HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 13633City of Palo Alto (ID # 13633)
City Council Staff Report
Meeting Date: 12/6/2021
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Title: Discuss and Provide Direction to Staff on Development of New Parking
Facilities in the University Avenue Downtown Including Consideration of: (a)
Resuming Work on the Garage Project at 375 Hamilton Avenue; or (b) Issuing
a Request for Information (RFI) from Private Partners Regarding
Development of Parking Using Parking In-Lieu Fees, Potentially in
Conjunction with Housing or Other Uses, on Private or City-Owned
Properties
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Administrative Services
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council discuss and provide direction on next steps regarding
development of new parking facilities in the University Avenue area, including potential
direction to:
a)Direct staff to resume the Downtown Parking Garage Project at 375 Hamilton Avenue (Lot
D)including, but not limited to, identifying a timeline and additional funding sources or
determining if modifications to the proposed design are appropriate; or,
b)Initiate a Request for Information (RFI) to examine feasibility of partnering with a private
entity (for-profit or non-profit) on development of new parking using Downtown In-Lieu
Parking Fees, potentially in conjunction with housing or other uses. At Council’s
discretion, this could, include the use of the City’s surface lots or privately-held parcels.
Executive Summary
Under certain circumstances, the City allows Downtown property owners who are redeveloping
their property to satisfy all or part of parking requirement by paying Parking In-Lieu fees to the
City. The City uses these fees to construct new parking facilities. The City developed a plan to
use accumulated Parking In-Lieu funds to construct a parking structure on Lot D at 375
Hamilton Avenue. In 2019, the City Council approved the garage design and certified the
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) but did not immediately proceed with construction. Council
directed staff to return with a range of options to address Downtown parking needs. Staff is
returning to Council seeking direction on the use of the In-Lieu parking fees which would likely
be some variation of: a) initiating a request for information from potential partners for the
development of new parking in conjunction with other needed uses, such as housing, or b)
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