HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 7425
City of Palo Alto (ID # 7425)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 11/7/2016
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: SECOND READING: Crescent Park No Overnight Parking
Title: SECOND READING: Adoption of an Ordinance to add Chapter 10.51 to
the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Permanently Implement the Crescent Park
No Overnight Parking Program and Expand the Boundaries of the Program
(FIRST READING: December 7, 2015 PASSED: 7-0 Scharff not participating,
Burt absent)
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance (Attachment A) to make
the existing Crescent Park No Overnight Parking program permanent and to expand the
boundaries of the program.
Executive Summary
On August 12, 2013, Council approved implementation of a pilot No Overnight Parking program
on certain streets within the Crescent Park neighborhood for one year. Developed in response
to resident concerns about non-resident parking, the program aimed to restrict overnight
parking to resident permit holders only. Crescent Park residents petitioned by street, and the
City implemented a pilot No Overnight Parking program requiring residents to display a valid
City of Palo Alto parking permit on their vehicles to park on-street between the hours of 2:00
am and 5:00 am. Residents of streets within the program boundaries and whose streets have
opted to participate in the program are eligible to purchase permits. Residents are allowed up
to two annual permits per household at a cost of $100 each.
Based on the success of the program, Council authorized staff in September 2014 to continue
the Crescent Park No Overnight Parking program trial. Since that time, the intrusion of non-
residential parkers has continued into additional streets, and 20 streets have successfully
petitioned to implement permit parking.
The program has proved successful at addressing resident concerns, and staff believes that
making the program permanent is warranted.
City of Palo Alto Page 2
The first reading of this ordinance occurred on December 7, 2015 and for some reason, a
second reading never occurred. The staff report from December 7th is available at:
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/50006. The ordinance will become
effective 31 days following adoption.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Crescent Park No Overnight Parking Ordinance (PDF)
NOT YET APPROVED
151112 cs 0131493 1 November 12, 2015
Ordinance No. ____
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto to Add Chapter 10.51
to the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Permanently Implement the
Crescent Park No Overnight Parking Program and Expand the
Boundaries of the Program
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Recitals. The Council of the City of Palo Alto finds and declares
as follows:
A. In response to resident concerns about non-resident parking, the Council
adopted a resolution implementing a pilot No Overnight Parking program on certain streets in
the Crescent Park neighborhood.
B. The pilot program’s success resulted in an increased demand for participation
among Crescent Park’s residents and the Council’s approval to extend the program for another
year.
C. With the approved expansion of the pilot program, non-resident parkers have
moved to other streets outside the program’s boundaries causing even more Crescent Park
residents to request participation in the program.
D. To combat the spillover effect resulting from the existing restricted parking areas
and to address the increasing resident demands for participation in the program, a permanent
overnight restricted parking program should be implemented in an expanded area.
SECTION 2. Title 10 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is amended to add a new Chapter
10.51 entitled “Crescent Park No Overnight Parking Program” to read as follows:
10.51.010 Purpose. The Crescent Park No Overnight Parking Program is intended to restore and
enhance the quality of life in the Crescent Park neighborhood by reducing the impact of parking
associated with nearby residences, businesses or other neighboring uses. Restricted parking
areas should be designed to accommodate non-residential parking when this can be done,
while meeting the parking availability standards determined by the city to be appropriate for
the area in question.
10.51.020 Definitions.
The following words and phrases as used in this Chapter shall have the following meanings.
a) Crescent Park. “Crescent Park” means the area bound by Edgewood Drive on the
northeast, Channing Avenue on the South, Lincoln Avenue on the west, University
Avenue on the northwest and including the entirety of Crescent Drive.
NOT YET APPROVED
151112 cs 0131493 2 November 12, 2015
b) Dwelling Unit. “Dwelling Unit” shall mean any self-contained house, apartment, stock
cooperative, or condominium occupied solely for residential purposes.
c) Restricted Parking Area. “Restricted Parking Area” shall mean a residential area upon
which the Council imposes overnight parking limitations pursuant to the authority
granted by this Chapter.
d) Resident. “Resident” shall mean any person who lives in a dwelling unit located in a
residential restricted parking area.
e) Overnight Residential Parking Permit. “Overnight Residential Parking Permit” shall
mean a permit issued under this Chapter which, when displayed upon a motor vehicle,
as described herein, shall exempt said motor vehicle from parking time restrictions
established pursuant to this Chapter.
f) Guest. “Guest” shall mean a person visiting residents living in a residential preferential
parking zone.
g) Guest Parking Permit. “Guest Parking Permit” shall mean a parking permit issued
pursuant to this Chapter or an ordinance or resolution enacted pursuant to authority
granted herein, which when displayed upon a motor vehicle, as described herein, shall
exempt the motor vehicle from parking time restrictions established pursuant to this
Chapter.
10.51.030 Designation of Crescent Park No Overnight Parking Area.
a) Area.
