HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-03-2019 Item 13 - 2nd Reading Muni Code Amendment - Loading Zone marking and times
Department Name: Public Works
Cost Center: 5101
For Agenda of: September 3, 2019
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Daryl Grigsby, Public Works Director
Prepared By: Timothy Scott Bochum, Deputy Director of Public Works/Parking Manager
SUBJECT: SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1666 (2019 SERIES) RELATED
TO ESTABLISHING LOADING ZONES THROUGH MARKINGS AND
SIGNAGE AND ESTABLISHING TIME LIMITS BY RESOLUTION.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Ordinance No. 1666 (2019 Series) entitled, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the
City of San Luis Obispo, California, amending Municipal Code, Title 10 Vehicles and Traffic
Regulations”
DISCUSSION
Background
On August 20, 2019, the City Council voted 5-0 to introduce Ordinance No. 1666 (2019 Series),
approving amendments to Title 10 Vehicles and Traffic Regulations of the Municipal Code to
include the following:
Section 10.44.010 Loading Zones – Marking – Authority
• Added provision that passenger loading zones could be established using signs, or
combination of signs and white paint upon the curb.
Section 10.44.040 Passenger Zones – Time restrictions for loading and unloading.
• Changed title of Section to “Passenger Zones”
• Added provision that passenger loading zone hours can be established by Council
resolution
Policy Context
Title 10 of the Municipal code establishes regulations for vehicles and traffic. Section 10.14.010
establishes the authority of the Director of Public Works to place and maintain traffic control
devices and more specifically where to mark loading zones. This section also states that
passenger loading zones “shall” be established as “indicated by white paint”.
Because of the special nature of the proposed pilot late-night passenger loading program, the use
of white paint on curbs to designate the parking restrictions would be confusing to motorists and
the public. Much of this curb space is used for general parking during the day and white paint
would be confusing pursuant to existing code regulations.
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Item 13
This ordinance amendment establishes that passenger loading zones can be designated by white
paint, the installation of traffic control signs that indicate the hours of operation for the zone or a
combination of both.
Additionally, the ordinance amends Section 10.44.040 to revise the title of “White” zones to
“Passenger” zones to reflect the change in Section 10.14.010 above and clarify that hours of
operation can be set by Council resolution.
Public Engagement
All public engagement has been done in accordance with the City’s Public Engagement and
Noticing Manual. Staff has worked with Downtown SLO and other interested individuals in
evaluating this amendment and the Downtown SLO Board voted to support the amendment at
their August meeting.
CONCURRENCE
The Police Department has reviewed and supports this recommendation.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The recommended action is considered a “project” under the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) Guidelines; however, it is exempt from review per the general rule exemption sec.
15061(B)(3).
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: On-Going
Funding Identified: N/A
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing Cost
General Fund N/A
Parking Fund N/A None. N/A
Total
There are no direct costs associated with adoption of this ordinance. Costs associated with the
use of traffic control devices allowed under these amendments will be funded by appropriate
funding sources depending on the type of project being completed. In general, most costs will be
funded by the Parking Fund as individual passenger zones are enacted, and signs or markings are
installed as part of a budgeted project.
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Item 13
ALTERNATIVES
Do Not adopt Ordinance at this time. Staff does not recommend this as an alternative because
the existing language of the Municipal Code regarding the way’s passenger loading zones can be
established (white paint only) is limiting and there are circumstances where traffic control signs
are preferable to curb painting.
Attachments:
a - Ordinance No. 1666 (2019 Series)
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Item 13
O 1666
ORDINANCE NO. 1666 (2019 SERIES)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 10
REGARDING VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the need to accommodate ride share vehicles and taxicabs
in the downtown area by allowing passenger vehicles the ability to load and unload passengers in
loading zones without being subject to citation; and
WHEREAS, passenger loading and unloading in the downtown can be problematic and
potentially hazardous for drivers and passengers during the late-night period when there is little
turnover of curb spaces for loading purposes and no designated passenger unloading zones; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the need to discourage passenger loading and unloading
in vehicular travel lanes and that loading from adjacent curbs is preferable; and
WHEREAS, Title 10 of the Municipal Code already establishes the authority of the Public
Works Director to establish passenger loading zones in the central traffic district by place and time
however those passenger zones are to be indicated by white paint; and
WHEREAS, late night passenger loading activities need to have specific areas designated
for the loading and unloading of passengers, particularly those using ride share vehicles or taxicabs
and that a blanket white curb installation would be confusing to motorists and the public; and
WHEREAS, the use of signs to denote the limits and time restrictions for passenger
loading zones may be preferable to white paint in certain circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the California Vehicle Code and State Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices allow for loading zones to be established by signage, painting or a combination of both.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 10.44.010 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, entitled Loading
Zones – Marking – Authority, is hereby amended to read as follows:
10.44.010 Loading Zones – Marking – Authority.
A. The public works director or their designee(s) is authorized to determine and to mark loading
zones and passenger loading zones as follows:
1. At any place in the central traffic district or any business district;
2. Elsewhere in front of the entrance to any place of business or in front of any hall or place
used for the purpose of public assembly.
