SR-06-09-2015-11AID
City of City Council Report
Santa Monica'
City Council Meeting: June 9, 2015
Agenda Item: _LL
t
To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Planning and Community Development Director
Subject: Establishment of Preferential Parking Zone JJ
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Establish Preferential Parking Zone JJ to include the following parking regulation for
Palisades Avenue between 4th Street and 7th Street, Alta Avenue between 4th Street
and 7th Street, and 7th Street between Montana Avenue and Alta Avenue: "Two hour
parking 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except by permit."
2. Approve the attached Resolution (Attachment A) establishing Preferential Parking
Regulations.
Executive Summary
Residents of the 400 -600 block of Palisades Avenue and Alta Avenue, and the 600 -700
block of 7th Street have submitted qualifying petitions for preferential parking
regulations. The residents assert that non - resident parking is impacting their ability to
find parking near their homes. A parking occupancy study conducted in June 2014
supports their assertions regarding proliferation of non - resident parking in their
neighborhood during certain times of the day.
Staff recommends approving preferential parking regulations for these blocks. The
regulations would reflect those existing or pre- approved on residential blocks to the east
that are illustrated in Attachment B as follows: "Two hour parking 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily,
except by permit." The exception would be the addition of Sunday regulations for Zone
JJ.
Should Council approve the recommended action, it is estimated that permit sales for
the 400 -600 block of Palisades Avenue, the 400 -600 block of Alta Avenue, and the 600-
700 block of 7th Street would generate approximately $6,100 annually, after the first
half -year of implementation, which would offset, but not fully recover, the cost to the City
of issuing permits to residents. Additionally, new signage would be required at an
estimated cost of $4,800 for all three blocks.
Background
Preferential parking is a tool the City uses to manage non - resident parking use on
residential streets, as authorized by Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 3.08 and the
California Vehicle Code. Preferential parking regulations manage the use of on- street
parking to make parking more available for a resident near his or her home. Only
residents who live on a block with preferential parking restrictions are eligible to
purchase a permit. Permits may be used within two block faces of the permit owner's
address as shown in the illustration below.
Residents may petition to initiate a preferential parking zone at any time. Upon receipt
of a petition representing two- thirds of the residential units on a block, a parking
occupancy study of the neighborhood is conducted and a community meeting is held. In
evaluating the petitions, staff typically evaluates the larger neighborhood, rather than an
individual block due to the potential for parking displacement when regulations are
established or changed. As a result, staff typically recommends that the City Council
pre- approve preferential parking regulations for more than one block to streamline and
expedite the process for adjacent blocks should some displacement occur. The Council
has considered preferential parking requests and Municipal Code requirements to
approve the creation of preferential parking zones.
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Residents may petition to initiate a preferential parking zone at any time. Upon receipt
of a petition representing two- thirds of the residential units on a block, a parking
occupancy study of the neighborhood is conducted and a community meeting is held. In
evaluating the petitions, staff typically evaluates the larger neighborhood, rather than an
individual block due to the potential for parking displacement when regulations are
established or changed. As a result, staff typically recommends that the City Council
pre- approve preferential parking regulations for more than one block to streamline and
expedite the process for adjacent blocks should some displacement occur. The Council
has considered preferential parking requests and Municipal Code requirements to
approve the creation of preferential parking zones.
K,
Once Council approves preferential parking regulations, they are implemented on the
block or blocks that have submitted qualifying petitions. Preferential parking regulations
are not implemented on blocks that have been pre- approved by the Council until the
time that the residents of those blocks submit qualifying petitions representing two- thirds
of the residential units on the block.
