Staff Report
PREPARED BY: MATT MORLEY
DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 02/20/2018
ITEM NO: 06
DATE: FEBRUARY 14, 2018
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: REVIEW TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING COMMISSION WORK ON
DOWNTOWN TIME LIMITED PARKING AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF
RECOMMENDATION:
Review Transportation and Parking Commission work on downtown time limited parking and
provide direction to staff.
BACKGROUND:
At its February 7, 2017 meeting, the Town Council provided direction to the Transportation and
Parking Commission to review the established downtown time limited parking and the potential
for downtown paid parking. Employee parking downtown was also added to the Commission’s
work plan with direction to staff to ensure there is not a duplication of work effort between the
Council Policy Committee and the Transportation and Parking Commission on this aspect of
parking. The Policy Committee requested that staff work with the Chamber to survey
businesses regarding employee parking. Due to a staff vacancy in the Town Manager’s Office,
the survey has not been done.
In September, the Commission began its analysis of parking time limits with a data collection
effort to reflect the occupancy level of parking spaces by location and time limit. The goal was
to identify potential modifications to the allocation of time limited and unlimited parking and to
identify the potential for adding paid parking to the downtown. The area surveyed included
Main Street from College Avenue to Lyndon Avenue, Santa Cruz Avenue from Highway 9 to
Wood Road, University Avenue between Highway 9 and Main Street, streets between
University and Santa Cruz, including Elm, Grays, Royce, and Bachman, and each of the Town -
owned downtown parking lots totaling 1,253 parking spaces (Attachment 1).
PAGE 2 OF 6
SUBJECT: REVIEW TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING COMMISSION WORK ON
DOWNTOWN TIME LIMITED PARKING AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\02-20-18\06 Time Limited Parking\06 Staff Report FINAL.docx 2/15/2018 3:18 PM MM
BACKGROUND (cont’d):
The data collection was conducted by the Transportation and Parking Commission on a
volunteer basis and represents a significant effort by the Commission members. The
Commission gave special consideration to collecting samples in a representative week that
reflects average usage. The Commission also conducted a further count the week of November
27, 2017. Count numbers were similar; however, the downtown valet parking was in place
during this week, so the numbers are not presented in this report.
At the request of the Town Council, outreach to downtown business through the Chamber of
Commerce was conducted in January 2018.
DISCUSSION:
Parking counts occurred on September 12, 14, 15, and 16, 2017 with counts at 10:00 a.m.,
noon, and 2:00 p.m. on each day. These days and times were selected given the following
considerations:
• The dates represent weekdays including anticipated lighter parking days (Tuesday)
and heavier days (Friday).
• The week during which the counts occurred was after the summer break with school
back in session and did not contain a holiday.
• The times represent an early time when business is just beginning, a lunchtime
count, and an afternoon count. Evening counts were not included because parking
enforcement ends at 6:00 p.m., meaning time limits no longer apply after that time.
• The counts included spaces with no time limit (unlimited), three-hour, and two-hour
limits. Accessible spaces were not included in the counts.
To aid in the assessment, the Commission assumed an industry standard of 85% occupancy to
depict a full utilization of parking. Beyond that occupancy level, parking may be difficult to
locate. Below that level, spaces should be fairly easy to find. Attachment 2 provides highlights
of the data in a bar graph format and the key findings are discussed below.
North Lot – The North Lot, located north of Highway 9, has no time limits for any space. The
survey of this lot demonstrated excess capacity at all dates and times.
Unlimited Spaces – These spaces are typically located in slightly more distant locations including
the back of parking lots and the lower level of the parking garage. These spaces are intended to
handle longer visitor stays and employee parking.
PAGE 3 OF 6
SUBJECT: REVIEW TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING COMMISSION WORK ON
DOWNTOWN TIME LIMITED PARKING AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\02-20-18\06 Time Limited Parking\06 Staff Report FINAL.docx 2/15/2018 3:18 PM MM
DISCUSSION (cont’d):
The unlimited spaces are heavily utilized, often reaching 100% occupancy by 10 :00 a.m. This
early occupancy suggests that the spaces are largely utilized by business owners and employees
and are not readily available for patrons later in the day.
Three-Hour Time Limits - These spaces are located within municipal parking lots. Utilization of
three-hour spaces peaks at the noon hour, exceeding the 85% mark on all three weekdays and
reaching 100% occupancy on Friday, with a later afternoon peak on Saturday. These spaces are
intended to handle medium timeframe parking for customers in the downtown.
Two-Hour Time Limits – These spaces are generally located on the curb along downtown
streets. Activity in these spaces mirrors the three-hour spaces. These spaces are intended to
serve the businesses for quicker visits.
Considerations of Note
The data collection is intended to provide representative data. A number of spaces were not
considered in the evaluation, including private parking, limited spaces in residential areas of the
Almond Grove, and spaces north of College Avenue.
The timeline includes one week in what staff and the Commission believe to be typical of a
business day. The day was neither especially busy, nor especially slow.
Town staff and the Commission believe that the data collected represents the parking situation
in the downtown.
Parking lot 7 (off Main Street directly opposite Icing on the Cake) has unlimited parking spaces.
A number of these spaces may be used by High School students as they drive into Town from
Highway 17. The spaces may also provide capacity for the adjoining residential units.
