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Home My WebLink About2000-11-13 City CouncilCity of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT DATE: SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 13, 2000 CMR:374:00 RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING PARKING SPACES FOR USE BY ELECTRIC VEHICLES ONLY AT CITY PARI"d~qG FACILITIES AND AUTHORIZING TOWING OF ALL OTHER VEHICLES FROM SUCH SPACES RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council approve the attached resolution (Attachment A) establishing parking spaces for use by electric vehicles, only while charging, at City parking facilities and authorizing towing of all other vehicles from such spaces. BACKGROUND Mobile sources, such as automobiles, account for well over half of the emissions that contribute to ozone and particulate matter air pollution in California. California is required by the federal government to reduce air pollutants or face federal sanctions Zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) and near-zero emission vehicles are a key element of California’s plan for attaining health-based air quality standards. The California Air Resource Board first adopted the Zero Emission Vehicles mandate in 1990. The goal of this mandate is to set specific requirements for the marketing of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs). The mandate was modified in 1996 and again in 1998 to provide additional flexibility to automobile manufacturers and accommodate the growing number of zero and near-zero emission technologies. On September 8, 2000, the California Air Resource Board reaffLrmed its mandate requiring automakers to market ZEVs in the state starting in 2003. Battery powered electric vehicles (Evs) like GM’s EV1 are now available for lease and sale in California. These Evs require an external power source to charge the battery. Vehicles with advanced batteries are now being demonstrated in California as a result of agreements signed between the California Air Resource Board and large automakers like CMR:374:00 Page 1 of 3 Toyota, Honda, Ford, Daimler-Chrysler, and Nissan. Fuel cell electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles are being developed by many automakers and also have great potential to provide zero or near zero emission travel. DISCUSSION In June of this year, staff installed a reserved parking space for electric vehicles (EVs) on Level A of the Civic Center parking garage. All non-EV vehicles have been towed under Vehicle Code Section 22651(n) and Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 10.44.010, which allows towing of vehicles for up to four months, with proper installation of parking signs. The purpose of the attached resolution is to establish a specific policy to implement reserved parking spaces for electric vehicles in City parking facilities and formally authorize towing of other vehicles from these spaces. Hybrid vehicles currently on the market operate on both fuel cells and regular gas, are self-charging, and do not require an external electric source for charging. The resolution allows parking in the reserved electric vehicle space only when a vehicle is charging. This resolution is consistent with existing City policy and with the City’s use of clean- fueled vehicles in its own fleet. The Transportation Division, which is charged with managing the City’s public parking supply, supports this policy as an appropriate component of a sustainable transportation system for Palo Ako. By adopting this resolution, the City will demonstrate its commitment to promoting electric vehicles in order to reduce emissions and promote health-based air quality standards in the City. Consequently, staff believes the proposed resolution, including the towing of vehicles illegally parked in spaces in City parking facilities that have been designated for electric vehicles, serves the public good. ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION If this resolution is not adopted, the City will not be able to tow non-electric vehicles at an)~ reserved electric vehicle parking space beyond the four-month duration allowed in Municipal Code Section 10.44.010. RESOURCE IMPACT Staff time will be required to police and facilitate the towing of vehicles found to be in violation. Existing staff will be used to perform these functions. No additional staffing needs are anticipated. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The proposed resolution supports Comprehensive Plan Policy T-56, which calls for the City to: "Implement, as appropriate, the local action list of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. CMR:374:00 Page 2 of 3 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The proposed resolution is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act section 15301. Therefore, no environmental assessment is required. ATTACHMENTS A. Resolution Establishing Parking Spaces for Electric Vehicles PREPARED BY: Christopher Thnay, P.E., Acting City Traffic Engineer DEPARTMENT HEAD: G. Director of Planning and Community Environment CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Assistant to the City Manager CMR:374:00 Page 3 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO ESTABLISHING.PARKING SPACES FOR THE USE BY ELECTRIC VEHICLES ONLY AT CITY PARKING FACILITIES AND AUTHORIZING TOWING OF ALL OTHER VEHICLES EROM SUCH SPACES WHEREAS, pursuant to Vehicle Code section 22651(n) and Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 10.44.010, the City Council may, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit parking in designated areas and authorize removal of vehicles parked in violation of such prohibition; and WHEREAS, the City has provided facilities for the recharging of electric vehicles in certain City parking facilities and intends to provide additional facilities in the future; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to reserve the spaces equipped for recharging of electric vehicles for the exclusive use of electric vehicles in order to support the development and usage of such vehicles; and, WHEREAS, the City intends to authorize electric vehicles to exclusively occupy such spaces while the vehicles are in the process of recharging from the City-supplied electric power r@charging devices, and to authorize the towing of other vehicles parked in such spaces;.. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City ofPalo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION I. Parking spaces located in City public parking facilities that are equipped with recharging devices for electric vehicles are hereby designated as ~electric vehicle recharging spacesH and their use limited to electric vehicles while engaged in the process of recharging. SECTION 2. For purposes of this resolution, "electric vehicle" means a vehicle as defined in California Vehicle Code section 670 which is propelled partially or exclusively by electric batteries. 001031 cl 0044078 1 SECTION 3. It shall be a parking violation for the operator of any motor vehicle other than an electric vehicle to park in an electric vehicle recharging space. It shall also be a parking violation for the operator of any electric vehicle to park in an electric vehicle recharging space unless the electric vehicle is in the process of recharging. The towing of vehicles parked in violation of this resolution is authorized when a sign giving notice of the authorization for removal has been posted. SECTION 4. The Council finds that this project constitutes a minor alteration to existing facilities and as such is categorically exempt from environmental review under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (’~CEQA"). INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST:APPROVED: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Senior Asst. City Attorney Mayor City Manager Director of Planning & Community Environment Director of Administrative Services 001031 cl 0044078 2