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Staff Report PREPARED BY: JR LANGER Lieutenant Reviewed by: Town Manager, Town Attorney, Parks and Public Works, and Finance 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov TOWN OF LOS GATOS COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: 04/04/2017 ITEM NO: 12 DATE: MARCH 22, 2017 TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER SUBJECT: RECONSIDER THE COUNCIL’S MARCH 7, 2017 DECISION TO: A. DISCONTINUE THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING PLAN PROCESS, B. MAINTAIN ALL EXISTING PARKING PERMIT AREAS, C. EXPAND AND RENAME THE EASTSIDE PARKING PERMIT AREA TO THE HIGH SCHOOL ZONE, AND D. ABSORB THE CURRENT PREFERENTIAL PARKING PILOTS ALONG ALPINE AND WHITNEY AVENUES INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL ZONEWITH 90-MINUTE PARKING RESTRICTIONS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. RECOMMENDATION: Reconsider the Council’s March 7th decision to: 1. Discontinue the Neighborhood Parking Plan process, 2. Maintain all existing parking permit areas, 3. Expand and rename the Eastside parking permit area to the High School Zone, and 4. Absorb the current preferential parking pilots along Alpine and Whitney Avenues into the High School Zone with 90-minute parking restrictions during the school year. BACKGROUND: At its March 7th meeting, the Council was asked to approve the Policy Committee’s recommendations to: 1. Discontinue the Neighborhood Parking Plan process, 2. Maintain all existing parking permit areas, 3. Expand and rename the Eastside parking permit area to the High School Zone, and 4. Absorb the current preferential parking pilots along Alpine and Whitney Avenues into the High School Zone. PAGE 2 OF 6 SUBJECT: RECONSIDER THE COUNCIL’S MARCH 7, 2017 ACTION REGARDING PREFERENTIAL PARKING DATE: MARCH 22, 2017 S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\04-04-17\Preferential Parking\Staff Report FINAL.docx 3/30/2017 1:57 PM SLL BACKGROUND (cont’d): The Council listened to public testimony, deliberated and approved the above recommendations. The motion included 90-minute limited parking during the school year in the High School Zone. Although not expressly part of the motion, by approving the recommendation contained in the Report, the parking restriction would be in effect from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as stated in the Staff Report for the item (see Attachment 1). At its March 21st meeting, the Council voted to reconsider the matter at the April 4th Council meeting. This means that all four of the items in the recommendation are o pen for discussion, deliberation, and vote. DISCUSSION: Following Council’s March 7th decision, a majority of residents within the Alpine Avenue neighborhood informed both staff and the Council of their concerns with the approved changes. The concerns included:  The change from a 7:00 a.m. to a 9:00 a.m. parking enforcement time  The renaming of the Eastside area to the High School Parking Zone  Streets within the expanded zone were not clearly indicated  Non-enforcement in the summer would allow parking compaction to reappear due to employees parking from nearby commercial businesses or school events  Staff did not provide sufficient outreach regarding potential changes Staff provided a written response that clarified the history of the pilot program, Council’s recent actions, next steps for adding other nearby streets into a residential permit program, and an assessment later in 2017 (see Attachment 2). During the March 21st discussion of the motion to support reconsideration of the prior decision, some Council Members mentioned that new information had come forward, particularly regarding the implications of a 9:00 a.m. parking enforcement start time; insufficient outreach to the affected residential households regarding potential changes; and that consistent program enforcement times across the entire area may not be a priority. Options for Consideration The Town Council has several options to consider. Below each option, pros and cons of each are provided. Make no changes to the March 7th decision The Council may decide to affirm its prior decision regarding preferential parking. PAGE 3 OF 6 SUBJECT: RECONSIDER THE COUNCIL’S MARCH 7, 2017 ACTION REGARDING PREFERENTIAL PARKING DATE: MARCH 22, 2017 S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\04-04-17\Preferential Parking\Staff Report FINAL.docx 3/30/2017 1:57 PM SLL DISCUSSION (cont’d): Pros:  The Council will have an opportunity to make changes to the program after outreach is completed (May or June). Additional changes could be made in December after data is collected over the summer and fall. Cons:  The Alpine Avenue residents prefer to maintain an enforcement time that starts at 7 a.m. and runs year round. Consider altering the beginning enforcement time The Council may consider altering the entire area or a specific area beginning enforcement time to reflect the recent pilots’ beginning enforcement times of 7 a.m. or to choose a time more closely associated to a high school start time. Pros:  The recent pilot programs and other established preferential parking programs in the area utilize a 7:00 a.m. beginning enforcement time.  Parking signs in place indicate an enforcement period of 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  A longer enforcement time reduces allowable parking time in the morning for people without residential permits. Cons:  A longer enforcement time increases the parking limitations for residents and visitors who do not possess a parking permit.  