1. The following streets or street segments are approved for the Crescent Park No
Overnight Parking Program:
Crescent Park Street or Street Segment Status
Edgewood Drive between Southwood and Patricia Opted In September 2013
Newell Road between Edgewood and Dana Opted in September 2013
Phillips Road Opted in September 2013
Madison Way Opted in September 2013
Hamilton Ave between Island and Alester Opted in September 2013
Jefferson Drive Opted in September 2013
Southwood Court Opted In November 2013
Crescent Drive Opted in November 2013
Dana Avenue, Ashby to Alester Opted in November 2013
Newell Road, Dana to Pitman Opted in November 2013
Newell Road from Alester/Dana to Lincoln Opted in November 2013
NOT YET APPROVED
151112 cs 0131493 3 November 12, 2015
East Crescent Drive Opted In December 2013
Island Drive Opted in April 2014
Kings Lane Opted in April 2014
Center Drive Opted in June 2014
Pitman Avenue, 1432 to 1494 Pitman Opted in October 2014
University Avenue between East Crescent and Lincoln
Avenue
Opted in December 2014
Louisa Court Opted in March 2015
Arcadia Place Opted in July 2015
Hamilton Avenue from Center to West Crescent Opted in August 2015
2. The following streets or street segments are tentatively approved for the Crescent
Park No Overnight Parking Program.
Crescent Park Street or Street Segment Status
Center Drive from Hamilton to Channing Avenue Pending Approval
Newell Place Pending Approval
Lincoln Avenue between University and Hamilton Pending Approval
Southwood Drive from Hamilton to Edgewood Petition Distributed
West Crescent Petition Distributed
Dana Avenue from Ashby to Center Petition Distributed
Hamilton Avenue from West Crescent to Lincoln No Petition Request
Ashby Drive No Petition Request
Pitman Avenue from 1494 to Center No Petition Request
Dana between Lincoln and Center Recommended Program Expansion
Forest between Lincoln and Center Recommended Program Expansion
Lincoln between Hamilton and Channing Recommended Program Expansion
University between Lincoln and Palm Recommended Program Expansion
Alester between Channing and Hamilton Recommended Program Expansion
Patricia Lane Recommended Program Expansion
Jackson Drive Recommended Program Expansion
Hamilton between Patricia and Rhodes Recommended Program Expansion
Edgewood between Patricia and Rhodes Recommended Program Expansion
b) Parking Restriction Hours.
1. Vehicles not displaying a valid overnight residential parking permit are
prohibited from parking within the Restricted Parking Area between two a.m.
and five a.m. every day of the week. All vehicles may utilize on-street parking in
Crescent Park outside of this specified enforcement period.
NOT YET APPROVED
151112 cs 0131493 4 November 12, 2015
2. City staff shall cause appropriate signs to be erected in that area, indicating
prominently thereon the time limitation and period of the day for its application.
10.51.040 Inclusion of Approved Parking Areas.
a) Eligibility for Inclusion. Residents of any street or street segment tentatively approved
for inclusion may petition the director for inclusion into the Crescent Park No Overnight
Parking Area. If the petition meets the criteria established in section 10.51.040(b) and
the administrative regulations adopted by the director, parking restrictions will be
implemented on that block.
b) City staff shall consider for designation any proposed street or street segment in
Crescent Park which satisfies the following enumerated requirements:
1. Residents submit a petition, prepared for residents by City staff and signed by at
least one member of 50% of the parcels on the street.
2. Upon receipt of a completed petition, City staff shall issue a postal survey to
verify participation and interest of all residents in the proposed restricted
parking area.
3. At least 70% of responses to the survey received by City staff shall be in support
of participation in the restricted overnight parking program.
c) Following validation of majority support, City staff shall implement signs within the
newly designated restricted parking area and notify residents of eligibility to purchase
parking permits at City Hall.
10.51.050 Annexation of New Restricted Parking Areas.
a) Eligibility for Annexation. Residents of any street or street segment adjacent to an
existing restricted parking area within Crescent Park may petition the director for
annexation into a contiguous Crescent Park No Overnight Parking Area. If the petition
meets the criteria established in in section 10.51.050(b) and the administrative
regulations adopted by the director, a resolution annexing it to the Restricted Parking
Area shall be prepared by the city attorney and submitted to the city council, together
with the director's recommendation on the proposed annexation. The city council may
approve, deny, or modify the annexation.
b) City staff shall consider for designation any proposed street or street segment in
Crescent Park which satisfies the following enumerated requirements:
1. Residents submit a petition, prepared for residents by City staff and signed by at
least one member of 50% of the parcels on the street.
NOT YET APPROVED
151112 cs 0131493 5 November 12, 2015
2. Upon receipt of a completed petition, City staff shall issue a postal survey to
verify participation and interest of all residents in the proposed restricted
parking area.
