HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/04/1996, 2 - PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE��u�i�►�I►I�VIIfII�IIp ����N city of San Luis OBIspo
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
FROM: Michael McCluskey, Public Works Director I? " L
Prepared by: Keith Opalewski, Parking Manager' 7r
SUBJECT: Parking Management Plan Update
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution approving the revised Parking Management Plan.
DISCUSSION:
In 1987 the City Council adopted a formal Parking Management Plan to serve as a working
guide for managing the City's parking resources. This comprehensive plan focused on the
management of vehicle parking in the community's commercial core. In 1990 the Parking
Management Plan was updated to keep it current with the changing needs of the downtown
parking area. The highlights of the action plans which have been implemented since that last
update are attached (Exhibit B). As a result of the ongoing changes in the downtown core, the
Parking Management Plan is again being revised to keep it up -to -date with the goals and
planning strategies of the Circulation Element and Downtown Concept Plan.
Staff spent considerable time reviewing and updating the plan, which included several months
of dialogue and review by the BIA Parking Committee. There also was a special study session
with the Council and BIA Board of Directors regarding the expeditious expansion of the City's
parking inventory through expansion of the Marsh Street Structure and the purchase of land for
a possible third parking structure. The Council action also authorized a parking study to
determine if increased use of alternative transportation could reduce the need for additional
parking structures. The highlights of the recommended changes for the revised plan are as
follows:
■ Support the goals and strategies presented in the Downtown Concept Plan and
Circulation Element pertaining to parking structure expansion and surface parking lot
development, traffic congestion levels (trip reduction program) and increased use of
alternate modes of transportation (bus, bike, carpool, park- and -ride, etc.)
■ Review parking fees and fines, consider new time limits in parking garages, in -lieu fee
rates, and evaluate the status of maintaining parking meters.
■ Expand the City's second parking structure (Marsh Street Parking Garage) and purchase
the Wells Fargo surface parking lot and conduct a study of alternative modes of
transportation to help determine the need for additional parking structures.
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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Council Agenda Report
Page Two
As with the previous plan, the revised Parking Management Plan will continue to be used as the
primary tool to govern where, when, and for how long people can park in and around the
downtown in order to maintain effective parking management.
CONCURRENCES:
The Community Development Department has completed an initial study and environmental
analysis and has determined that the adoption of the plan will not result in any significant
environmental impacts. Staff is recommending that Council adopt a Negative Declaration as part
of the resolution adopting the plan. The BIA Parking Committee and Board have approved the
plan with the exception of the issue of the parking fund being reimbursed for the loss of on-
street and off - street parking spaces. Staff has recommended this item be deleted from the update
because the streets are a public right -of -way and public projects such as bike lanes, bus stops,
crosswalks, etc. benefit the public and should not be considered for compensation of lost public
parking spaces. The same would be true for the loss of street spaces due to the installation of
loading zones, red curbs and drive cuts along public streets. These same concerns would apply
to the loss of off -street public parking spaces which may be lost due to a change that would
benefit the public and /or the business community. The other unresolved issue is who should pay
(merchants, developers, property owners, general fund, other) for the loss of these spaces if such
a program were to be developed? Since multiple parties would benefit from the changes,
determining an equitable system for financial responsibility could be very difficult to resolve and
extremely cumbersome to administer.
Therefore, given the problems that would need to be resolved before such a program could be
created, staff is recommending that we do not consider this option at this particular time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Parking Management Plan is the guide to when parking fees and fines should be reviewed
for increases and/or adjustments. It also sets policy for how parking monies should be spent to
provide for future expansion. The fiscal solvency of the parking program is contingent upon an
effective parking management program which keeps current with revenue sources that will fulfill
the program's financial obligations. An ongoing assessment of the parking fund will be needed
to maintain a positive cash flow.
