SR-06-09-2009-11A~®
~;tYaf City. Council Report
Santa Dionica
City Council Meeting: June 9, 2009
Agenda Item: 1, -° ~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Eileen Fogarty, Director, Planning and Community Development
Subject: Amendment of Preferential Parking Zone G
Recommended Action
Per City Council's direction, staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Expand Zone G to include Alta Avenue between 9th and 17th Streets. The
restrictions will be: "No vehicle shall be parked adjacent to any curb in Preferential
Parking Zone G for more than two hours between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00
p.m. Monday through Saturday, except by permit." Signs will only be posted oh the
south side of Alta Avenue. There will be no preferential parking regulations posted
on the north side of any block in this zone.
2. Approve the attached Resolutio,~ amending Preferential Parking Zone G and
amending Resolution 9344 CCS (Resolution of the City Council of the City, of Santa
Monica Re-Establishing Various Preferential Parking Zones) by replacing Exhibit A.
Executive Summary
Alta Avenue is one block north of the Montana Avenue commercial district. The blocks
in question are bounded by 9th Street on the west and 17th Street on the east. When
this item was originally presented to Council in 2006, only the 1100 block of Alta
Avenue had. petitioned for preferential parking. Currently, the 1200 and 1300 blocks
have also submitted qualifying petitions. Staff recommended that Council deny
preferential parking for Alta Avenue, as average parking occupancies along the street
were 55%. However, the Council directed staff to return with a recommendation to
implement the preferential parking regulation along the south side of Alta Avenue only.
Residents state that it is difficult to find parking on Alta Avenue because employees of
Moritana Avenue businesses park on their streets. Per Council's direction, staff
recommends expanding preferential parking .Zone G to include Alta Avenue, with
regulations to be posted on the south side of Alta Avenue, only. The restrictions should..
be the same as the rest of Zone G: "Two hour parking between the hours of 9:00 a.m.
and 9:00 p.m. Monday through. Saturday, except by permit." Only a small change in
revenue is anticipated as half of the affected residents are already eligible to purchase
permits.
1
Background
Alta Avenue is primarily zoned for single-family residential use and is located one block
north of the Montana Avenue commercial district. Montana Avenue, a shopping and
dining destination, has some neighborhood-serving -uses; such. as a movie theater,
markets and coffee shops. Currently, there are no preferential parking restrictions
along Alta Avenue: This area has been the subject of considerable study and public
discussion over the past nine years. As a result of requests from both residents and
merchants to look at the parking issues in the neighborhood as a whole, rather than
block by block, the Council commissioned a study of parking occupancies throughout
the area in fall 2001. It -found that, although there was adequate parking in the
neighborhood as a whole, spaces were hard to find in certain areas and for some
residents and employees. Council also commissioned an East-West Corridor Parking
Task Force to identify the feasibility of other measures to address parking concerns in
this area. Currently, City staff is assessing commercial parking needs and resources
though an online survey, and the Council has created a Transportation Demand
Program Manager position to facilitate the implementation of neighborhood-specific
access and parking solutions.
Preferential Parking Zone G was expanded on June 24, 2003 to encompass Lincoln
Boulevard through 17th Streets between Idaho and Alta Avenues, and Idaho Avenue
between Lincoln Boulevard and 17th Street (Exhibit C). The restrictions are "Two hour
parking 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except by permit." North of
Montana Avenue, all streets except Lincoln Boulevard have submitted qualifying
petitions, whereas the majority of the blocks south of Montana Avenue do not have
preferential parking in place. The restrictions in Zone G allow for customer parking on
qualified blocks, but essentially prohibit employee parking as most work shifts are
longer than two hours. As such, employees who do not have off-street parking have
taken to parking on Alta Avenue.
2
In addition to the cars of Montana. Avenue employees; residents contend that vehicles
are being stored on Alta Avenue and that the household employees of residents on the
blocks between Alta and Montana Avenue are parking their cars on Alta Avenue.
In 2006, staff recommended denying the petition for four reasons:
1. Parking occupancies are spread fairly evenly across the area north of Montana;
2. Parkirig occupancies are not unduly high on Alta Avenue;
3. Preferential parking on Alta will increase the displacement of non-resident
vehicles to areas north of Alta, conflicting with the findings that must be made to
approve a new preferential parking district per Santa Monica Municipal Code
section 3.08:040 (4); and
4. A majority of residents in this neighborhood have stated at public meetings that
they do not want additional preferential parking in their neighborhood.