B. Loading zones shall be indicated by yellow paint upon the top and side of all curbs in the
zones.
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Item 13
Ordinance No. 1666 (2019 Series) Page 2
O 1666
C. Passenger loading zones shall be:
1. Indicated by white paint upon the top and side of all curbs in the zones.; or
2. Traffic control signs indicating Hours of operation and use times as set by resolution or
ordinance of the Council; or,
3. A combination of the above.
SECTION 2. Section 10.44.040 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, entitled White
Zones – Time restrictions for loading and unloading, is hereby amended to read as follows:
10.44.040 Passenger Zones – Time restrictions for loading and unloading.
A. No person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle in any passenger loading zone for any purpose
other than the loading or unloading of passengers for such time as is specified in this section or by
resolution of the Council.
B. Permission herein granted to stop or park for purposes of loading or unloading passengers
shall include the loading or unloading of personal baggage and shall not extend beyond the time
necessary therefor and in no event for more than ten minutes and during such time the vehicle may
be left unoccupied to accommodate the use.
SECTION 3. If any subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance
is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforcement of the remaining portions
of this ordinance, or any other provisions of the City’s rules and regulations. It is the City’s express
intent that each remaining portion would have been adopted irrespective of the fact that any one
or more subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared invalid or
unenforceable.
SECTION 4. A summary of this ordinance, together with the names of Council members
voting for and against, shall be published at least five (5) days prior to its final passage, in The
New Times, a newspaper published and circulated in this City. This ordinance shall go into effect
at the expiration of thirty (30) days after its final passage.
INTRODUCED on the 20th day of August 2019, AND FINALLY ADOPTED by the
Council of the City of San Luis Obispo on the 3rd day of September 2019, on the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
____________________________________
Mayor Heidi Harmon
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Item 13
Ordinance No. 1666 (2019 Series) Page 3
O 1666
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, this ______ day of ______________, _________.
______________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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Item 13
RECEIVED
SIFP 0 3 2019
SLO CITY CLERK
1010 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 546-8208 • FAX (805) 546-8641
PROOF OF PUBLICATION
(2015.5 C.C.P.)
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
County of San Luis Obispo,
I am a citizen of the United States and a
resident of the county aforesaid; I am over the
age of eighteen years, and not a party interested
in the above entitled matter. I am the principal
clerk of the printer of the New Times, a
newspaper of general circulation, printed and
published weekly in the City of San Luis
Obispo, County of San Luis Obispo, and which
has been adjudged a newspaper of general
circulation by the Superior Court of the County
of San Luis Obispo, State of California, under
the date of February 5, 1993, Case mmriber
CV72789: that notice of which the annexed
is a printed copy (set in type not smaller than
nonpareil), has been published in each regular
and entire issue of sanewspaper and not in
any supplement the ev on the following dates,
to -wit:
in the year 2019.
1 certify (or declare) under the the penalty of
perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Dated at San Luis Obis C o. aiifor ie., this
day'. of '11 _2019.
V
— ?uhi��c Patricia Horton, New Times Legals
Admin K. Pc L,n L+•NTI iG A&,4,NTMG ORicdBUS IN ES,S,T,Ilic Nodccs/Pn &of Pub
Proof of Publication of
ORDINANCE NO. 1666
(2019 SERIES)
AN ORDINANCE OFTHE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING MUNICIPAL CODETITLE 10
REGARDING VEHICLES ANDTRAFFIC
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, at its Regular Meeting of
August 20, 2019, introduced the above titled ordinance
upon a motion by Council Member Christianson, second
by Council Member Stewart, and on the following roll call
vote:
AYES: Council Member Christianson, Gomez, Stewart, Vice
Mayor Pease, and Mayor Harmon
NOES: None
Ordinance No. 1666 (20 19 Series) —This is a City Ordinonco
concerning vehicular and pedestrian safety hazards
associated with vehicles stopping in travel lanes to
pick-up and drop-off passengers; particularly in the late
evening. To address the safety issue, the City Ordinance
adds a provision that passenger loading zones could be
established using signs, or combination of signs and white
paint upon the curb; and adds a provision that passenger
loading zone hours. can be established by Council
Resolution. The Council Resolution will establish a pilot
program to implement a 12 -month passenger loading
and unloading zone between 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. in
Downtown San Luis Obispo on Higuera Street, both sides,
between the blocks of Garden and Broad Streets, and on
Chorro Street in the existing commercial zone in front of
Luna Red.
Afull and complete copy ofthe aforementioned Ordinance
is avallablefor inspection and cepyln the City Clerk's Office,
located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, or
you may all ;805)781-7100 for more information.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the City Council
of the City of San Luis Obispo will consider adopting the
aforementioned Ordinance. at its Regular Meet