Exhibits: A. Proposed resolution for adopting plan
B. Update of 1990 Parking Management Plan action plans
C. Legislative draft of revised Parking Management Plan
APPENDIX A -3
RESOLUTION NO (1995 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
APPROVING REVISIONS TO THE PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN AND
RESCINDING RESOLUTION 6834
WHEREAS, the City adopted its first Parking Management Plan in 1987 and revised the plan
in 1990; and
WHEREAS, the City adopted a new General Plan Circulation Element in November, 1994
(Resolution 8376) that establishes an overall transportation services strategy for San Luis Obispo and
includes policies and programs that direct the provision and use of vehicle parking; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes its responsibility to effectively manage parking throughout the
community to help maintain the quality of life in residential areas and the economic and cultural vitality
of the commercial core; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Director has reviewed the revised Parldng
Management Plan, has determined that its implementation will not have a significant adverse impact on
the environment, and has prepared a Negative Declaration consistent with the provisions of the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed and considered the environmental determination
made by the Community Development Director, and has determined that it is prudent to revise the
Parldng Management Plan to achieve consistency with the Circulation Element and to refine parking
management policies and programs.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as
follows:
1. Council fords no significant environmental impact. The findings of the environmental
review of the revised Parking Management Plan will not result in any significant
environmental impact and the Council hereby adopts the Negative Declaration prepared
for the revised Plan.
2. The revised Parking Management Plan is hereby adopted.
3. Copies of the revised Parking Management Plan will be distributed to City departments
and made available to the public at the Public Works Dept. and City Clerk's offices.
On motion of , seconded by
on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
A -3 -1
and
Exhibit A �2_3
1990 PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN RESULTS
Since the Parking Management Plan was revised in 1990, many of the action items stipulated
in the plan have been completed. Although some issues will be ongoing and continue into the
1995 plan, the following action items have been accomplished in the past five years:
1. Employee Parking
a. improved transit operations (additional routes and buses and reduced headways)
b. new bike lanes and expanded bike racks within downtown core
c. expanded long -term meters (10 -hour) on 600 Pacific and 700 Osos Streets
2. Enforcement
a. converted to computerized ticket writers for improved management and identification
and reduction of habitual violators
3. Existing Parking Utilization
a. established 10 -hour meter permits for increased usage of long -term meters
b. offered 90 minutes free in parking garages
4. Financing
a. increased parking meters by 10 cents per hour
b. increased parking citations for expired meters to $8.00
c. increased parking garages rates
d. deposit 100% of parking citation revenue into Parking Fund
e. refinanced construction bonds for increased cash flow
5. Parking Structures
a. began operations at the Marsh Street Structure
b. acquired land for future parking structure sites
6. Residential Parking Districts
a. revised ordinance for establishment, administration and requirements of residential
parking permit districts
b. established residential parking permit district on 100 South Tassajara Street
Exhibit B �_S�
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city of san tins owpo
PARKING
MANAGEMENT
PLAN
Revised December, 1995
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PARKING
MANAGEMENT
PLAN
Revised December, 1995
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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, PARKING SECTION
1260 Chorro Street, Suite B, San Luis Obispo, California 93401
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MY of san tins owpo
TwEdME MMZE(Bmam� RM
SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY COUNCIL
Allen K. Settle, Mayor
Kathy Smith
Dodie Williams
Dave Romero
Bill Roalman
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Mike McCluskey, Director
Wayne Peterson, City Engineer
Keith Opalewski, Parking Manager
Terry Sanville, Principal Transportation Planner
CITY ADMINISTRATION
John Dunn, City Administrative Officer
Ken Hampian, Assistant City Administrative Officer
:2-7
CITY TRANSPORTATION PLANS
The City of San Luis Obispo adopts and maintains plans that help direct the implementation of the
General Plan Circulation Element. These plans include:
Title of Document
Status
Parking Management Plan
Revised December, 1995
Bicycle Transportation Plan
Adopted October, 1993
Short Range Transit Plan
Adopted September, 1991
Pavement Management Plan
Adopted February, 1988
Pedestrian Transportation Plan
Under Development
For more information about City transportation plans, projects and programs, contact the San Luis
Obispo Public Works Department, Engineering and Transportation Division at (805) 781 -7210.