Council amended the original recommendation on November 14, 2006 and asked staff
to return with a resolution to add Alta Avenue to Zone G, with preferential parking
regulatiohs along the south side of Alta Avenue only. However, before staff could
return to Council, the petition for the 1..100 block was disqualified because one signature
was removed. The petition remained at 50% until staff sent a survey to each of the four
residences on this block in August 2008 (Exhibit B).
Discussion
Residents of three blocks. have submitted completed qualifying petitions to implement
preferential parking:
• 1100 block of Alta Avenue (June 2004, requalified August 2008)
• 1200 block of Alta Avenue (August 2008)
• 1300 block of Alta Avenue (October 2008)
At this time, no petitions have been submitted for other blocks of Alta Avenue. The 800
block of Alta Avenue (between Lincoln Boulevard and 9th Street) is excluded from this
proposal, as the south side of that block is Roosevelt Elementary School.
Current Parking Situation
Exhibit C contains a map of the current restrictions in the neighborhood and the
recommended addition to Zone G.
3
Comprehensive parking occupancy counts were conducted in November 2005 and
indicated an average parking occupancy of 55% on Alta Avenue between Lincoln
Boulevard and 17th Street, with per block occupancies ranging from 36% to 77%.
Public Outreach
Prior to the previous Staff Report, a community meeting was held on May 15, 2006.
About three-quarters of the 24 attendees opposed additional preferential parking
restrictions in this neighborhood.
On April 27, 2009, staff hosted a community open house to inform residents of the
current status of the preferential parking request for Alta Avenue. Two residents
attended who both support the petition. An additional four residents emailed prior to the
open house to voice their opposition to the proposal. Complete comments are included
as Exhibit D.
Staff is also. in the process of collecting responses to a survey of Montana Avenue
businesses to determine their parking needs: Staff will use this information to facilitate
shared parking agreements between employees and property owners with on-site
parking. The prospects for a program of this sort to reduce on-street parking demand
are favorable as an inventory conducted by the Montana Avenue Merchants
Association found that there are over 700 off-street parking spaces associated with
Montana Avenue businesses.
Alternatives
The Council could decide not to add Alta Avenue to this zone or could determine
different hours and types of restrictions than are recommended in this report. However,
differing restrictions might prove confusing for motorists given that the rest of the area
has standardized restrictions. Finally, they could choose to implement preferential
parking on both sides of Alta Avenue which would eliminate all employee parking on
these blocks.
4
Environmental Analysis
The proposed project has been determined to be categorically exempt from the
provisions of he California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Article 19,
Section 15301 (c) which was recently amended to define Class 1 exempt projects in the
following way: "Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting,
leasing,. licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities,
mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving little or no expansion of use
beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination..." This exemption
lists as an example of "existing facilities:" "(c) Existing highways and streets, sidewalks,
gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities." Preferential parking zones
involve only the issuance of permits for the use of an existing public street and include
negligible or no expansion of this existing. use.
Financial Impact & Budget Actions
As half of the households in question are already eligible to purchase permits, the
increase is projected to be negligible (less than $500). No budget action is required.
Prepared by:
Jason Kligier, Transportation Planning Assistant
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Development
Attachments: A Resolution Establishing Preferential Parking, Exhibit A -
Preferential Parking Zones
B 1100 block of Alta Avenue Preferential Parking Survey
C Map of the current restrictions in the neighborhood and the
recommended addition to Zone G
D Public comments from April 2009 Open House, including
emailed comments
5
v®
oty of
Santa M1tonica
August 6, 2008
Dear Alta Avenue Neighbor:
Attachment B
Transportation Management Division
1685 Main Street, Room 115
PO Box 2200
Santa Monica, California 90407-2200
As you may know, the City Council recommended preferential parking regulations for
the south side of Alta Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets. The Transportation
Management Division would like to know if you and your household are supportive of
this proposal or not. Regulations are anticipated to be: Two-hour parking 9 am to 9 pm
Monday through Saturday, except by permit. Residents of both the north and south
sides of the block would be eligible to purchase permits. You will receive additional
notification before the City Council considers a resolution to formally adopt any
preferential parking regulations.
