking Zones
Established by Resolution 7659 to Include the Downtown Library Parking Lot and
Adjacent Streets in the Coral Zone
From:City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council amend the City’s Restricted Parking Zone to add to the Coral
Zone the parking lot at the Downtown Library located at 270 Forest Avenue and four (4) on-
street parking spaces on the west side of Bryant Street, adjacent to the Library. Staff also
recommends that the Library lot be designated as lot “M”.
Executive Summary
In 1997, after a two year trial program, Council approved implementation of the Restrictive
Parking Zone program (Resolution 7659). The Resolution established the four color zone
parking areas within the Downtown Business District and prohibited re-parking within the same
zone during the same business day.
The Library Department requested that the Transportation Division consider this modification
based on ongoing inappropriate use of the Downtown Library parking lot prior to the recent
modification of the Downtown Library. The Police Department made similar observations, in
that the current 2-hour parking restrictions are insufficient to deter parking abuse because
people re-park in the same area. This situation limits parking available to library patrons.
Therefore, Staff recommends amending the Restrictive Parking Zones to include the Downtown
Library lot and adjacent on-street parking spaces along the Bryant Street frontage of the Library
in the Coral Zone.
Background
Council approved permanent implementation of the Restricted Parking Zone on April 7, 1997.
The resolution established the color zone parking program by dividing the downtown area into
the four color zones: Purple, Coral, Lime and Blue. It prohibits re-parking within each zone for
longer than the time allowed. This program was established to address “sleeper” (persons
July 25, 2011 Page 2 of 3
(ID # 1878)
inhabitating parked vehicles overnight) and other long-term parking issues, and to increase the
number of available parking spaces for visitors to the downtown area.
The color zone restriction boundaries are currently defined as follows: from the North side of
Lytton Avenue, to the North side of Forest Avenue, and from the East side of Alma Street to the
East side of Webster Street. Attachment A provides a revised map of the color zone network
that includes the proposed additions in and around the Downtown Library.
Discussion
The Library Department has requested that the Transportation Division include the Downtown
Library in the Restricted Parking Program. When the color zone parking program was
established, the Coral Zone boundary to the South included only the north side of Forest
Avenue. The Library is located on the south side of the Forest Avenue, so it is not covered by
the existing zones.
The parking lot has sixteen 2-hour and one (1) handicap parking spaces; the four Bryant Street
on-street parking spaces currently include a 2-hour daytime parking restriction. The Police
Department and Library Staff report that parkers are regularly observed moving from one space
to another to avoid the 2-hour parking restriction. Because the lot and on-street spaces are
outside the color zone restriction, parkers are able to re-park as many times as possible without
having to leave the area. This practice significantly impacts the availability of short term visitor
parking at the Library. The segments of the streets (Bryant and Ramona) immediately adjacent
to the Library experience similar problems.
The proposed changes to the Coral Zone boundaries would prohibit re-parking in the Library
parking lot or adjacent on Bryant Street or Ramona Street. This will increase parking availability
for Library users.
Timeline
The Downtown library reopened on July 16, 2011. The signage modifications to include the
parking lot and Bryant Street frontgage on-street parking spaces can be signed immediately
upon approval of this resolution by the City Council.
Resource Impact
There is no resource impact in amending the Restricted Parking Zone Resolution. Increased
enforcement costs and revenues from parking ticket fines are expected to be negligible and
within the scope of current parking enforcement for the color zones. Funds are available in the
PL-12000 Parking and Transportation Improvements Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
project to cover the cost of the sign conversions.
Policy Implications
Modification of the Restricted Parking Program to include the Downtown Library and Bryant
Street frontage on-street parking spaces is consistent with Goal T-8 (Attractive, Convenient
Public and Private Parking Facilities) and its associated programs and policies.
July 25, 2011 Page 3 of 3
(ID # 1878)
Environmental Review
The Restricted Parking Zone program and this addition are categorically exempt from CEQA
review under CEQA Guidelines section 15301.
Attachments:
·Attachment A: Resolution Amending Restricted Parking Coral Zone Boundary(PDF)
·Attachment B: Exhibit A to Resolution -Parking Zone Map (PDF)
Prepared By:Jaime Rodriguez, Chief Transportation Official
Department Head:Curtis Williams, Director
City Manager Approval: James Keene, City Manager
** NOT YET APPROVED **
Resolution No. _____
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending
the Restricted Parking Zones Established by Resolution 7659
to Include the Downtown Library Parking Lot and Adjacent
Streets in the Coral Zone
WHEREAS, consistent with Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 10.44.010, the
Council may establish parking restrictions; and
WHEREAS, on April 7, 1997, following a two-year trial period for downtown
parking restrictions, the City Council passed resolution 7659, adopting four parking zones in the
Downtown area and establishing reparking restrictions within each zone, prohibiting reparking in
the same zone within the same business day; and
WHEREAS, one of the parking zones established by Resolution 7659 was the Coral
Zone, which includes “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).” Parking in the Coral Zone is
restricted such that re-parking in the same zone during the same business day is prohibited; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Palo Alto Library is located directly adjacent to the
Coral Zone. Library staff have observed that the availability of short term parking in and around
the Downtown Library parking lot is very limited, and recommended including the Library’s
parking lot in the Coral Zone to restrict reparking and provide better availability of short term
visitor parking at the Library.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as
follows:
SECTION 1. Section 2(2) (Coral Zone) of Resolution No. 7659 is hereby amended
as follows to add the Downtown Palo Alto Library parking lot in the Coral Zone:
“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); Bryant Street (east
and west sides) and Emerson Street (both sides of which are included in the
Purple Zone rather than the Coral Zone”); plus the south side of Forest Avenue
between Bryant Street and Ramona Street, the west side of Bryant Street and east
side of Ramona Street 155 feet south of Forest Avenue, and the Downtown
Library Parking Lot.”
A map of the City’s restricted parking zones is attached as Exhibit “A.”
110715 sh 8261647 1
** NOT YET APPROVED **
SECTION 2. The Council of the City of Palo Alto finds that this project qualified
for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption under CEQA guidelines (Section 15301 – Existing
Facilities) and procedures adopted by the City of Palo Alto, and therefore no further
environmental assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
__________________________ ______________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
__________________________ ______________________________
Sr. Deputy City Attorney City Manager
______________________________
Director of Planning & Community
Environment
______________________________
Director of Administrative
Services
110715 sh 8261647 2