HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecp_010808TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE AGENDA
UKIAH CIVIC CENTER
Conference Room No. 3
300 Seminary Avenue
Ukiah, California 95482
TUESDAY, JANUARY 08, 2008
3:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Kageyama, Townsend, Baxter, Seanor, Turner, Taylor, Lampi, and Whitaker
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 13, 2007
3. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
The Traffic Engineering Committee welcomes input from the audience. In order for everyone to be heard,
please limit your comments to three (3) minutes per person and not more than 10 minutes per subject. The
Brown Act regulations do not allow action to be taken on non-agenda items.
4. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Discussion and possible action regarding Downtown Ukiah Parking Improvement Study
(verbal report by Pam Townsend).
5. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Discussion and possible action regarding request for no parking zone on S. Orchard
Avenue in front of DMV/CHP offices
6. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS:
a. Update on Crosswalks -flexible crosswalk signs (verbal report)
7. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:
8. ADJOURNMENT:
Please call JoAnne Currie at 463-6755 if you are unable to attend the meeting.
The City of Ukiah complies with ADA requirements and will attempt to reasonably accommodate individuals with
disabilities upon request.
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE AGENDA
UKIAH CIVIC CENTER
Conference Room No. 3
300 Seminary Avenue
Ukiah, California 95482
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2007
3:00 P.M.
Members Present
Steve Turner, Chair
Dan Baxter, MTA, Vice-Chair
Ben Kageyama, Staff
Rick Seanor, Staff
Jerry Whitaker, Staff
Pamela Townsend, Staff
Trent Taylor, UPD
Others Present
Kenneth Budrow
Robert Klayman
Diane Zucker
Maxine Stephens
Elizabeth Love
Members Absent StafPresent
John Lampi, Public Representative JoAnne Currie
Alan Hasty
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Turner called the meeting to order at 3:07 pm.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: September 11, 20073 : o~ : of PM
M/S Taylor/VVhitaker, it wascarried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve
the September 11, 2007, minutes'with the following changes: Trent Taylor to be listed once under
members present.
3. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON'NON-AGENDA ITEMS:a : o~ : i9 PM
none
4. OLD BUSINESS: 3:o~:a6 PM
a. Discussion and possible;action regarding MTA bus stop request and crosswalk request for
the new Plowshares facility at 1346 South State Street.
Member Seanor reviewed the staff report and provided the following options for
consideration: (1) Recommend to City Council the establishment of a bus stoplno parking
zone; (2) Deny the request for a mid block crasswalk ; (3) Refer to staff for further
analysis.
Member Baxter reports the bus will be stopping north and south bound eliminating the
need to cross State Street to catch the bus.
Robert Klayman, Plowshares representative, understands why Committee does not
support midblock crosswalks and he supports the bus stopping north and south bound
eliminating the need to cross the street for the bus.
Mid Block Crosswalk
M/S Whitaker/Baxter, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to
deny the request for a mid Mock crosswalk on South State Street at the Plowshares
facility.
MTA Bus Stoo
M/S WhitakerITownsend, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members
present to approve the MTA bus stop on Souih State Street near Plowshares. ABSTAIN:
Member Baxter
b. Discussion and possible action regarding amulti-way STOP sign on Despina Drive at the
Ukiah High School parking lot east entrances :20 : si Pm
Member Seanor reviewed the staff report and provided 4he following options for
consideration: (1) Determine multi-way STOP signs are not warranted at this intersection
and direct the Street Maintenance division to remove the STOP signs and crosswalk
markings; (2) Refer to staff for further analysis; (3) Take no action.
s :2s : os PM Kenneth Budrow, past Commifteesmember, -does not support STOP signs
and urges removal
M/S Taylor/Baxter, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to
remove the temporary, multi-way STOP signs and crosswalks on Despina Drive at the
Ukiah High School parking lot'east entrance. ASBTAIN: Member Turner
5. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Wagenseiler Neighborhood Association presentation -Diane Zucker344:4s PM
3 : 44 : s o PM Diane Zucket•, Wagensellers Neighborhood Association, addressed the
Commission and reviewed the letter submitted to the Public Works Department by the
Association. Concerns: lack of safe walkways, increased automobile traffic, street in
disrepair. The Association requests the Committee investigate ways to improve the
situation.
