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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPPC Minutes - 11.8.16 MINUTES November 8, 2016 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PARKING PLACE COMMISSION 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chairperson James 2. ROLL CALL Present: Shirley James, Chairperson Jolene Malfatti, Vice Chairperson Sam Shihadeh, Commissioner City Staff: Justin Lovell, Commission Secretary Marissa Garren, Commission Clerk Other: Maria Martinucci 3. AGENDA REVIEW NO CHANGES 4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS / PUBLIC COMMENT Maria Martinucci asked the Commission what the timeline is for the removal of the 22 parking spaces in the downtown area, which were mentioned in the last commission meeting. Secretary Lovell replied that there is no current funding for this removal to take place and that it is currently on hold. It should move forward within the next five to ten years. Secretary Lovell spoke on behalf of Dr. Soohoo of South City Chiropractic, located on Baden Avenue. He inquired about a motorcycle parking space in Lot 12 and whether it can be made into a regular parking space since motorcycles don’t frequently park in that Lot. Secretary Lovell added that the City is under no obligation to provide motorcycle parking in any of the parking lots. 5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: September 13, 2016 Motion—Commissioner Shihadeh/Second—Vice Chairperson Malfatti to approve the minutes as submitted. Approved by unanimous voice vote. 6. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS NONE 7. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS a. Removal of two parking meters at Lot 5 and Lot 12 to accommodate disabled parking spaces in each lot Parking Place Commission Meeting November 8, 2016 Page 2 of 4 Secretary Lovell informed the Commission that this item was a request received by the City’s Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC). There are currently no disabled parking spaces in both Lots 5 and 12 and current regulations indicate that disabled parking should be available. The TAC recommends approving this request which would involve the removal of two parking meters each from Lots 5 and 12. Commissioner Shihadeh inquired if these disabled parking spaces will be metered parking. Secretary Lovell replied that California State Law allows those with a disabled parking placard to park for free. Vice Chairperson Malfatti referred back to the oral communication item regarding the elimination of the motorcycle parking space from Lot 12 and asked if the size of a motorcycle parking space is smaller than a standard parking space. Secretary Lovell replied that there are certain regulations on the size of parking spaces which staff would follow after the motorcycle space has been removed and the lot is restriped. Motion—Commissioner Shihadeh/Second—Chairperson James approved the removal of two parking meters at Lot 5 and Lot 12 to accommodate disabled parking spaces in each lot. Approved by unanimous voice vote. (Approved by roll call vote (3-0-0). b. Waiver of parking fees at the Miller Avenue Parking Garage and select parking meters for upcoming events Secretary Lovell announced that staff is slightly modifying past practice of having free parking available in the Miller Parking Garage and at all metered spaces for Small Business Saturday and during two additional weeks in December. Since there is already high parking occupancy, especially on Grand Avenue, free parking can worsen the parking situation for metered spaces throughout that time. Staff recommends that since the Miller Parking Garage still has available capacity and the goal is to encourage parking in that location, to recommend free parking only in the Garage on November 26, 2016 for Small Business Saturday, and to waive parking on December 3, 2016 on the 400 block of Grand Avenue for the Santa Comes to Town event. Secretary Lovell also added that an email was received from Kamala Silva, who runs the Everything South City Facebook page, after the agenda was issued requesting that all parking is free across all of South San Francisco on Small Business Saturday. The Commission has the option to approve or disapprove this request. Maria Martinucci inquired on whether Miller Avenue Parking Garage parking permits will need to still be purchased for the month of December. Secretary Lovell responded that this will not be necessary since the City will provide free parking for that entire month. Parking Place Commission Meeting November 8, 2016 Page 3 of 4 Commissioner Shihadeh inquired why free parking will be offered for all December in the Miller Parking Garage, instead of only one designated floor. Secretary Lovell responded that this would provide an opportunity to generate traffic to park in the Garage, since it is underutilized and there will be a higher parking demand in the next few