'2- F
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic Page
Introduction....................... ..............................1
Relationship to Other Plans and Policies .... ............................... 1
Scope of Plan 2
Parking Management Goals ............ ............................... 2
Definitions....................... ..............................2
General Use of Parking .............. ............................... 3
Employee Use of Parking ............. ............................... 4
Juror Use of Parking ................ ............................... 6
Expansion of Parking 6
Enforcement...................... ..............................6
Financing of Commercial Core Parking ..... ............................... 7
Residential Parking ................. ............................... 8
Program Administration and Promotion ..... ............................... 8
APPENDIX
A.1 Map of Downtown Parking and Business Improvement Area Showing Existing Parldng
A.2 Map of Existing Residential Parldng Districts
A.3 City Council Resolution # (1995 Series) revising this plan
,;2.,9
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Between 1977 and 1987, a number of studies were conducted to assess the vehicle parking situation in
downtown San Luis Obispo. As a result of this work, the City built two parking structures that house
699 vehicles. The first parking structure located at the comer of Palm and Morro Streets was
completed in 1988. The second garage at the corner of Chorro and Marsh Streets was completed in
1990. In addition to these two parking structures, the .City manages over 1,600 spaces located in
surface lots and along downtown streets.
Another result of these early parking studies was the City's adoption of its first Parking Management
Plan in 1987. The management plan was updated in 1990 to reflect the completion of some of the
major parking projects and to better define management policies.
This plan has been revised to address a number of events that have occurred since 1990, including the
following:
❑ In February 1993, a group of local architects and designers completed a Conceptual Physical
Plan for the City's Center (commonly known as the Downtown Concept Plan). The City
Council has adopted, in concept, the Plan and feels that it should be considered when making
planning decisions that affect the City's center. The Plan suggests that a number of new parking
structures be built and that the pedestrian character of the commercial core be improved.
❑ In November 1994, the City adopted a new General Plan Circulation Element. The adopted
Circulation Element directs the City to conduct studies of downtown parking needs and to
consider ways of reducing traffic congestion by promoting the use of other types of
transportation. The Circulation Element also directs the reevaluation of the use of curb space
in the commercial core with the aim of creating more short-term parking spaces.
The Downtown Business Improvement Association (BIA) participated in the review and development of
this Parking Management Plan. This plan will be used as a management tool to help direct how vehicle
parking should be provided and used throughout San Luis Obispo.
RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANS AND POLICIES
The City's General Plan Land Use Element establishes the pattern of land uses throughout San Luis
Obispo. The General Plan Circulation Element identifies how transportation services will be provided
to land uses envisioned by the Land Use Element. One of these transportation services is vehicle
parking. This plan provides specific direction for the management of vehicle parking in a way that
supports the Circulation Element's overall transportation strategy. This plan focuses on the management
of vehicle parking in the community's commercial core. Parking of bicycles is addressed by the Bicycle
Transportation Plan (1993) but is a issue that is relevant to the use of City parking structures and
surface lots.
CW2 —/ D
��..� SCOPE OF THIS PLAN
This plan establishes vehicle parldng policies and programs that apply throughout San Luis Obispo.
However, its primary focus is the management of parking in the commercial core. This plan may be
revised from time to time to address parking needs in areas beyond and within the commercial core.
For more information about City parking programs, contact the Parking Section of the Public Works
Department at (805) 781 -7230.
jjR PAREING MANAGEMENT
❑ Support the commercial core as a viable economic and cultural center and preserve its historic
character.
2
DEFINITIONS- continued
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r R GEWILAL USE OF PAREING POLICIES
1.1 The City should maximize the use of all parking structures and surface lots.
1.2
1.3 Curb parking spaces are intended for short-term parking.
People parking for longer periods should use:
■ Monthly permit lots and long -term metered spaces; and
■ Parking structures.
1.4 The City may install parking meters or post parking time limits where at least 75% of a block's
frontage is developed with commercial uses. The City will consider requests by a majority of
residential and commercial property owners along a block to install parking controls.
1.5 Thirty- minute parking spaces shall be placed at the ends of blocks in the commercial core where
short-term parking is needed. The City will consider requests by property owners to locate 30-
minute spaces at other locations.
1.6 Parking for commercial deliveries in the commercial core should be managed so that:
Illegal double parking or excessive circulation by delivery vehicles is discouraged.