Parking lot 9 (at the end of Monte Bello) is leased from Verizon. Several stalls are fenced for
Verizon use and equipment is stored there. The lease for this lot may be subject to cancellation
should redevelopment of this building occur.
Downtown Business Input
Staff and members of the Commission attended a Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting on
January 22, 2018. The Board was presented the findings of the survey and provided input on
behalf of their membership.
PAGE 4 OF 6
SUBJECT: REVIEW TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING COMMISSION WORK ON
DOWNTOWN TIME LIMITED PARKING AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\02-20-18\06 Time Limited Parking\06 Staff Report FINAL.docx 2/15/2018 3:18 PM MM
DISCUSSION (cont’d):
The Chamber Board members recommended the removal of unlimited parking in parking lots 1
and 2, just south of Highway 9 and putting into place a three-hour time limit. The Chamber
Board believes that this may entice employees to park in the underutilized North lot.
A subsequent meeting on February 13 that included broader business representation also
expressed concern about the time limited spaces. This group also reacted positively to a
discussion of paid parking.
In addition, opening parking in residential areas, specifically the Almond Grove, for employee
permit parking was a topic of interest. Many streets in the area already have time limited
parking of two hours.
The Chamber Board members discussed the introduction of four -hour parking in place of three-
hour parking. The goal with this adjustment would be to allow longer stays for patrons so that
a combination of activities could be achieved, such as a visit to a salon and dining, which
together might exceed the three-hour time limit. Staff did not observe that there was
consensus on this change.
The Chamber Board brought up and fully supported implementation of paid parking in the
downtown. The Board expressed particular interest in parking through the use of pay kiosks
versus meters and the inclusion of technology to facilitate payment and extension of stays to
ensure an easy experience.
Employee Parking Challenge
Due to the high demand for unlimited parking and the inconvenience associated with remote
parking (on Miles Avenue or in the North lot), employees utilize additional time limited parking
spaces and shuffle vehicles at the end of the time limit. This has been readily identified as an
existing condition by businesses. This activity leads to increased congestion, decreases the
availability of parking for customers, and can lead to citations for overstaying the time limit if
vehicles are not moved soon enough.
A survey of downtown businesses is pending staffing availability to identify the exact need for
employee parking. This information would further inform the need for unlimited parking
spaces.
PAGE 5 OF 6
SUBJECT: REVIEW TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING COMMISSION WORK ON
DOWNTOWN TIME LIMITED PARKING AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\02-20-18\06 Time Limited Parking\06 Staff Report FINAL.docx 2/15/2018 3:18 PM MM
CONCLUSION:
The intent of the evaluation of time limited parking was to provide insight in whether spaces
should be shifted from one time limit to another, presumably to the less utilized, time limit
designation. The data show that weekdays, parking is generally fully utilized across all time
limits.
Two topics rise to the top for discussion. First, changing three-hour parking to four-hour
parking would alleviate some of the business concerns on providing for longer, multi-business
visits to the downtown. The tradeoff could be increased use of these spots by employees and
less turnover in parking, limiting availability. This option is not recommended as staff believes it
would more likely increase parking capacity concerns.
A second option is changing parking in lots 1 and 2 from unlimited to time limited three-hour
parking. The goal with this change would be to discourage employees from parking in the
closer lots, with the unlimited option of the North lot becoming more palatable. Based on
experiences in the other lots, especially lot 5 where employees shuffle their parking as time
limits expire, staff believes this would result in negligible increases in capacity.
The potential for a parking garage in the downtown in the future may significantly change the
dynamics by way of increasing the supply in the southern portion of the downtown. If that
project happens, it will be several years before completion. Any desired adjustments to the
parking time limits should not wait for the garage completion.
Some discussion on time limited parking during events occurred specific to demand for parking
on event days. Because events typically occur on weekends or evenings when parking demand
is lighter, there is no need to adjust for events alone. In fact, the non -retail businesses that are
typically closed evenings and weekends mean that extra capacity exists during event
timeframes. Because this capacity exists on weekends, the Council may wish to consider staff’s
recommendation to allow unrestricted timed parking during approved special events as
identified in the special events item later on the agenda.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEXT STEPS:
Due to the significant supply challenges with downtown parking, staff does not recommend
modifications to the distribution at this time. Staff does recommend ongoing outreach to
downtown businesses to encourage the use of more distant unlimited parking options.
PAGE 6 OF 6
SUBJECT: REVIEW TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING COMMISSION WORK ON
DOWNTOWN TIME LIMITED PARKING AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\02-20-18\06 Time Limited Parking\06 Staff Report FINAL.docx 2/15/2018 3:18 PM MM
RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEXT STEPS (cont’d):
The data collected for time limited parking will also inform the discussion on paid parking. Staff
will bring forward a discussion of paid parking in conjunction with a discussion of a downtown
parking garage at the March 20, 2018 Council meeting.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Council could consider shifting some of the unlimited parking to three -hour parking. This
could force increased use of the North Lot or Miles Avenue. Staff is not recommending this
alternative as it could result in more downtown employees moving vehicles during the day,
exacerbating the traffic as those employees seek to relocate to other spaces.
COORDINATION:
The preparation of this report was coordinated with the Economic Vitality Manager and Police
Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Parking Lot Map
2. Parking Count Charts