Discussion
Over the years, various preferential parking Zones have been established in the
Wilmont neighborhood between Montana Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, located south
of the 400 -600 blocks of Palisades Avenue and Alta Avenue. These include zones in
the western end of Wilmont: Zone UU, which was established by Council on June 11,
2002 that restricts parking between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. daily, except by
permit, and Zone ZZ, which was amended by Council on March 8, 2005 and that allows
2 hour parking between 8 am and 6 p.m. daily and no parking between 6 p.m. and 8
a.m. daily, except by permit. Zone G, located in the area bounded by Alta Avenue to
the north, Idaho Avenue to the south, Lincoln Boulevard to the west, and 17th Street to
the east was established as a result of employee and customer parking generated by
the Montana Avenue shopping district and most recently amended on June 9, 2009 and
allows 2 hour parking between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through
Saturday, except by permit. As a result, blocks to the south and east of the petitioning
blocks now have parking regulations. A map of the regulations in the study area is
included in Attachment B.
The petitioning area is primarily composed of single family residences, with multi - family
residences located to the south along Montana Avenue and other residential streets
further to the south. The western edge of the Montana Avenue business district
extends to just west of 7th Street, immediately south of the petitioning areas.
In October 2013, a petition for preferential parking regulations representing 76 percent
of the households on the 400 -600 block of Palisades Avenue was submitted. As a result
of the petition, a parking occupancy study was conducted of the area. The parking
3
occupancy of each block was field checked hourly between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on
Saturday, June 14, 2014 and Monday, June 16, 2014. On blocks in the study area,
occupancies of 85 percent and higher were observed at peak times throughout the day
on weekdays and weekends. The 400 -600 block of Palisades Avenue and Alta Avenue,
and the 600 -700 block of 7th Street were found to have a higher peak parking
occupancy on the weekend compared to the weekday according to the parking study. A
summary table of parking occupancy on these blocks is included as Attachment C.
Forty -two community members attended a community meeting held December 8, 2014
to discuss the potential for preferential parking regulations. Those in attendance
expressed that parking on their streets is impacted by area employees from Montana
Avenue, as well as overflow residential parking from the multi - family residential
buildings on Montana Avenue. Residents also stated that parking spaces on their blocks
are impacted by visitors associated with Roosevelt Elementary School and Saint
Monica's School, people living in their cars on Alta Avenue, and beachgoers during the
summertime who park in their neighborhood. Many indicated that they were concerned
that preferential parking creates a "domino effect," moving the problem from block to
block. Others expressed concern about neighbors using garages as storage spaces,
rather than parking spaces. Some residents raised the problem of commercial vehicles
such as taxis, delivery trucks and other commercial vehicles parking on their street
overnight. Full meeting comments are included as Attachment D.
At the community meeting, residents of the streets with predominantly single - family
residences were concerned that residents of multi - family buildings would be eligible to
purchase permits, while Montana Avenue residents were concerned that they would not
be able to park on newly regulated streets. Montana Avenue is pre- approved for
preferential parking regulations. Only if enough residents submit signatures will
regulations be implemented on Montana Avenue and will residents be able to purchase
permits. The permits can be used within 2 blocks of the permit holder's residential
address.
Subsequent to the community meeting, the residents of 400 -600 block of Alta Avenue
and the 600 -700 block of 7th Street submitted qualifying petitions with signatures
representing 69 percent and 70 percent of the residential units on each block,
respectively.
Goose Egg Park is a 0.66 -acre community park located in the center of Palisades
Avenue. Its use is primarily passive in nature. Street parking along the curb
immediately adjacent to the park will remain unregulated should preferential parking
regulations be implemented on Palisades Avenue; however, street parking along the
curb immediately adjacent to residences facing the park would be regulated. Short -
term, 2 -hour parking regulations may be implemented in the future if necessary to
manage parking demand and park access.
Staff recommends approving the 400 -600 blocks of Palisades Avenue and Alta Avenue
and the 600 -700 block of 7th Street for the following regulation: "Two hour parking 9 a.m.
to 9 p.m. daily, except by permit" (Attachment B). The inclusion of parking restrictions is
necessary on these blocks because they are affected by parking generated by
businesses on both Montana Avenue, and other non - residential parking demands. The
proposed hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. are roughly the same as those of the businesses on
Montana Avenue and will prevent long -term parking by their employees on these
residential blocks. The regulated hours are also the same as other blocks north of
Montana, with the addition of Sunday regulations.
