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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(B) Date: May 20, 2014 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Melissa L. Tigbao, Engineering Manager / Senior Engineer Yvetteh Ortiz, Interim Public Works Director / City Engineer Subject: Various Traffic and Parking Revisions ACTION REQUESTED Adopt two separate resolutions authorizing the Public Works Director / City Engineer to: 1. Remove seventy-five feet of green curb marking on the south side of Madera Drive in front of Madera Elementary school 2. Remove existing four-hour parking restrictions on the west side of San Pablo Avenue between Knott Avenue and Wall Avenue DISCUSSION The Public Works Department has received requests from Madera Elementary School and Honda of El Cerrito to evaluate parking revisions as discussed below. Removal of Green Curb Marking on Madera Drive The El Cerrito Public Works Department is proposing the removal of the green curb marking on Madera Drive. In 2007, the Council approved Resolution 2007-73, authorizing the installation of seventy-five feet of green curb marking in front of Madera Elementary School to better facilitate vehicle movement during pick-up and drop-off times. The green curb zone is located between the school’s two driveways which access the main parking lot. Green curb marking designates short-term parking and is supplemented by signs to indicate that it is to be used actively for drop-off and pick-up activities. However, student drop-off and pick-up in this designated area has led to conflicts with students crossing traffic at either the two school driveways on Madera Drive or within the school property itself. As a result of a 2013 community meeting and discussions with school representatives and the Police Department, various parking changes were proposed to reduce traffic congestion and improve pedestrian safety during drop-off and pick-times. In July 2013, an initial notification regarding traffic and parking changes, including the removal of the green curb marking, was sent to property owners and businesses within a 300-foot radius of the school. No comments were received regarding the green curb removal. Given Public Works staff’s concern that the removal might exacerbate congestion in the area, ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(B) Page 2 in August 2013, the Public Works Department temporarily removed the green curb restriction. The feedback from the school’s representatives regarding the temporary removal of the parking restriction has been favorable. Our staff continues to work with the school representatives on various other parking and circulation modifications to address the traffic congestion. At this time, staff is proposing the removal of the green curb marking which requires City Council approval. Removal of Four-Hour Parking on San Pablo Avenue between Knott Avenue and Wall Avenue The Public Works Department is proposing the removal of a four-hour parking restriction on the west side of San Pablo Avenue, between Knott Avenue and Wall Avenue. This is in response to a request from Honda of El Cerrito, located at 11755 San Pablo Avenue, to remove the parking restriction to better serve their business needs for long-term parking. Currently, all the businesses on this block have off-street parking available to meet their short-term parking needs. The existing four-hour time limited parking was increased from a two-hour time limit in 2010 by City Council Resolution 2010-77 to better serve business needs and to be consistent with the time restriction used in the residential permit parking areas within a half-mile around the Del Norte Bart Station. On July 31, 2013, a courtesy notification for temporary parking changes was sent to property owners, current residents and businesses within a 300-foot radius of this location. Given concerns of residential and BART parking spillover, the Public Works Department temporarily removed the parking restriction by covering the sign panels along the segment. The response from Honda of El Cerrito was positive and they requested a permanent removal. A final notification was sent to the requestor and immediately adjacent property owners and businesses on March 27, 2014. Since then no comments were received regarding the parking changes. The removal of the established parking time limit requires City Council approval. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS The removal of signs and curb markings is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. STRATEGIC PLAN CONSIDERATIONS Approval of the removal of green curb marking and parking restrictions would help fulfill the following Strategic Plan Goals: Goal C: By working with Madera Elementary School, the community and the Police Department to find parking solutions, the removal of green curb marking fosters a strong partnership with the schools. ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(8) Goal B: By working with El Cerrito Honda to remove the parking restriction on San Pablo A venue between Knott A venue and Wall A venue, the City attracts and maximizes opportunities for expanding business. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS The cost for removal of signs and curb markings are estimated to be under $500 and is included in the Public Works, Maintenance operating budget. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS El Cerrito Municipal Code Section 11.40.160 requires that any modification of green curb markings be approved by City Council Resolution. El Cerrito Municipal Code Section 11.40.210 requires that any modification of time limited parking restrictions be approved by City Council Resolution. Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachments: 1. Resolution for Removal of Green Curb Parking on the south side of Madera Drive 2. Resolution for Removal of Four-Hour Parking Restriction on San Pablo Avenue between Knott A venue and Wall A venue Page 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(B) Attachment 1 RESOLUTION 2014–XX RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CERRITO AUTHORIZING THE REMOVAL OF GREEN CURB MARKING ON MADERA DRIVE IN FRONT OF MADERA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEREAS, the Public Works Department has received requests from staff at Madera Elementary School to evaluate the current need for the green curb marking on the south side of Madera Drive in front of Madera Elementary School; and WHERAS, the City Council approved the green curb marking under Resolution 2007-73 to serve Madera Elementary School; and WHEREAS, pedestrian and vehicular conflict has increased in the area and the removal of green curb marking will reduce the conflict during pick-up and drop-off times; and WHEREAS, Section 11.40.160 of the El Cerrito Municipal Code requires that the modification of green curb marking be approved by the City Council. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of El Cerrito hereby authorizes the Public Works Director/City Engineer to remove the green curb marking on Madera Drive in front of Madera Elementary School. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of El Cerrito finds that this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage and adoption. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on May 20, 2014 the City Council of the City of El Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City of El Cerrito on May 2014. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: Janet Abelson, Mayor ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(B) Attachment 2 RESOLUTION 2014–XX RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CERRITO AUTHORIZING THE REMOVAL OF FOUR-HOUR PARKING RESTRICTION ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN PABLO AVENUE BETWEEN KNOTT AVENUE AND WALL AVENUE WHEREAS, the Public Works Department has received a request from the business at 11755 San Pablo Avenue that the existing four-hour parking time limit in front of 11755 San Pablo Avenue be removed to better serve their business needs; and WHEREAS, on-street parking is currently limited to four hours between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. except Sundays and Holidays as established by City Council Resolution 2010-77; and WHEREAS, the businesses on this block currently have off-street parking available to meet their short- term parking needs; and WHEREAS, removing the parking limit will serve the need of this business by providing long-term on- street parking; and WHEREAS, Section 11.40.210 of the El Cerrito Municipal Code requires that the modification of time limited parking be approved by the City Council. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of El Cerrito hereby authorizes the Public Works Director/City Engineer to remove the four-hour parking restriction on the west side of San Pablo Avenue between Knott Avenue and Wall Avenue. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of El Cerrito finds that this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage and adoption. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on May 20, 2014 the City Council of the City of El Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City of El Cerrito on May 2014. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: Janet Abelson, Mayor