Consensus of the Committee is to direct staff to analyze installation of a "right turn only'
onto State Street from Ford Street and look at the parking on the south side of Clara
Avenue and eastof the rail road tracks to improve pedestrian safety.
b. Discussion and possible action regarding letter of support for Safe Routes to School
application -Leslie Street sidewalk4 : zs : i~ PM
Alan Hasty, Associate Engineer Public Works Department, reported on the California's
Safe Routes to School Program. He requests from the Committee a letter of support to be
included with the grant application which involves construction of missing sidewalks along
Leslie Street.
Consensus of the Committee is there is an interest in going beyond a basic sidewalk if
funding is available.
M/S Townsend/Turner, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present
to include with the grant application a letter of support from the Committee due to the City
November 21, 2007, and if the grant is awarded, the project will be consistent with the
Formed Based Zoning, if approved and extra funding is available. a : 33 : 4 i PM
6. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS:
a. Update on City Parking Study
Member Townsend reports she is the contact for the Study and a draft will be delivered to
the City November 21, 2007.
b. Update on Crosswalks -flexible crosswalk signs
Maintenance ongoing.
7. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:
None.
8. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:41 p.m.
JoAnne Currie, Recording Secretary
CITY OF UKIAH
MEMORANDUM
DATE: January 4, 2008
TO: Traffic Engineering Committee
FROM: Rick Seanor, Deputy Director of Public Works ~~
SUBJECT: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding No Parking Zone
at 540 S. Orchard Avenue in front of DMV /CHP offices
Agenda Item 5a.
REQUEST: The Traffic Engineering Committee (TEC) received the attached letter
(Attachment "A") from Captain R. C. Madrigal, Commander of the Ukiah Area CHP,
requesting a no parking zone in front of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) /California
Highway Patrol (CHP) offices.
DISCUSSION: At its meeting on February 18, 2003, the TEC considered a request from the
CHP to remove the existing no parking zone along the Orchard Avenue frontage of DMV /
CHP. After extensive discussion, the TEC recommended a no parking zone for vehicles over
6-feet high. The City Council ultimately approved a resolution which authorized this change in
the no parking zone. The respective TEC agenda report is included as Attachment "B".
Staff inspected the site on January 2, 2008. At the time of inspection, the DMV /CHP parking
lot was full. Staff observed that several cars were parked along the DMV /CHP frontage and
also along the east side of Orchard Avenue opposite the DMV /CHP offices. Photographs
are provided as Attachment "C". Staff also noted that several off street parking spaces in the
DMV /CHP parking lot have been eliminated as a result of the striping for a motorcycle testing
area. Staff observed, upon exiting the parking lot through the southernmost driveway, that it
was extremely difficult to see southbound traffic when vehicles were parked along the DMV /
CHP frontage.
RECOMMENDATION: Due to restricted sight distance, staff recommends that the TEC
reestablish the no parking zone along the frontage of the DMV /CHP offices. In addition, staff
suggests that the DMV /CHP explore the apparent need to provide additional parking since
the facility appears to be utilized by a higher volume of customers than perhaps initially
thought.
Attachments
cc: file
~v ~ I
Attachment #
Spate ofCalifomia-BUSiness,'~ransportation and Housing Agency ARNOLu SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL ~Y01,
540 South Orchard Avenue
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707)467-4040
(800) 735-2929 (TTiTDD)
(800)735-2922 (Voice)
December 20, 2007
File No.: 150.97b7
City of Ukiah Traffic Committee
300 Seminary Avenue
Ukiah, CA 95482
Attn: Captain Trent Taylor
Dear Traffic Committee:
The Ukiah CHP Area office is located at 540 South Orchard Avenue and shazes the facility with
the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The facility is on the west side of Orchard Avenue
between Kings Court and Gobbi Street. Orchard Avenue is a two-way, two lane roadway posted
at 30 miles per hour and has relatively high traffic patterns during business hours.
