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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-05-19 City Council (8)TO: C ty l a ager’s Reper FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING & POLICE DATE:MAY 19, 2003 CMR:282:03 SUB~CT:RESOLUTION APPROVING PROHIBITION OF PARKING BETWEEN 11:00 P.M. AND 5:00 A.M. EVERY DAY ON ENCINA AVENUE, WELLS AVENUE AND 100 BLOCK OF PAGE MILL ROAD RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution prohibiting parking between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on all days, on Encina Avenue, Wells Avenue and in the 100 block of Page Mill Road. BACKGROUND In 1999, the City Council amended Title 10 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) to include changes required by the Vehicle Code pertaining to parking. One of the significant changes involved the revision of PANIC section 10.44.020, the "Overnight Parking Ordinance." The definition of an oversized vehicle was redefined and the overnight parking prohibition on oversized vehicles was expanded from R-1 zones to include all R zones and PF zones, and both sides of the street. Since then, the Police Department has successfully abated oversized vehicles on a complaint basis from various R and PF zones. As a result of this effort, several streets within the City’s commercial zones have now become a refuge for a number of trucks and motor homes. Some took up "residency" on Encina Avenue. One motor home owner went as far as to "level" his vehicle, using leveling blocks and remained parked on Encina Avenue for over two years. The 100 block of Page Mill Road (near the Caltrain tracks) was affected in the same manner. This has led to the dumping of sewage and garbage by motor home owners, deteriorating the sanitation of this block. One owner recently received a citation for illegally disposing of sewage into the storm drain. The pickup trucks and motor homes have remained parked on these two street blocks because there are no parking regulations or prohibitions that required them to leave these streets for any period of time. Police Department personnel attempted to get these vehicles to move from these two blocks by citing them for storing vehicles for over 72 hours on the street. However, once CMR:282:03 Page 1 of 3 the vehicles received the required warning, the owners would drive their vehicles the required one-half mile and repark. The Police and Transportation Division continue to receive frequent complaints about these motor homes and oversized vehicles parked in these commercial areas. DISCUSSION PAMC Section 10.44.010 permits staff to restrict parking for up to 120 days, requiting a Council resolution to make those restrictions permanent. Accordingly, staff posted the two affected blocks of Encina Avenue and 100 block of Page Mill Road with "No Parking 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Every Day" signs. The temporary signs have had positive results. The motor homes and associated vehicles have left these two blocks, and no complaints have been received. The construction of the Opportunity Center has received approval from City Council. Construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2004. The Opportunity Center security task force is concerned that "sleeper parking" will also occur on Wells Avenue, resulting in loss of parking spaces and the associated negative aspects similar to Encina Avenue and Page Mill Road. The Opportunity Center security task force is requesting, and staff concurs, that parking be restricted on Wells Avenue everyday between 11 !00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., prior to opening of the Opportunity Center. Currently, parking is prohibited on south side of Wells Avenue because that side of the street is a fire lane, and parking is allowed only on the north side of the street. Signs prohibiting parking between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. will be posted on the north side of Wells Avenue prior to opening of the Opportunity Center. This will discourage the semi-permanent parking of "sleeper vehicles" and motor homes on Wells Avenue also. It is probable that as these restrictions become permanent, these large vehicles may move to other more obscure commercial locations. If this occurs, staff will restrict parking between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on a temporary basis, and return to Council with a resolution to make those parking prohibitions permanent. The attached resolution formalizes the existing parking restrictions every day between 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Encina Avenue and the 100 block of Page Mill Road, and authorizes staff to restrict parking between 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on every day on north side Wells Avenue, on a permanent basis. RESOURCE IMPACT The cost of signing and Departments respectively. enforcement will be absorbed by the Public Works and Police ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Minor operational improvements are categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act. No further environmental assessment is necessary. CMR:282:03 Page 2 of 3 ATTACHMENTS A. Resolution Restricting Parking on Encina, Page Mill and Wells PREPARED BY: DEPARTMENT HEAD: City Traffic Engineer STEVE EMSLIE Director of Planning and Community Environment CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: EMILY HARRISON Assistant City Manager CMR:282:03 Page 3 of 3 ATTACHMENT A ~ii RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO APPROVING AND ADOPTING A NEW NO PARKING ZONE BETWEEN ii:00 P.M. AND 5:00 A.M. ON ENCINA AVENUE, WELLS AVENUE AND THE i00 BLOCK OF PAGE MILL ROAD WHEREAS, there is a need to establish~a new zone where parking shall be prohibited at any time, in order to maintain the safe, orderly flow of traffic in the City of Palo Alto; and WHEREAS, Palo Alto Municipal code section 10.44.010 enables the City Council to establish by resolution such parking restrictions or prohibitions as may be necessary. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The Council hereby establishes a "no parking at any time" zone on Encina Avenue, Wells Avenue and the i00 block of Page Mill Road, as identified in Exhibits A, B, and C attached hereto and incorporated by reference. SECTION 2. The Council finds that this project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Class 1 (minor alterations to existing public facilities)and no further environmental assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST:APPROVED: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney Mayor City Manager Director of Planning and Community Environment Chief Transportation Official 030429 syn 0091245 EXHIBIT A Encina Avenue -, Proposed "No Parking __~ PM-SAM everyday" Zone _ EXHIBIT A EXHIBIT B Well Avenue -° Proposed "No Parking --’ PM-5AM everyday" Zone _o EXHIBIT B EXHIBIT C 0 0 ! 0 ~,"~. ~ ~ >-~ No_. ~D 100 Block Page Mill Road Proposed "No Parking 11 PM-5AM everyday" Zone ~,~-(-©.<,(~;5~’.~,~ " ~;> C%%..~._~’\T, gC~ 2k~/ O EXHIBIT C