Please return the enclosed survey to my attention at the address or fax number above.
Kindly respond before August 22, 2008.
Regards,
Jason Kligier
Transportation Management Division
te1:310-458-8291 fax: 310.576-9170
'V®
c~<r of
Santa Rtonica
Alta Avenue Preferential Parking Survey
Address:
Attachment B
Transportation Management Division
1685 Main Street, Room 115
PO Box 2200
Santa Monica, California 90407-2200
Santa Monica, California
90402
Please check the appropriate response:
I am in favor of the preferential parking regulations as proposed: Two-hour parking 9
am to 9 pm Monday through Saturday, except by permit on the south side of Alta
Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets.
I am opposed to the preferential parking regulations as proposed.
Additional Comments:
Name:
Signature:
Phone Number:
Please return this survey to Jason Kligier at the address or fax number above. Kindly
respond before August 22, 2008.
te1:310-458-8291 fax: 310.576-9170
Attachment C
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Legend
Implemented
Pre-approved
Area petitioned
Recommended
Addition to Zone G
Attachment D
Nate: The 4 comments received via email prior fo the Open House can be found on the
following pages.
Comments from April 28, 2009 Community Olen House
2 residents attended
• Half the problem is employees and-half is due to vehicles associated with
residences (home-based businesses and homes with converted garages)
• This plan will just move the employee parking problem to the north
• Employee permits should- be issued on the streets that already have preferential
parking since there is available parking
• Certain businesses create more of a problem than others; the City should
reguiate.what businesses come in based an how much parking they will need
• Residents are asked to bear the burden o€.doing something abouYthe parking
problem with permits, but businesses are not asked to do anything
• Would like to have centralized parking for the commercial area
• Businesses should be more flexible with their parking; a lot of their parking
remains unused
• Could "cap and trade" parking in the. area
• Now is a good time to commoditize parking with all fhe vacancies
• Like the idea. of having one parking space reserved per each home
• Increase signage on Montana to show customers wheFe parking is available
These ideas should still be considered even if preferential parking is adopted
• Separately wou3d like to have no overnight parking to address safety issues,
vehicle storage
• The City should create a place for people fo stare large vehicles, boats, campers,
etc.
omment from Paul Thomas aahn von Reynolds
From: Paul Thomas aahn von Reynolds [paulthomas511@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 25,2009 11:47 AM
To: 7ason Kligier
subject: "Perferenitial Parking" toot Needed on alta Avenue.
Bello Cason Kligier. There is no need to place "Perferenitial parking" on Alta Ave.
as it exists presently is fine. If there were a Full need far this addition to Alta
Avenue, others from the entie area would be involved with requesting this. This
seem to be an isolated-group of .people that are not respectful to others that park
on city public streets. presently IJwe have a Planned North west 'wing Addition.
This Pertains to a single story garage extention and then an area of open space and
an aux. den on the corner property. This requires the removal of both the 507 & 501
10Th. Street addresses. z have asked the city through the city atorneys office and
both city fire and law enforcement to help me with compleat cooporation. I have a
front yard attached garage
with an extreme need fot- more garage storage space. The older cars are something
you do-not want to leave parked outside, on or off private property. z am still
waiting. There is another group of people, this is why z am telling you to reJect
this Idea of more parking restrictions on Alta avenue. This group of People the
city should have names and addresses on and other information about, are
disrespectiing my wishes, using "Realestate" to what looks like "fraud" and causing
an overtaxing of the system all for what is personal self gain. Thank you. Paul
511 10Th.
omment from Harvey Frey
From: Harvey 5. Frey [hsfrey@verizon.net]
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:14. PM
To: Jason kligier
Subject: Fw: Preferential Parking on Alta
tte: Preferential Parking on Alta Ave. Meeting on 4/27/2009.
Dear Mr. Kligier:
Please present my views on preferential parking to the City Council, and feel free
to read it aloud at the meeting on 4/27J09.