Members of the public who conduct business at CHP or DMV aze usually able to find parking in
the off street parking ]ot in front of the building. The parking lot has two driveway entrances
from Orchard Avenue (see attached diagram). When the parking lot reaches maximum capacity,
which occurs quite frequently during normal business hours, the public has to park on Orchard
Avenue. Vehicles which are parked on the west side of Orchazd Avenue, between the parking
lot's two driveways, pose an extreme visual hazard to drivers exiting the parking lot via the south
driveway. This is particularly true of traffic approaching northbound on Orchard Avenue which
is obscured completely until it is within 100' of the driveway.
The primary concern is for officers who are responding to emergency calls by exiting the parking
lot via the south driveway. Exiting the parking ]ot via the north driveway does not appear to be a
practical solution. This is due in part because the gate to the rear of the building, where CHP
vehicles park, is on the south side of the building. Additionally, an officer would then have to
drive north through the parking ]ot between two rows of parking stalls, one in front of the
building and one along the west sidewalk of Orchard Avenue, to exit via the north driveway.
Officers trying to access the north driveway in this manner would encounter drivers driving into
or backing out of the parking stalls which poses an unnecessary hazard. Of course another
concern is for the safety of the motoring public on Orchard Avenue as well as the drivers who
are leaving the DMV or CHP after the conduct of any business.
In order to remedy this safety concern, the CHP requests that the curb on the west side of
Orchard Avenue, in front of our facility, and between the two driveways, be painted red and be
posted by sign to prohibit parking. As indicated by the attached diagram, this would eliminate
110' of parking space. It is my understanding that this was the case at one time.
Safely, Service, and Security
Ukiah Traffic Committee
Page 2
December 20, 2007
This request is respectfully submitted for your consideration. Any questions regarding this
matter maybe directed to Officer Marian Holcomb or Sergeant Dave Tafel at (707) 467-4040
during normal business hours. They are also available to attend any meeting with the committee
for further discussion on this matter. I look forward to your response and working with the
committee to achieve a mutually agreeable solution.
Sincerely,
~. C. MADRIGAL, Cafrtain
Commander
Ukiah Area
Attachment
ORG_HARD_AVE
Kings
Court
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35ft
CHP/DMV
Parking lot
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Lantlscap~ng
36 ft
Concrete
sidewalk
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6.8 R
Go66. Street
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sidewalk
ORCHARD__AVE
Kings
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N
35 K
CHP/DMV
Parking lot
36 tt
~ane.~aoi~e
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titirt
eet
CITY OF UKIAH
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
February 13, 2003
Attachment # ~~g ~~
Traffic Engineering Committee /~
Rick Seanor, Deputy Director of Public Works /"1
Discussion and Possible Action Regarding No Parking Zone
at 540 S. Orchard Ave. Dept. of Motor Vehicles /CHP
Agenda Item av
REQUEST: The Traffic Engineering Committee (TEC) received the attached written request
from E. Conley, CHP requesting removal of the no parking zone in front of the Department of
Motor Vehicles (DMV) /California Highway Patrol (CHP) offices. In particular, E. Conley
requests that parking be permitted with the condition that no vehicles over six feet in height be
allowed to park along the DMV /CHP frontage.
DISCUSSION: On Orchard Avenue, along the frontage of DMV /CHP, parking is prohibited
for a length of 110 feet between the driveways serving the DMV /CHP facility. Please refer to
the attached sketch. This length would accommodate five on-street parking spaces should
the parking restriction be removed.