■ Oversized vehicles do not attempt deliveries.
ACTIONS
1.7 The City will:
■ Publicize the availability of parking spaces in underused lots and will offer incentives to
increase their use.
■ Take actions that better direct people to parking structures and underused parking lots.
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■ Continue to offer permits for 10 -hour metered parking spaces.
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ong side streets near the
Marsh Street parking structure for overflow Parking, tit;':.`': <> ::',...'< <; >. ' ±�'v;:..:: i;:;:;.,::
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1.8 The City will consider:
■
Allowing the mixture of daily and monthly parking in underused permit lots.
1.9 City staff will periodically evaluate t; d` s W0T%Ma
■ The placement of 30- minute parking meters.
■ The layout of existing parking lots or structures when they are resurfaced or restriped
with the aim of: (a) maximizing their use, (b) improving circulation, and n[`�x.�:F`(�`�'�; "{ "�
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■ The use of curb space in the downtown (including no parking and loading zones) to
identify opportunities for creating more short-term spaces.
■ The optimum mixture of long- and short-term metered spaces and the expansion of
metered curb areas.
1.10
an ordinance that limits times for commercial
EMPLOYEE USE OF PARKING
POLICIES
the
2.1 Employee parking programs will be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Circulation
Element.
2.2 The City and County should develop programs that reduce the number of their employees that
are driving alone to work.
2.3 Commercial core employers should establish programs that encourage employees to:
■ Use parking structures, monthly permit lots, and long -term metered spaces.
4
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■ Use other types of transportation to get to work or to carpool.
ACTIONS
2.4 The City will establish a program in the commercial core that fosters carpooling by employees
and visitors.
2.5 The Business Improvement Association (BIA) and Chamber of Commerce should sponsor on-
going education programs that discourage employees from using curb parking and promote
alternate transportation.
2.6 The City should discourage long -term employee use of curb parking in the commercial core by:
2.7
2.8
2.9
■ Expanding areas with two -hour parking limits when needed to maintain convenient
customer parking opportunities.
■ Monitoring the use of 30- minutes curb spaces;
■ Consider increasing the fines for overtime violations;
■ As requested, consider establishing resident parking districts in areas adjoining the
commercial core and office districts.
2.10 The City will work with Caltrans to consider
of commercial core emplovees. "t ! W
2.11
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lots that serve the commute needs
JUROR USE DF PARKING
POLICIES
3.1 The City will provide free parking for jurors in the Palm Street parking structure or in metered
spaces when the Palm Street parking structure is full or when a juror drives an oversized vehicle
as per the agreement with the County for limited use.
ACTIONS
3.2 City staff will work with the Jury Commissioner to inform prospective jurors of the City's
Parking policies. Staff will monitor the amount of jury parking and inform the Jury
Commissioner if overflow parking becomes a problem.
EXPANSION OF PARKING
POLICIES
4.1 Parking should be provided in the commercial core for shoppers, tourists, employees and patrons
of government and private offices.
4.2 Building parking structures is the best way of providing more parking facilities while minimizing
the use of valuable commercial land. City-owned land earmarked for parking structures may
be used as temporary surface parking lots.
4.3
4.4
POLICIES
5.1 Parking laws will be strictly enforced to:
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■ Discourage overtime parking;
■ Discourage habitual parking violations -- people with six or more violations;
■ Encourage meter payments; and
■ Direct people parking for long periods to use long -term parking spaces.
ACTIONS
5.2 City enforcement officers will strictly enforce all parldng laws, especially overtime violations
and the misuse of loading zones.
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FINANCING OF CONE%=CL4 L CORE PAREING
POLICIES
6.1 The City's Parking Program will be self- supporting. Parking program income will be used to
maintain and expand parking operations and repay bonds that financed the construction of the
parking structures. -
6.2 Commercial core merchants, business owners, and property owners should help finance the
parking program.
ACTIONS
6.3 The City will deposit all revenues from parking fines into the Parking Fund.
6.4 The City will:
■ Review parking meter and citation rates every two years and make adjustments as needed
■ Continue to charge variable rates for different types of parking.
■ Continue to collect in -lieu fees from development projects in the commercial core.