I live an 12th st., just 2 doors north of Alta. I do not own a business on Montana
Ave. I.am opposed to any preferential parking on Aita Ave., or anywhere else.
of all the people who might want or need to .park on Alta, those who live there are
the only people who have private parking, and thus have the least need to park on
the street.
if parking restrictions are absolutely necessary, there is no reason-why local
residents should. be exempt. They can use their garages {required by law) and
driveways, where they can already exclude others.
All the citizens of Santa Monica pay for paving and maintaining streets. It is
improper to reserve the use of these public assets-for the benefit of the wealthy
few who choose to buy more or bigger cars than can fit into-the garage space
mandated by our zoning regulations..
I walk on Alta Ave. every day, and I have never seen it sa full of parked cars that
there was not room for more, unless a new home was being built nearby, a temporary
condition. There is no need to restrict parking by non-residents.
each home abutting Alta has 150 feet of side frontar~e on Alta, room to park 8 or 9
cars, in addition to room for 3 cars on the street ~n front, plus required garage
space for at least 2, plus driveway room. Alta is not a multiple residence area.
There is only one family on each. lot abutting Alta. Does each of these homes need
parking space for 13 or 14 cars? They cannot possibly fill the space already.
available to them!
But these spaces are needed by working. people, visitors, and employees and shoppers
at Montana Ave businesses. Some of these waiters and clerks work multiple jobs and
drive long distances every day. shall they be denied parking for the sake. of
residents too lazy to open their garage doors? Residents are acting like dogs in the
manger by attempting to prevent others from using space they can't possibly use
themselves.
In these difficult economic times, and with the exorbitant rents on Montana Ave., we
are already seeing "for rent" and "going out of business" signs spreading on the
avenue. Shall we drive away even more business from Montana by making it even more
difficult for potential customers to find a place to park? The city. has built
parking structures elsewhere in the city. There are none around
the Montana Ave. business corridor. The only non-resident parking is on the streets!
If the city wants to prevent non-residents from using the streets to park, it should
build parking structuresrn the area, as it has done around other business areas.
These attempts by locals to protect their "turf" are not only unseemly, selfish, and
unnecessary, but shameful.
Harvey 5 Frey MD PhD Esq.
hsfrey@harp.org www.harp.org
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject
[REDACTED]
Thursday, April
Jason Kligier
RE: Preferential
Dear Mr. Kligier,
comment from Anonymous
02, 2009 3:56 PM
parking on Alta Ave.
Thank you for accepting comments on the parking issue. z suppose Montana
Avenue has its share of parking problems and z know you are doing your best to
resolve this delicate balancing act between businesses and residents.
2 live north of Alta Ave. I am concerned that once the preferential parking
signs go up on Alta, it will force non-resident parking to edge up north of
Alta, therefore the problem doesn't go away, it simply moves.. .Those of us who
purchased our houses north of Montana
have always known of the potential of non-resident parking clogging our
streets close to Montana Ave. That is why many of us chose to purchase houses
2 or more blocks north of Montana Ave. Is it fair that those who chose to buy
their houses closer to Montana Ave. now decide they no longer accept the
situation and want place the burden on those of us who carefully considered
the ramifications of purchasing too close to Montana Ave.? it`s no different
than a homeowner who purchases a house near a power plant and then expecting
the city to remove the power plant because they've decided they can't live
with it anymore.' Everyone who buys near Montana Ave. is quite aware of the
parking situation. It ~s not a new problem.
There, I've spoken my peace. Thanks far. listening.
P.s. I'd like to remain anonymous, including blacking out my email
address, if you chose to share this with anyone. z don't want to
cause conflicts with my neighbors. Thanks for your understanding!
omment from Rebecca Hight
From: Rebecca Hight jrebeccahight@yahoo,com]
sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 11:37 AM
To: Jason Kligier -
Subject: Permit Parking Horth of Montana
Hello Jason,
My name is Rebecca-Hight and I live at 556 12th street corner of 12th and Alta). I
am and have been an outspoken opponent of permit parking on Alta. The reason being i
don'tbelieve it will solve the parking problem in the long run.., It will just push
cars further up 12th Street-making it impossible to park ~n front of our homes(as it
is already-especially on ThursdayjFriday street sweeping and weekends!!!).
I live on a double lot and still have trouble parking on the street !!!
Please do not add Alta to the preferential parking in our neighborhood!!!
Thank you Rebecca
Reference Resolution No.
10398 (CCS).