In the request letter, E. Conley notes that the City has the authority to restrict the parking of
large trucks with gross vehicle weight exceeding 11,000 pounds from parking in residential
areas. Please refer to the attached excerpt of Section 7154 of the City Code of Ukiah,
California. You will note that this section of the code applies only to areas within the City
currently zoned as R-1, R-2, or R-3. The DMV /CHP office, however, is located within a
C-1 zone (light commercial). Therefore, this section of the City Code does not apply to the
DMV /CHP office location.
For reference, I have also attached a copy of California Vehicle Code Section 22507 (a) which
is cited in E. Conley's letter.
On occasion, large trucks utilize the services of DMV /CHP for licensing, inspections, etc.
Orchard Avenue, at this location, is of sufficient width to allow the parking of large trucks.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the TEC discuss the issue and determine
whether a change to the current on-street parking is warranted.
Attachments
cc: file
State of California-Business, Transportation and Housing Agency GRAY DAVIS, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
540 South Orchard Avenue
Ukiah ,California 95482
(707) 467-0040
(800) 735-2929 (TTlTDD)
(800)735-2922 (Voice)
January 27, 2003
File No.: 150.10868.12703
Rick Scanor
Traffic Engineering Committee, City of Ukiah
City Hall
300 Seminary Avenue
Ukiah, CA 95482
Dear Mr. Scanor:
rryre44
RECEIVED
FEB - 3 2003
CITY OF UKIAH
DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS
This letter is to request a review of the red no pazking zone located in front of the California
Highway Patrol and Department of Motor Vehicles building at 540/542 South Orchazd Avenue,
Ukiah.
The Mendocino Transit Authority bus stop that was located directly in front of the building has
been moved south of our location, opening up the possibility of public pazking. We have
recently experienced a need for additional pazking. Customers have been parking in marked no
parking areas and in red zones located in our parking lot. The additional room on the street
would add between five and six additional places for customers to park without the need to park
across the street and cross South Orchard Avenue from the east side. Currently, to safely or
legally cross the street, a pedestrian must cross Kings Court to the north side then cross South
Orchard Avenue and walk back to the offices.
We would request that the red no parking zone be painted over to allow public parking in front of
540/542 South Orchard Avenue. City ordinance 7154 restricts the parking of commercial
vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,000 pounds in a residential neighborhood. This
section, to my knowledge, has never been enforced in our area although it is considered a
residential neighborhood. Customers with vehicles that fall into this category have customarily
pazked across the street on the east side of South Orchard Avenue and crossed the street as traffic
allows.
Flex ••
your ' ,
POWER
GE~E•NaENGY
E F F I C I E N T
Page 2
January 27, 2003
In compliance with California Vehicle Code section 22507(a), we would also like to request that
there be an ordinance adopted to prevent vehicles over six foot in height to park directly in front
of our building on the west side of South Orchard Avenue. There are several reasons for this
request. The view from the two driveways exiting our parking lot is severely limited by large
vehicles which stop in front of the building (this was noted when the bus stop was
located there and the buses would stop for any length of time). We experience a high volume of
traffic in our parking lot both for the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Motor
Vehicles. Many of these drivers are new to driving or elderly and are here due to driver testing.
Califomia Highway Patrol officers routinely respond from the parking lot directly to emergency
incidents and a large vehicle would prevent the officers and the cross traffic from seeing each
other. Restricting the street parking to allow passenger vehicle parking but prohibit vehicles over
six foot high would greatly enhance the safe entry and exit of the parking lot.
In closing, I would like to thank the Committee for their time in review of this matter. If there is
any additional information I can provide please do not hesitate to contact my office. Any
inquires should be directed to Officer Marian Holcomb at 467-4040.
~CONL~aptain
Commander
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§7152 §7154
signs are in place. Such signs shall remain in place only during the existence of
such emergency and the City Traffic Engineer shall cause such signs to be
removed promptly thereafter.
