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HomeMy WebLinkAbout101-Staff Report.pdfPage 1 of 3 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: July 6, 2011 AGENDA ITEM: DEPARTMENT: Public Works CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson PREPARED BY: John Cherbone DIRECTOR: John Cherbone Public Works Director Public Works Director SUBJECT: Village Parking Improvements RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Receive report and provide direction to staff. REPORT SUMMARY: The adequacy of parking in the Village has been an ongoing issue of interest to merchants, property owners, patrons, and policy makers since the City was incorporated. Over time the City created four parking districts in order to increase parking capacity in the Village. The parking districts were financed and built by assessing property owners who directly benefited from the proposed district. Once a parking district was established the City took over ownership and maintenance responsibility, thus creating the public parking capacity that currently exists in the Village. In addition to the four Saratoga Village Parking District Lots (Attachment 1), the City also manages on street parking along Big Basin Way, 3rd Street, 4th Street, and 5th Street. Currently, the City has a net surplus of parking spaces in the Village as a whole. Parking availability issues occur around the peak demand time of 7:30 PM. The upper Village near 4th Street is impacted the most where both Parking Districts 2 & 4 reach 100% capacity. In contrast Parking Districts 1 & 3 is only at 40% of capacity. The underutilization of Parking Districts 1 & 3 during the peak time is mostly due to their proximity to the upper Village where many popular restaurants are located. The majority of the spaces in Parking District 3 serve the lower Village and it appears are too far away or not advertised well enough to the public. Parking District 1 although located in the upper Village is not desirable to some because of the steep climb up 4th Street to get to Big Basin Way. It may suffer from poor advertisement as well where the patrons simply aren’t aware of the parking available there. Staff proposes two obtainable improvements that should help alleviate some of the parking distribution inequities. Page 2 of 3 1. Take advantage of the existing private valet service to distribute vehicles to Parking Districts 1 & 3. Since adoption of the Valet Parking Service Ordinance two Village restaurants, the La Fondue restaurant (previously Viaggios restaurant) and the Plumed Horse restaurant have offered valet services to their patrons. Currently, both restaurants use Veritas Parking Service. Even though the service is contracted by those specific restaurants they will serve any patron. Staff met with Brad Keller from Veritas Parking Service to discuss a proposal to locate the valet parking in an area in Parking District 1 (Attachment 2). Brad approved the area and felt that the number of parking spaces would be sufficient for the demand. He did request the side area along the edge of the parking lot be designated valet parking for specific holidays. He did not want to take that area other than the holidays in order to keep a good relationship with residents and neighboring businesses. Overflow parking was discussed in the event the designated area was 100% used. We informed him that any overflow parking demand would go to Parking District 3. Veritas also uses La Fondues private parking in the back of the restaurant. If this action is implemented there should be a marked improvement to the availability of parking spaces in Parking Districts 2 & 4 as well as curb side spaces in the upper Village. 2. Better advertise the City’s existing public parking spaces. Phase 2 of the Village Improvement Project can fund signage improvements aimed at advertising our parking areas in a more visible way than what currently exists in the Village. The signage can be newer technology such as wireless sensor devices which are self powered and wireless. Each sensor can manage the collection of data at each individual parking place. The devices detect events such when a space is occupied and for how long. One particular company installs the sensors in as many parking spaces as desired then charges a monthly fee of $30 per space. There are approximately 450 parking spaces in the City’s parking districts. The sensors can interface with commercial electronic sign boards to give real time information on parking availability. There are other systems available which can be explored during the design of Phase 2 of the Village Improvement Project. More visible signage whether traditional or electronic will help direct patrons to designated parking areas. Village Parking Capacity Although the Village currently has enough parking spaces to meet current demand, there will be a time in the future that demand will be greater than what’s available. It’s advisable to plan ahead for future parking needs before the need becomes too great as it takes an enormous amount of time and energy to develop and finance any type of parking structure. Whatever the direction development takes in the Village, parking capacity will be one of the number one issues. Page 3 of 3 FISCAL IMPACTS: None at this time. Capital costs for signage improvements can be funded from Phase 2 of the Village Pedestrian Improvement Project. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION: Valet parking would operate as is currently does. ALTERNATIVE ACTION: None in addition to the above. FOLLOW UP ACTION: The Valet Service will be issued a permit to operate with the stipulation that they use the City’s designated parking areas. ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT: This item was posted as a City Council agenda item and was included in the packet made available on the City’s web site in advance of the meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is also made available at the Saratoga Branch Library each Monday in advance of the Council meeting and residents may subscribe to the agenda on-line by opting in at www.saratoga.ca.us. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Parking District Map 2. Valet Parking Area Map