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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0432.095r I --~ . 't ,":. It" f .. : . ".-- " -.:'- City of Palo Alto City Manager's Report ---------------- TO: HONORABLE CI1Y COUNCIL FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMEl'IIT: PLANNING DATE: October s., 1995 CMR:432:9S SUBJECT: Valel Parking in Downtown Palo Allo REQUEST The purpose of this report is 10 inform the CootK:il of measures that staff has taken 10 permit businesses in the doY.lltov.n area to utilize public property in the provision of valet parking services. RECOMMENDATIONS No Cooncil action is required at this time. fOUCY IMPLICATIONS Valet paddng raises a basic policy issue cooceruing the private business use of on-street public parldng spaces and off-street public parking facilities. Staff believes that the CODCejt of removing a number of vehicles, that would otherwise be competing for heavily nsed public spaces, is a significant benefit to merchants, employers a.'1<i c~s1omers in the downtown area, and is worthy of allowing exclusive use of a limited number of on-street spaces, and possible use of under utilized public parking facilities. In the case of Stars Re,;taurant. at lunch time when all on-street and off-street public parldng is nonnally fully utilized, they are remo''''g SO 10 60 vehicles (){ more from the competition ~ public spaces by paOOng them 00 a private Io! outside the core downtown business area A simIlar benefit exists in the evening, by using underutilized pOOLic parlcing Io!s {Lot K in lhis case) and not competing {Of public on-street and off-street spaces that are nonnally more fully u!Jilzed. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The issue of valet parking surfaced recently with the opening of Stars Restaurant on Lytton Avenue. While valet parlcing bas been prO\'ided IOc some time by some do"ntown businesses (e.g. ~1!acMhUf PaIl< ReslaUflll'l and the Gorden Court Hotel), it geuerally has been dooe in a manner whereby the vehicle drop-off/pick-up area and the vehicle parlcing CMR..:02:9S ~-, . . . "-~ : . , , .,.-. o area have been on private property. In conjullction with the opening of Stars, the owners instituted valet pahlng with the vehicle dfop-ofill'ick-ul' area on a publi<: street, and the po5SIblc use of public paricing facilities fOr the vehicle parking area, Associaled with the use of the public street and parking lots, cODCerns arose about safety. fairness, and legality. o.""the past months, Poli<:e Department and Transportation Division staff have been in dialogue with rq>resentalives of Star; Restaurant, regarcfll1g the dual objectives of making the valee ope<ation safe and legal. During that time, several changes and adjustments have been made in the operation of the valet service. 10 address initial safety coocerns. In addition, representatives of Stars applied for, and have been issued. an Encroachment Permit by the City. whereby, subject 10 specified cooditions, they have approval to use the public street and public parldng lots for the provision of vale! parking. In all of these discussions.. staff has taken fue position tbat any arrangement must be safe, fair, reasooabie, and equally applicable to other businesses who may choose to offer a sinnlar senice in fue future (10 date, there has been one other inquiry). Specifu:ally, the tenDs and conditions of the Encroachment Permit that bas been issued for valet parking, inclu&: the fonowing: • Permittee has exclusive use of four on-street parking spaces along LytIoII M..".,., directly in frO!!! of Stars, between 9,00 •. m. and midnight, seven days a week. The City will post signs to this effecl • Permittee agrees 00110 park vehicles on any publi<: street 0( alley. at any time during the day 0( evening (except for the approved four spaces), within fue surrounding commercial 0( residential areas. • Permittee pays the fonowing costs: an existing fee d $:>0.00 pet weel< f.lr each oftbe four on-slreet parking spaces (~.24() [0( one year); the cosllo the City for installing two signs ($300); and the Encroachmenl Permit appli<:ation ree ($400). • Permittee agrees 10 park vehicles in a private parking facility during the da)time and evening hours, Evidence of a.~ .greement. assuring that parking on private property is, and will remain. aVll1lable fO( valet parking. is required to be provided 10 fue City. • The City, subject 10 availability, will allow selective public parking lots that are ClHTent/y uOOerutilized, 10 be Iised for valel parking in the evenings. CMlt:432:9S Page 1 of 4 - ! .~ .. • Permittee agrees not 10 pari< vehicles in any off-street public parking lots during the daytime and to use ooIy public parking lots designated try the City in the evening. • Permittee agrees 10 use a specified roule foe Ira vel between vehicle drop­ off/pick-up area and vehicle parking areas, and to obey all traffic rules and reguJatiC'lls in transit. • Permittee agrees 10 provide adequate staffing 10 avoid the queuing of cars in the travel lanes. No double parking 0( blockage of bicycle 0( travel lanes will be allowed. Stalfbelie_ that these conditions provide a rease",.ble basis r", allowing valet parking lOr the lime being, and is prepared 10 "'<Xl< with other businesses that may be interested in providing the same service, but canIlot 00 it all within private property_ Some c:ities, most IIOIably BeverlY Hills, Califurnia, have extensive amounts of valet parking. and have established city ordinances to regulate it. While a valet parking ordinance may be warranted in the future, staff decided not to pursue that direction at this lime. but raIher 10 use an existing mecllanism (Encroachment Permit) 10 address the issue of valet paricing lOr the i>Ilowing reasoos: (I) development and approval of an ordinance would probably take much looger, (2) gainfug some actual e)(perieoce with valet parking would be helpful. prior to the development of an o.-dinaoce; (3) it is not c:ertain whether the issue of wIet parlOng WIll continue, disappear, or expand; and (4) the Encroachmenf Permit provided a reasooable mechanism. DepeMing upon the experience with Stars' valet operation. and others that may materialize in the corning year, staff will evaluate the need to alter the provisions of the ell<:Coachment permit, develop an ordinaoce. or establish soIIle o!her mecbanism to address valet parking. FISCAL IMPACT The C.i!y will receive an existing fee of $30.00 per parking Sp:>c<: per week for eadl of the on-street parking spaces that are approved f<>r use of valet pan.ing. . , -i~ _ . --~ ___ 'I. ENYIROl'liMENTAL ASSL~'ENT The purpose of this project is to lessen envifl'llInental imjlacl!! relative to traffic. It is categorically exempt pursuant to section 1530 1 of the CEQA guidelines whicb includ..-s the operation of existing public facilities involving negligible oc no expansion beyond existing use. PreparN By: Marvin L. Overway. CbiefTransportation Official Department Head Review: Ci!y Manager Approval: U: Premiet Properties Ouunbec of Commerce KENNETIl R. SCHREIBER DirectOf of Planning and Cooununil)' Environment City anager :;'.'