B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this Section are in place giving notice
thereof, no person shall operate, park or stand any vehicle contrary to the
directions and provisions of such signs. (Ord. 553, §1, adopted 1963)
§7153: DISPLAY OF WARNING DEVICES WHEN COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
DISABLED: Every motor truck having an unladen weight of four thousand
(4,000) pounds or more, and every truck tractor irrespective of weight when operated
upon any street or highway in this City during darkness shall be equipped with, and carry
at least two (2) flares or two (2) red lanterns or two (2) warning lights or reflectors, which
reflectors shall be of a type approved by the Department of the California Highway Patrol.
When any vehicle above mentioned or any trailer or semitrailer is disabled upon streets
or highways outside of any business or residence district within this City and upon which
street or highway there is insufficient street lighting to reveal a vehicle at a distance of
two hundred feet (200') during darkness, a warning signal of the character indicated
above shall be immediately placed at a distance of approximately one hundred feet (100')
in advance of, and one hundred feet (100') to the rear of, such disabled vehicle by the
driver thereof. The continuous flashing of at least four (4) approved Class A Type 1 turn
signal lamps, at least two (2) toward the front and at least two (2) toward the rear of the
vehicle, shall be considered to meet the requirements of this Section until the devices
mentioned above can be placed in the required locations. The warning signals herein
mentioned shall be displayed continuously during darkness while such vehicle remains
disabled upon such street or highway. (Ord. 553, §1, adopted 1963)
§7154: NO PARKING OF VEHICLES WITH GROSS WEIGHT OF ELEVEN
THOUSAND POUNDS IN RESH)ENTIAL DISTRICTS:
A. It shall be unlawful and constitute a violation of this Code to park or allow to stand
a commercial vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of eleven
thousand (11,000) pounds or more on any street in any R-1, R-2 or R-3 Zoning
District in the City. This prohibition s a no app y o any commercia ve is e:
1. Making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, and merchandise from or to any
building or structure located on the restricted streets;
2. Delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration,
remodeling, or construction of any building or structure located on or within the
C ~+~ Code ~ (~k i a~, ~a I i?6rh iq
March/2000
8032
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§7154 §7155
restricted street for which a building permit has been previously obtained, if a
building permit is legally required for such repair, alteration, remodeling or
construction; or
3. Delivering equipment to be used in grading or construction activity within the
street or on property abutting such restricted street for which a building permit has
been previously obtained, if a building permit is legally required for such grading or
construction activity.
B. It shall be unlawful and constitute a violation of this Code to park or allow to stand
a commercial vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of eleven
thousand (11,000) pounds or more on any lot, plot or parcel of land in any R-1,
R-2, or R-3 Zoning District within the City, where parking is prohibited on a public
street under subsection A of this Section unless the parcel is one acre or more in
size or the commercial vehicle is not visible from any public street, and it is not
operated between the hours of ten o'clock (10:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00)
A.M. (Ord. 638, §1, adopted 1973; Ord. 749, §1, adopted 1980; Ord. 939, §1,
adopted 1993)
§7155: INFRACTION PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THIS ARTICLE: It shall be
unlawful and constitute an infraction for any person to violate any provision of
this Article. Any such violation shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars
($50.00) for a first offense, one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a second offense committed
within one year and one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for each additional offense
committed within one year, except as to continuing offenses as provided in Section 7051
of this Chapter. As to continuing offenses the fine for each violation deemed to be a
separate violation by Section 7051 of this Chapter shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).
(Ord. 863, §2, adopted 1986)
March/2000
8033
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January 4, 2008
Captain R. C. Madrigal, Commander
Dept. of California Highway Patrol
540 S ORCHARD AVE
UKIAH CA 95482-5021
RE: No parking request - 540 S. Orchard Ave
Dear Captain Madrigal:
Enclosed please find a copy of the Traffic Engineering Committee (TEC) report regarding the
subject request. I have also enclosed a copy of the Traffic Engineering Committee agenda.