3. At least 70% of responses to the survey received by City staff shall be in support
of participation in the restricted overnight parking program.
c) Following validation of majority support, City staff shall implement signs within the
newly designated restricted parking area and notify residents of eligibility to purchase
parking permits at City Hall.
10.51.060 Administration of Restricted Parking Area.
a) Issuance and Fees.
1. No permit will be issued to any applicant until that applicant has paid all of his or
her outstanding parking citations, including all civil penalties and related fees.
2. An overnight residential parking permit may be issued for a dwelling if the
following requirements are met:
i. The applicant demonstrates that he or she is currently a resident of the
Restricted Parking Area for which the permit is to be issued.
ii. The applicant demonstrates that he or she has ownership or continuing
custody of the motor vehicle for which the permit is to be issued.
iii. Any dwelling to be issued a permit must have a vehicle registration
indicating registration within the area for which the permit is to be
issued.
3. Visitor or guest parking permits may be issued for those individuals or dwellings
that qualify for those permits under the resolution establishing the Restricted
Parking Area.
b) No Guarantee of Availability of Parking. An overnight residential parking permit shall not
guarantee or reserve to the permit holder an on-street parking space within the
designated residential preferential parking zone.
c) Restrictions and Conditions. Each permit issued pursuant to this Section shall be subject
to each and every condition and restriction set forth in this Chapter and as provided for
in the resolution establishing the specific restricted parking area, as may be amended
from time to time. The issuance of such permit shall not be construed to waive
compliance with any other applicable parking law, regulation or ordinance.
NOT YET APPROVED
151112 cs 0131493 6 November 12, 2015
d) Exemptions. The following vehicles are exempt from the Crescent Park Overnight
Parking restrictions in this Chapter:
1. A vehicle owned or operated by a public or private utility, when used in the
course of business.
2. A vehicle owned or operated by a governmental agency, when used in the
course of official government business.
3. A vehicle for which an authorized emergency vehicle permit has been issued by
the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, when used in the course of
business.
4. A vehicle parked or standing while actively delivering materials or freight.
5. A vehicle displaying an authorized exemption permit issued by the City of Palo
Alto.
6. A vehicle displaying a State of California or military-issued disabled person
placard or license plates.
7. A vehicle parked for the purpose of attending or participating in an event taking
place at a school within the Palo Alto Unified School District or another event
venue within the Restricted Parking Area, provided that the vehicle is parked
within two blocks of the venue, the venue has requested and received approval
from the city at least fourteen days before the event date, and the venue
distributes notices to all addresses within a two-block radius of the venue. The
Restricted Parking Area resolution shall specify the covered venues and number
of permitted events per year.
8. All vehicles are exempt from parking restrictions pursuant to this Chapter on the
following holidays: January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, and December 25.
e) Authority of Staff.
1. The director is authorized to adopt administrative regulations that are consistent
with the purposes of this Chapter.
2. The director has the discretion to grant the issuance of any additional permits to
a dwelling for which the maximum residential parking permits has previously
been issued. Any permit approved by the director that is in addition to the two
overnight residential parking permits issued pursuant to this Chapter may be
subject to additional fees and limitations as designated by the director.
NOT YET APPROVED
151112 cs 0131493 7 November 12, 2015
3. The police department or private parking enforcement contractor as approved
by the chief of police shall have the authority to enforce the administrative
regulations established pursuant to this Chapter.
10.51.070 Violations and Penalties.
a) It is unlawful and shall constitute a violation of this Chapter for any person to stand or
park a motor vehicle, without a current overnight residential parking permit properly
displayed, at a curb within a Restricted Parking Area during the time limitations
established for such area.
b) The following shall be unlawful:
1. For any person to falsely represent himself or herself as eligible for an overnight
residential parking permit or to furnish false information in an application
therefore;
2. For any person to copy, reproduce or otherwise bring into existence a facsimile
or counterfeit parking permit or permits without written authorization from
Revenue Collections;
3. For any person to knowingly use or display a facsimile or counterfeit parking
permit in order to evade time limitations on parking applicable in a restricted
parking area;
4. For any person holding a valid parking permit issued pursuant hereto to sell, give
or exchange said permit to any other person;
5. For any person to knowingly commit any act which is prohibited by the terms of
this Chapter or any ordinance enacted by authority granted by this Chapter.
SECTION 2. Severability. If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this
ordinance, or the application to any person or circumstances, shall be held invalid, such
invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this ordinance which can be given effect
without the invalid provision or application and, to this end, the provisions of this ordinance are
hereby declared to be severable.
SECTION 3. CEQA. The City Council finds that this ordinance does not meet the
definition of a project under Section 21065 of the California Environmental Quality Act and,
therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary.
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NOT YET APPROVED
151112 cs 0131493 8 November 12, 2015
SECTION 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first date after
the date of its adoption.
INTRODUCED
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
______________________________ ____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ____________________________
City Manager
______________________________
Senior Assistant City Attorney ____________________________
Director of Planning and
Community Environment