years. Motion—Commissioner Shihadeh/Second—Chairperson James approved the waiver of parking fees at the Miller Avenue Parking Garage and select parking meters for upcoming events. Approved by unanimous voice vote. (Approved by roll call vote (3-0-0). c. Parking sponsorship policy Secretary Lovell mentioned that the owners of Armstrong Brewery attended last month’s commission meeting with the interest to sponsor parking. This option would be revenue-neutral since the sponsor will pay for the parking for a certain amount of time at a set price per meter per day. Staff is recommending a parking sponsorship program to be made available for downtown businesses to sponsor parking, also giving them an opportunity to market their business. Requirements to the sponsor would involve they pay for a minimum of 10 meters. Chairperson James asked if there should be a timeline for this program. Secretary Lovell replied that staff can pilot this program for a year to see if any other businesses, other than Armstrong, would be interested in participating. Maria Martinucci asked if this program can be made available to all businesses, other than only those located in the downtown area. Commissioner Shihadeh asked how the businesses will be advertised when participating in the program. Secretary Lovell answered that a message will be on the screen of the smart parking meters including the business name. Vice Chairperson commented that this program would help entice shoppers to the downtown area. She would like to see this program go throughout the holiday season of 2017. Motion—Commissioner Shihadeh/Second—Chairperson James approved the Parking Sponsorship Policy for one year until December 31, 2017. Approved by unanimous voice vote. (Approved by roll call vote (3-0-0). 8. ITEMS FROM STAFF a. Parking Study Implementation Plan Secretary Lovell updated the Commission that the Parking Study presentation to the City Council has been postponed to the December 14, 2016 date. This study Parking Place Commission Meeting November 8, 2016 Page 4 of 4 has given staff an opportunity to focus on how to implement changes throughout the downtown in the next few years. Staff has phased the parking plan into phases over the next two year period as noted in the staff report. He also reminded the Commission to provide their feedback to the proposed phases included in the staff report, which will be included in the presentation to City Council. The first parking phase is to adopt a rate policy in the core streets that are metered in order to maintain 85% occupancy. This would involve periodic rate adjustments. Also, parking time limits would increase from one to two hour time limits in the core locations, allowing people not to feel rushed if they plan to stay in the downtown area for more than an hour. The second phase would involve adding another parking meter technician. Currently, there is one technician who collects and counts the money from the meters. With an additional technician, shifts would be staggered instead of working the same shift and they will also have the ability to enforce parking. The elimination of The number of parking permit spaces in the MPG would increase and reduce hourly and daily spaces. Also, the number of daily permit spaces would be eliminated and replaced with metered spaces. Since 212 spaces will be needed in the next five to ten years, an additional structure will be needed which can mostly be funded by the Parking District. The formalization of an overnight parking program is also recommended allowing anyone to park in the parking lots overnight. Vice Chairperson inquired about the overnight parking program and whether the City will be responsible for any damage made to vehicles parked in any of the parking lots overnight. Secretary Lovell replied that there is language on the back of the parking permits stating that the City is not responsible. Once the parking study is approved and adopted by the City Council, staff would return to the Commission meeting and work out a formalized policy to guide any rate adjustments to follow. Commissioner Shihadeh suggested that the installation of more smart parking meters be installed throughout the downtown area, other than Grand Avenue. Secretary Lovell also added that 11 sensors have been installed on Maple Avenue which has collected good data. Vice Chairperson also inquired whether smart parking meters will be removed when downtown parking changes to parallel parking in the next 5-10 years. There is no design work being done and that this has been lowered on the priority list, therefore won’t be taking place soon. Parking Place Commission Meeting November 8, 2016 Page 5 of 4 9. ITEMS FROM THE COMMISSION NONE Chairperson James adjourned the meeting at 5:49 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ______________________________ _____________________________ Justin Lovell Shirley James Parking Place Commission Secretary Chairperson