.............
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6.5
■ Consider new fee programs applicable to commercial core merchants, business owners,
and property owners.
POLICIES
7.1
7.2
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7.3 The City will create residential parking districts when needed to manage parking and maintain
the quality of life in residential areas.
7.4 All residential parking districts must comply with provisions of Section 10.36.170 of the San
Luis Obispo Municipal Code.
ACTIONS
7.5 Upon receiving a petition from the majority of residents living within a proposed parking
district, the City Council may create a district consistent with provisions of the municipal code.
(For the location of existing Residential Parking Districts, see Appendix A.2)
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8.2
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8.3
8.4
8.5
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APPENDIX
A.1 Map of Downtown Parking and Business Improvement Area Showing Existing Parking
A.2 Map of Existing Residential Parking Districts
A.3 City Council Resolution (1995 Series) revising this plan
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APPENDIX A-2
MAP OF RESIDENTIAL PARING DISTRICTS (April, 1995)
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i-' EETING , _ AGENDA
LDATE ITEM #
SIERRA CLUB SANTA LUCIA CHAPTER
San Luis Obispo City Council
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, Ca 93403 -8100
4 January, 1996
Dear Mayor Settle and Councilmembers,
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❑ FIRE CHIEF
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❑ POUCE CHF
❑ REC DIR
❑ UTIL DIR
❑ PERS DIR
I am writing to you regarding the Parking Management Plan Update ( Item
2 on the Jan. 4 council meeting agenda).
On November 7th, the City Council and the BIA held a study session to
discuss parking policy in San Luis Obispo. At that meeting,
representatives from "the Alternative Transportation Community" spoke
supporting policies that would reduce demand for parking in the downtown
and in support of the current General Plan policy (12.7 in the Circulation
Element) that requires a "comprehensive parking study" before additional
parking structures are built.
At that time, the council directed staff to work with the BIA to format a
possible study of alternative forms of transportation as it relates to the
parking structures and directed the Alternative Transportation Community
and the BIA to work together on the scope of the study.
Subsequently, Tom Fulks from Regional Rideshare, Randy Lavack from
APCD, Craig Anderson from Judd Associates, Mark Shaefer from Ride On
Transportation, John Ewan from ECOSLO and TMA, Pete Rodgers from
COG, and myself from the Sierra Club met with the BIA Parking Committee
and began discussions about the Parking Study. We had a good meeting,
and while we came to no conclusions, movement was made and it was
agreed that further discussion would take place with the hope of coming
forth with a joint recommendation to the council regarding the study.
Now staff is pushing for the adoption of the Parking Management Plan
prior to the completion of those discussions. It appears that we have been
left out of the process that we were directed to participate in. Why the
;u. hurry?
Another concern is that the deletion of policy 12.7 from the Circulation
Element requires a General Plan amendment. To my knowledge that has
not been done yet and passing the Parking Management Plan Update as it
is now written appears to be in direct conflict with the adopted General
Plan: Is this legal? Shouldn't you amend the GP before you adopt new
To rrpforr. eniov. and protect the nation's. scenic rrrourrry .
policies that conflict with current policies? It is entirely possible, that in the
course of the required public process to amend the General Plan, you could
hear testimony from the public that would cause you to change direction
on this issue..
Last point. The Negative Declaration seems overly optimistic. Obviously,
if you are going,to pursue policies that increase capacity for automobiles
in the downtown, there will be increases in traffic. This is in direct conflict
with the goals; set forth in the Circulation Element and is most certainly an
unavoidable negative impact. Let's be honest.
What the Sierra Club recommends is to:
• Delay adoption of the Parking Management Plain Update until the
Alternative Transportation Community and the BIA have he-.d an
opportunity to complete their discussions.
• Amend the General Plan rp for to adoption of policies that are in
conflict with it.
• Make the finding under CEQA that there are unavoidable negative
impacts and identify appropriate mitigation measures.
• If you absolutely must adopt this plan tonight, at least require that
the Parking Study be started immediately, concurrently with the
expansion of the Marsh Street Parking Structure, and that it be
completed as soon as possible.
Thank you, /�
V
at Veesart
Chairman, Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club