pages: TransportationCommission/2008-12-10.pdf, 3
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TransportationCommission | 2008-12-10 | 3 | short-term parkers were less sensitive to the price, and preferred the convenience. He noted that Professor Donald Shoup of UCLA discovered that appropriately priced parking actually reduced traffic congestion by up to 30%, which was the percentage of drivers cruising around the block looking for a parking space. He noted that the goal was to have 15% vacancy of meter space available at any one time, or approximately one empty space per block. He noted that in the Park Street district, the on-street meter rates were increased from 50 cents to $1 per hour. The off- street public lots were kept at 50 cents. Staff recommended monitoring the parking conditions on Park Street. Staff Fonstein noted that on certain areas of Webster Street at certain times, there was high occupancy, but that there was not enough to consider raising the on-street meter rates. Both districts would continue to be monitored. He noted that an ordinance may be considered to establish a target occupancy rate of 85%, and create a threshold of meter rates which could be adjusted up or down at 25% intervals. He noted that this plan needed neighborhood support, active enforcement and should be self-funded to avoid impacting the City's General Fund. Staff Fonstein noted that staff's recommendations were to establish a cost-neutral program, which would be borne by the permit holders, estimated at approximately $75 annually. It would also establish two-hour parking for non-residents in a permitted area; active enforcement would be very important, and that violators would receive a ticket. The program should be located within three blocks of the commercial area; 75% of the on-street occupancy in any given two- hour area should demonstrate an impact on those streets; and one-third of the neighborhood should sign a petition to bring it forward to the City. After a study, the City should present the measure to the residents for a vote, with a majority approval by the property owners. Staff Fonstein noted that the third management strategy was to use employee parking permits, allowing employees to park in off-street lots and parking structures, freeing the on-street parking for customers. He described the prices of the various parking permits. Staff recommended that an RFP be prepared and issued for a trial project for both districts, as funding becomes available. Staff Fonstein noted that the second goal was to encourage private investment, infill development and business expansion in the business districts. He noted that there were some concerns by members of the business associations about the parking requirements. He noted that the goal was to find the right size of parking requirements for uses. He noted that there were comments that the requirements did not take the realities of on-street business locations into account, and that motorists may park once for many destinations. He noted that another concern was that restrictive requirements would increase the cost for infill development. He noted that staff would like the flexibility to go below the stipulated requirements, using either a demand waiver, a historic waiver, or a shared parking waiver. Staff would like to look at shared parking, and that a City employee parking lot at Lincoln and Walnut may be opened to the public on weekends, and for special events. They would also like to create a shared parking database for people to use. Staff would like to re-examine the shared parking code, to ensure that it would be easy to enter into the agreement. 3 | TransportationCommission/2008-12-10.pdf |