This item will be heard at the TEC meeting, which begins at 3:00 PM on Tuesday,
January 4, 2008. The meeting will be held at the Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue,
Ukiah, CA in Conference Room 3. You are welcome to attend the meeting and discuss this
agenda item.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at 707-463-6296 if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
~~~~~~2~Yl~l c6~
Richard J. Seanor
Deputy Director of Public Works
enc.
cc: Officer Marian Holcomb w/attachment
Sergeant Dave Tafel w/attachment
file /
300 SEMINARY AVENUE, UKIAH, CA 95482-5400
Phone# 707/463-6200 Fax# 707/463-6204 Web Address: www.cityofukiah.com
City of Ukiah
Fire Department
3U11 Saninarc :~~c-
Idl:iah. C:A ~I~ }~Z
FaS 7U7/1fi2-GU6tt
MEMORANDUM
Date: 1 /7/08
To: Traffic Engineering Committee
From: Chuck Yates, Fire Marshal,
Ref: Parking and traffic concerns
Having reviewed the Downtown Ukiah Parking Improvement Study, there is
one continuing issue which is of concern to the Ukiah Fire Department. It is
the issue of narrow streets and parking out of the Downtown area.
These narrow streets and streets with extensive parking are dangerous to our
citizens, delaying our emergency response through these areas. In some
cases they prohibit our access to residents in the event of an emergency.
Examples are Church, Smith, Stephenson, and Mill Streets.
Although this study did not include these particular areas, they are of great
concern for your emergency responders and we request that in the future
they be reviewed for the implementation of corrective actions.
Chuck
City of £Jkia.~i
Fire Department
300 Seminary Ave.
Ukiah, CA 95482
MEMORANDUM
Date: 1 /7/08
To: Traffic Engineering Committee
From: Chuck Yates, Fire Marshal,
Ref: Parking and traffic concerns
RECEIVED
JAN - 7 2008
CITY OF UKIAH
DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS
Fire 707/463-6264
Pax 707/462-6068
Having reviewed the Downtown Ukiah Parking Improvement Study, there is
one continuing issue which is of concern to the Ukiah Fire Department. It is
the issue of narrow streets and parking out of the Downtown area.
These narrow streets and streets with extensive parking are dangerous to our
citizens, delaying our emergency response through these areas. In some
cases they prohibit our access to residents in the event of an emergency.
Examples are Church, Smith, Stephenson, and Mill Streets.
Although this study did not include these particular areas, they are of great
concern for your emergency responders and we request that in the future
they be reviewed for the implementation of corrective actions.
Chuck
~ra~~-
UKIAH CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
~{%a- C'lti '~
ITEM NO. N/A
DATE: January 16. 2008
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION OF FINAL DRAFT DOWNTOWN UKIAH PARKING IMPROVEMENT
STUDY
SUMMARY: The Downtown Ukiah Parking Improvement Study (December 27, 2008 Final
Draft Report) is presented to the Council for review and direction. The study prepared by
Whitlock and Weinberger Transportation, Inc. evaluates parking deficiencies, projects future
demand, and recommends a program of engineering, management, and enforcement
solutions.
Study Area: The study area encompasses Walnut/Scott/Norton Streets to Gobbi Street, and
Mason/Main Streets to Dora Avenue (Figure 1). The study focuses on the Downtown core
(Henry to Seminary and Pine to Mason/Main Streets) including the five City-owned downtown
parking lots.
Notification: All owners of property within and around the study area, as well as the Traffic
Engineering Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Program, and Mendocino
County were notified of this agenda item and availability of the Parking Study online.
Continued on page 2
RECOMMENDED ACTION: (1) Receive Downtown Ukiah Parking Improvement Study and
comment, and (2) refer the Study to an ad hoc parking improvement committee comprised of
Police, Public Works, Community Services, Planning, Finance, together with a Council
subcommittee if desired, for preparation of an implementation plan for Council review.
ALTERNATIVE COUNCIL POLICY OPTION: (1) Provide other direction as determined by the
Council.
