Report Prepared by: Frank Quintero, Director of Economic Development, Economic Development Department
Title
SUBJECT: Consideration of an Ordinance Dealing with Angle Parking, No Parking Zones, Freight and Passenger Loading Zones, and Accessible Passenger Loading Zone on N Street between W. 18th and W. 19th Streets
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider introducing ordinance for the removal of angle-parking along a portion of N Street and replacing with a Freight and Passenger Loading Zone and Accessible Passenger Loading Zone as part of UC Merced’s Downtown Building Project.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a Motion introducing Ordinance 2458, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, amending Merced Municipal Code Sections 10.28.090, “Angle Parking Permitted Where,” 10.28.230, “No Parking Zone,” and 10.32.050, “Freight and Passenger Loading Zones - Locations,” and adding Section 10.28.059, “Accessible Passenger Loading Zones,” to the Merced Municipal Code.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by the Traffic Committee; or,
2. Modify ordinance for introduction; or,
3. Deny
AUTHORITY
The Merced Municipal Code (MMC):
Section 10.28.070 - Angle parking-Markings.
Whenever any provision of this code or other ordinance of this city designates and describes any street or portion thereof upon which angle parking shall be permitted, the city engineer shall mark or sign such street indicating the angle at which vehicles shall be parked.
Section 10.28.080 - Angle parking-Method.
When signs or markings are in place indicating angle parking as provided by Section 10.28.070, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such signs or markings.
Section 10.28.180 - Curb markings-Generally.
The city engineer is authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this chapter to place, and when required shall place, the following curb markings to indicate parking or standing regulations. Such curb markings have the following meanings:
A. Red means no stopping, standing, or parking at any time except as permitted by the state Vehicle Code; provided, that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone;
B. Yellow means no stopping, standing, or parking at any time between six a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or materials;
C. White means no stopping, standing, or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers which shall not exceed three minutes and such restrictions shall apply between six a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays and except as follows:
1. When such zone is in front of a hotel or church the restrictions shall apply at all times.
2. When such zone is in front of a theatre the restrictions shall apply at all times except when such theatre is closed;
D. Green means no standing or parking for longer than the period indicated by signs properly posted on any day except Sundays and holidays;
E. Blue means no standing or parking except for vehicles bearing a special license plate or special placard issued for disabled persons pursuant to Section 9105 or Section 22511.5 of the California Vehicle Code; provided, that there shall also be posted a sign as provided in Chapter 10.36. Blue curb parking spaces shall be operative twenty-four (24) hours a day, Sundays and holidays included.
Section 10.28.190 - Curb markings-Violation.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking or sign in violation of any of the provisions of Section 10.28.180.
Section 10.28.210 - Zones determined by city council.
The city council shall, by ordinance or resolution, determine those streets, parts of streets, alleys or other locations, upon which parking shall be limited to stated periods of time, or to certain vehicles or shall be prohibited, and the city engineer shall designate such streets or parts of streets, alleys or other locations by appropriate signs, parking space markings or curb markings.
This request add the subject street section to those in this particular MMC Section:
Section 10.28.230 - No parking zones.
When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand, or park any vehicle at any time on any day along the following portions of the following streets: (See table in MMC 10.28.230)
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
FY 15-16 Budget, Economic Development Goals - Move Forward. Strengthen Merced environment for knowledge-based industry by building upon relationships with the University of California Merced.
DISCUSSION
The University Of California Merced (UCM) is scheduled to break ground on its Downtown Administration Building on June 8, 2016. The subject site is located immediately north of the Merced Civic Center (Attachment 1). As City staff and UCM’s project team exchanged comments on the project, both staffs concluded that to tactically combat a fire at the facility, the angle-parking (10 spaces) along the east side of N Street (west property line of the subject site) should be eliminated to provide adequate room to stage fire engines. Rather than simply eliminating all angle-parking along the respective portion of N Street, UCM proposed replacing the angle-parking with an Accessible Passenger Loading Zone, Freight and Passenger Loading Zone, and a No Parking Zone (Attachment 2). Neither the Accessible Passenger Loading Zone or Freight and Passenger Zone allow for long-term parking which generally keeps the frontage clear of vehicles.
As a result of the discussions between City staff and UCM’s project team, and consideration by the City of Merced Traffic Committee, an Ordinance was created calling for the elimination of the angle-parking along the respective portion of N Street, and replaced with an Accessible Passenger Loading Zone, Freight and Passenger Loading Zone, and a No Parking Zone (Attachment 3). Staff is requesting that the City Council approve the proposed Ordinance.
Requested Zones Along N Street: The proposed Ordinance also includes language creating the “Accessible Passenger Loading Zones.” Stalls constructed in an Accessible Passenger Loading Zone are similar to standard Disabled Parking Spaces, but do not allow for long-term parking. The stall will provide a loading and unloading safe harbor for persons with disabilities. The Accessible Passenger Loading Zone would be located immediately north of the W. 18th Street along the east side of N Street.
A Freight and Passenger Loading Zone would be designed adjacent to the Accessible Passenger Loading Zone along N Street. The Freight and Passenger Loading Zone would allow for passenger vans to load and unload passengers, and parcel trucks to make deliveries or pick-up packages. Neither the Accessible Passenger Loading Zone or Freight and Passenger Zone allow for long-term parking which generally keeps the frontage clear of vehicles.
The third and final designation would be a No Parking Zone which would be reserved for Fire Access. The Fire Department stated that to best combat a fire at the facility, Fire Trucks should be staged at the northwest corner of the property rather than downwind.
Traffic Committee Consideration: The UCM project team’s request concerning the respective Parking Zone designations was considered and reviewed at the Traffic Committee Meeting of Tuesday, March 8, 2016. The Traffic Committee unanimously supported eliminating the angle-parking along the east side of N Street (west property line of the subject site), and replacing the parking with the requested Zones.
Another matter considered by the Traffic Committee was a request to close the east side of N Street between W. 18th and W. 19th Streets for an extended period of 18 months. The item will be brought before the City Council as a separate Agenda Item at a future Council meeting.
Impact on Nearby Businesses: The angle-parking spaces proposed to be eliminated are generally used by clients visiting the Merced Civic Center. A spokesperson representing businesses located near the UCM project area noted concern with the availability of short-term parking to accommodate customers. Staff will continue reaching out to the businesses to re-configure the timed parking at Parking Lots 3 and 5 so that customer’s short-term parking needs are met.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Map
2. Proposed Loading and No Parking Zones
3. Proposed Ordinance