Alternatives
The Council could maintain the existing conditions or adopt different hours and types of
restrictions than recommended. If the hours were reduced to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or
eliminated on Sundays, employees of the businesses on Montana Street may use the
subject blocks for parking from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily or on Sundays thereby impacting
the availability of parking by the residents of these blocks and their visitors.
5
Environmental Analysis
The proposed project has been determined to be categorically exempt from the
provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Article 19,
Section 15301 (c) which defines 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 negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing
at the time of the lead agency's determination." This exemption includes: "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.
Next Steps
If preferential parking regulations are approved, they will be implemented on the 400-
600 block of Palisades Avenue and Alta Avenue, and 600 -700 block of 7th Street within
8 weeks. This allows time for residents to apply for permits; staff to process
applications; signs to be ordered, manufactured, and installed; and for a grace period
between the installation of signs and the enforcement of preferential parking
regulations.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action as a result of the recommended
action. Staff will return to Council if specific actions are requested in the future. The
approval of Preferential Parking Zone JJ would generate $6,100 in ongoing revenues
beginning FY 2015 -16 from the sale of an estimated 226 new resident and visitor
permits. Funds for the one -time cost related to the purchase and installation of new
signage for Preferential Parking Zone JJ totaling $4,800 are included in the FY 2015 -16
Proposed Biennial Budget in the Planning and Community Development Department.
Prepared by: Jerry Hittleman, Transportation Planning Associate
Approved: Forwarded to Council:
i �_' � _
Da d Martin Elaine Polachek
Director, Planning and Community Interim City Manager
Development
Attachments:
A. Resolution Establishing Preferential Parking Zone NN and Clarifying Preferential
Parking Regulations
B. Maps
C. Parking occupancy data
D. Community meeting comments
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Attachment D
Palisades Avenue Preferential Parking Community Meeting
December 8, 2014, Roosevelt Elementary School — 42 Attendees
• Roosevelt Elementary School and St. Monica School employee parking not included in the
parking study.
• Alta Avenue (500 block): people living in cars and apartment residents park on the 500 block
of Alta Avenue.
• Garages are being used for commercial spaces and storage.
• Why don't we have diagonal or perpendicular parking on Palisades Avenue? Some
residents were opposed to this idea since it turns street into a parking lot.
• Montana Avenue commercial employees, school employees, and beach goers park on
Palisades Ave.
o Study is invalid or flawed due to point in time, nature of the study.
• Gardeners, maintenance workers, and delivery trucks cannot park on street.
• Street sweeping days make parking situation worse on Palisades Avenue.
• Ends of streets are more densely parked (100 %).
o Strange cars park overnight:
• Desire for permits only at night.
• Area used for overnight storage of cars.
• Long -term (72 hours + / -) cars are parked on the street that only move for street sweeping.
• People park and walk south of Montana to Wilshire.
• Resident values maintaining coastal access.
s Preferential parking is nonsense — not a solution.
• Preferential parking is effective with right restrictions.
• What if you need more permits for guests?
• Problem with boats, vans, covered cars, and carpool users on street.
• Can each house have a reserved space on the street?
• Need regulations against commercial parking (taxis, delivery trucks, etc.)
• St. Monica has an underground parking garage — is this being utilized?
• 2 -hour parking restriction provides flexibility for guests and gardeners.
• Never used to have a problem on Alta Avenue.
• No overnight parking, except by permit would be good.
• Permit parking should be considered for all streets north of Montana.
o Monday - Saturday restrictions are needed to prevent business employee parking on the
street.
• Saturday- Sunday 2 -hour parking restriction is CK for park users.
1
Attachment D
• Pre- approve other blocks north of Montana Avenue.
• Support for 2 -hour parking restriction on Palisades Avenue and surrounding streets.
• Many on Palisades Avenue like "yellow" option on graphic board (Two hour parking 8am-
6pm daily and No parking 6pm -8am daily, except by permit).
® Need parking data from October and /or February.
® Montana resident would like to continue to have the opportunity to park on Palisades due
to lack of parking in an older apartment building.
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Reference:
Resolution No. 10884
(CCS)