Citizen Advised: N/A
Requested by: City Manager
Prepared by: Pamela Townsend, Senior Planner
Coordinated with: Pat Thompson, Interim City Manager, and Sage Sangiacomo,
Community Services Director
Attachments: 1. Downtown Ukiah Parking Improvement Study, Final Draft,
December 27, 2007.
2. Traffic Engineering Committee Minutes, January 8, 2008.
APPROVED:
Pat Thompson, Interim City Manager
1
~i~~-~
Prior Work: As background, the study was initiated in 2003, a public workshop was held and
baseline conditions report submitted in 2004, and various development scenarios were
examined before proceeding under the assumption that the Courts would remain in the
Downtown and the circulation network would remain functionally the same.
Key Findings:
• There 276 lot-specific parking permit spaces in Lots A-E, and 28 onstreet parking permit
spaces, each with a $25 monthly fee. There is one space available per permit holder (no
overselling).
• 4451 parking spaces were counted in the study area; with 1649 in the downtown core (635
public onstreet, 442 public lots, 572 private).
• Downtown core parking demand is estimated at 646 spaces at 11 AM (1 space/1,725
square feet gross floor area not accounting for vacancies, etc. ). At peak hour there is
capacity for 323 additional vehicles.
^ Space occupancy: In the downtown core, overall peak occupancy is only 60%, and this
occurs between 11 AM to -12 Noon. Excluding Exempt spaces, occupancy of spaces by
type (90 minute, 5 hour, etc) during the peak hour ranged form 35% to 77%. Diagonal
spaces on School Street are heavily used. Demand varies in the public lots. Long-term
space usage drops significantly during lunchtime when 24 minutes spaces are most heavily
used. Permit parking is generally 55-60% over the course of a day, while 5-hour and 10
hour spaces have the highest overall demand over the course of a day.
• Future demand (page 16): Two development scenarios (one approximating the form-based
code) would each increase peak hour space occupancy from 60 to 90%, with peak hour
from being 1-2 PM.
Issues (page 14):
• Time limits are unbalanced and parking rules are unclear in some areas. People shuffle
cares around. Enforcement could be improved.
• There is a waiting list for parking permits, but only 60% overall occupancy of permit spaces.
• Meters are outdated, allocation of parking and loading is inconsistent with land uses, lot
layout and directional signage could be improved. Centrally located and shared parking
spaces can substitute for 2-3 single-destination spaces.
Parking recommendations (page 19):
Recommendations begin on page 19 categorized under engineering, management and
enforcement. A 4-phase implementation plan begins on page 26.
• Phase 1 includes modifying the permit program and parking time limits in various areas,
creating diagonal parking on a portion of School Street, installing a kiosk meter system in
parking lots and revising parking and permit fees.
• Phase 2 expands the kiosk system to onstreet parking, shared parking, and conversion of
most 90 minute parking to 2 hour, and imposing 2 hour limits on convenient parking spaces.
• Phase 3 expands Phase 2.
• Phase 4 includes future programs when overall peak occupancy exceeds 85%.
Conclusion and Staff Recommendation: Delivery of the Study provides an opportunity to
improve coordination and direction of the city's parking function, which has been vested with
various departments. Staff continues to review the study but has some initial comments:
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1. Dedicate Lot E to 2-hou kp nrar ii g (rather than 4-hour parking which is more likely to be
consumed by employees) and substitute additional 4-hour parking in the area around Clay
St. and Seminary Avenue.
2. The Traffic Engineering Committee recommends (TO BE ADDED TODAY)
Staff suggests creation of a multi-discipline ad hoc management committee to review
recommendations in the Study and prepare an implementation plan of:
• Recommended actions and programs
• Timeline and funding
• Management and staffing
The ad hoc committee should include the Police, Public Works, Community Services,
Redevelopment Agency, Planning, and Finance departments. The Council may desire to
appoint a subcommittee to work with the committee.
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