Staff Report
PREPARED BY: MATT MORLEY
PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Finance Director, and Town Attorney
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 406-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/06/2018
ITEM NO: 8
DATE: OCTOBER 30, 2018
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ELIMINATE TIME LIMITED PARKING ON SATURDAYS IN DOWNTOWN
MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS
RECOMMENDATION:
Eliminate time limited parking on Saturdays in downtown municipal parking lots.
BACKGROUND:
The Town Council has expressed interest in revisiting time limits for downtown parking with
respect to Saturdays. The expressed interest was specific to days when events are occurring to
allow participation in an event for an extended period without having to be concerned about
the time limitation of a parking space.
Currently Town parking spaces have a variety of time limitations. On street parking has two-
hour parking limits and the municipal lots have a combination of spaces with three-hour limits
and spaces with no time limit. These time limits were set up to accommodate the various
needs of differing customer profiles. The structure was designed to accommodate quick visits
to businesses with curbside parking on the streets. The two-hour time limit is intended to
encourage turn over in the occupancy of these spaces to increase availability for customers.
Similarly, parking lots in the most congested part of the downtown are completely or partially
allocated to three-hour parking. Three-hour parking helps balance the need for longer
customer stays while continuing to encourage turnover and discourage all day parking.
Generally, the spaces with no time limits are slightly more distant from the busiest parts of the
downtown core and provide for longer term and all-day parking for customers and employees.
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SUBJECT: ELIMINATE TIME LIMITED PARKING ON SATURDAYS IN DOWNTOWN
MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS
OCTOBER 30, 2018
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DISCUSSION:
Parking counts conducted by the Transportation and Parking Co mmission demonstrate the
capacity in parking spaces. Generally, there is greater parking availability on weekends as a
number of non-retail businesses are closed. The following chart demonstrates the results for
Saturday parking counts. For parking, 85% occupancy is considered the threshold for having full
parking.
Given the inquiry into the viability of modifications to parking time limits, staff presents five
options for consideration.
1. Saturday Event Days – Allow for parking with no time limits on weekends when events
occur downtown at the request of the event organizer.
2. Saturday Event Days Muni Lots – Allow for parking with no time limits on weekends
with events only in municipal parking lots at the request of the event organizer. On
street parking would still retain time limits.
3. Eliminate Saturday Time Limits in Muni Lots only – Allow for unlimited parking in muni
lots on Saturdays. Continue to enforce on street parking time limits on Saturdays.
4. Eliminate All Saturday Time Limits – Allow for parking with no time limits on Saturdays
year-round in lots and on street. This would treat Saturdays the same as Sundays.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Unlimited 3-Hour Limit 2-Hour Limit TOTAL
Saturday Parking Occupancy
10AM 12PM 2PM
85% Occupany Rate
Parking counts conducted
Saturday, September 16, 2017
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SUBJECT: ELIMINATE TIME LIMITED PARKING ON SATURDAYS IN DOWNTOWN
MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS
OCTOBER 30, 2018
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DISCUSSION (continued):
5. Maintain the Status Quo – This option would make no changes to the current structure.
The Transportation and Parking Commission reviewed and discussed this subject at its October
10, 2018 meeting. Subsequently, the Policy Committee reviewed and discussed the subject at
its October 18, 2018 meeting. The Committee was especially appreciative of the work of the
Commission. Input from the Commission and the Committee includes the following:
• Two-hour street spaces are important to serve customers for short visits.
• Signage and communication on available parking is important.
• Any changes that are implemented may provide an opportunity to educate businesses
on parking etiquette and visitors on parking availability.
• Staff should have the ability to modify the program to ensure the bes t opportunity for
success.
• Although this could be a pilot, it is difficult to unwind any changes, pilot or not.
• Unlimited parking may encourage trail and other recreation users that are attracted to
Los Gatos on the weekends to park in the currently time limited lots.
• The upcoming Request for Proposals for a consultant study of comprehensive
downtown parking is due to be released this calendar year. The results of the study will
provide valuable insights.
During the discussion, the Transportation and Parking Commission provided input that added
option three to the list and in building towards consensus, the Commission felt this was the
most attractive option. The Policy Committee agreed with the opinions expressed by the
Commission, also recommending option three.
Although staff believes the main goal achieved through time limited parking is enhanced access
to businesses by their customers, non-compliance contributes to parking citation revenue.
Citations for on street time limit violations on Saturdays result in revenue of $50,000 a year and
of that municipal parking lots amounts to $30,000 per year.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the associated staff work and highlighting the input f rom the Transportation and
Parking Commission and the Policy Committee, staff recommends modifying downtown parking
restrictions to remove time limited parking from municipal parking lots on Saturdays.
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SUBJECT: ELIMINATE TIME LIMITED PARKING ON SATURDAYS IN DOWNTOWN
MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS
OCTOBER 30, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\11-06-18\Eliminate Downtime Municipal Prkg Lot Sat Time Limits\Staff Report.docx 10/31/2018 11:38 AM
COORDINATION:
This report has been coordinated with the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, the
Town Manager’s Office, and Community Development Department.
Attachment:
1. Downtown Parking Zones and Parking Stall Counts