A longer enforcement time increases roadway privatization. Do not rename the Eastside area to the High School Zone The Council may consider not renaming the Eastside area. The area name is for administrative purposes only. Time limit signs do not need to convey area names. Pros:  Some residents expressed concerns with the negative connotation of the name “High School Zone” and how it may impact the perception of their neighborhood.  The area already has a name. Cons:  The name of “The High School Zone” is more descriptive or reflective of the parking compaction issues than Eastside. PAGE 4 OF 6 SUBJECT: RECONSIDER THE COUNCIL’S MARCH 7, 2017 ACTION REGARDING PREFERENTIAL PARKING DATE: MARCH 22, 2017 S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\04-04-17\Preferential Parking\Staff Report FINAL.docx 3/30/2017 1:57 PM SLL DISCUSSION (cont’d): Reconsider summer enforcement The Council may consider extending the approved enforcement period of mid -August to mid-June to an annual enforcement period or other period that is more appropriate in the entire area or a specific area. Pros:  The affected residential households in the Alpine pilot desire annual enforcement.  Enforcement would be in place if parking compaction occurs in the summer. Cons:  Parking restrictions year round increase roadway privatization.  Based on staff’s observations, parking compaction is unlikely in the summer months.  Decision would be implemented without allowing for data to be collected to evaluate if non summer enforcement is effective  Additional workload to enforce permit parking in the summer Consider if consistent program enforcement times are a priority The Council may consider that implementing consistent parking enforcement restrictions is not a priority. Pros:  Drivers looking for parking will be less confused with consistent restrictions throughout the area.  Consistent hours provide for more efficient enforcement, allowing for improved Town - wide parking enforcement. Cons:  Varied enforcement times are confusing to residents and visitors.  Enforcement efforts are less efficient and may affect Town-wide enforcement activities. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: In anticipation of the reconsideration, staff has mailed an informational flyer to all property owners within the proposed parking zon e near the High School (see Attachment 3). This letter informs residents/property owners of the April 7th reconsideration, provides a link to the Council agenda and reports, and provides a general summary of the potential action(s). PAGE 5 OF 6 SUBJECT: RECONSIDER THE COUNCIL’S MARCH 7, 2017 ACTION REGARDING PREFERENTIAL PARKING DATE: MARCH 22, 2017 S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\04-04-17\Preferential Parking\Staff Report FINAL.docx 3/30/2017 1:57 PM SLL CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS: If the Council approves a permit parking program for the larger area, including Alpine and Whitney, there are several next steps.  Outreach needs to occur to all streets that currently have permit parking (such as Jackson, Alpine, Cross, etc.) to inform them that the existing parking restrictions are in place and that the Town is starting outreach regarding any changes of hours or enforcement months (e.g., academic year versus year round).  At the same time, outreach needs to occur to all of the new streets that are not currently part of any parking program (such as Loma Alta, Los Gatos Boulevard, Stacia, etc.) to determine their interest in participating in a parking permit program at all. Since these streets have not had the outreach and engagement as the other streets, staff proposed an “opt out” process for these locations.  In May or June, the Town Council would consider a formal resolution to establish the parking restrictions for the area around the high school. This would be the time f or Council to consider the results of all of the outreach, and determine the hours for the parking restriction and other parameters (e.g., academic year or year round).  If the resolution is adopted, then signs would be placed on all of the streets with th e new restrictions. Based on resident input to date, there is no need to name the zone on the signs. Residents would be able to obtain parking permits.  During the summer and fall, staff would collect data regarding parking impacts on all of the streets in the area by the high school. Staff would also be available to receive resident comments regarding the program.  In December, staff would bring the resident comments and data to the Council to determine if any modifications to the permit parking program are needed. COORDINATION: This report has been coordinated with the Town Manager’s Office, Town Attorney’s Office, and the Parks and Public Works Department. FISCAL IMPACT: If the Council approves the Preferential Parking recommendations, the fiscal impact includes staff costs associated with noticing the affected stree ts and communicating with these property owners and residents. PAGE 6 OF 6 SUBJECT: RECONSIDER THE COUNCIL’S MARCH 7, 2017 ACTION REGARDING PREFERENTIAL PARKING DATE: MARCH 22, 2017 S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\04-04-17\Preferential Parking\Staff Report FINAL.docx 3/30/2017 1:57 PM SLL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required. Attachments: 1. March 7, 2017 Council Report 2. Outreach letter dated March 21, 2017 3. Outreach letter dated March 29, 2017 4. Public Comments received 10:30 am March 30, 2017