HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Memo from City Attorney dated October 30, 1987 with Ordinance f '
MEMORANDUM
TO: Nancy Gibbons, City Clerk
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FROM: John R. Klaus, City Atty. � ,)
DATE: October 30, 1987
SUBJECT: Parking on Hyland
You are aware that the ordinance recently enacted to regulate parking on
Hyland did not prohibit parking on the west side from Lincolnway to West
St. as desired. The attached ordinance will take care of that. I
suggest it be put on the agenda as a "motion to suspend the rules and
finally enact" the ordinance.
cc. A.O. Chantland
Encl .
} P A R K I N G A L 0 N G H Y L A N D A V E N U E
At the July 21st, 1987 meeting, Council requested that staff prepare a
report on alternatives for parking along Hyland Avenue between Lincoln Way
and Oakland Street. This request followed a council discussion of driveway
sight distances along Hyland Avenue particularly between West Street and
Oakland Street.
The driveway sight distance problem exists along both sides of Hyland
Avenue between West Street and Oakland Street when a continuous line of
vehicles are parked on the hill. Currently parking is restricted to al—
ternate side parking by Chapter 18 of the Ames Code. Driveway vehicles
attempting to exit onto Hyland Avenue encounter significant sight distance
restrictions due to the presence of parked vehicles adjacent to the drive—
way. It would be necessary to remove parking for approximately five (5)
vehicle lengths in order to significantly improve driveway sight distances.
This would mean that parking would have to be eliminated from the Hyland
Avenue hill in order to increase available sight distances equally for all
driveways. This is a problem that has existed in this area since vehicles
were first allowed to park and since the University has failed to maintain
a high ratio of parking spaces to permits issued on campus. The staff is
recommending that parking be prohibited from Hyland Avenue between West
Street and Oakland Street at all times.
This recommendation would result in more efficient traffic movements and
less concern for safety issues caused by obstructed driveway sight
distances. Also in the winter time the Hyland Avenue hill creates
significant problems involving de—icing activities of the Public Works
Department. The removal of parking would result in de—icing and plowing
activities being accomplished without experiencing the negative effects of
implementing a snow ordinance and towing or impounding offending vehicles
from this portion of Hyland Avenue.
The section of Hyland Avenue lying between Lincoln Way and West Street does
not experience the severe driveway sight distance problems as are en—
countered on the hill to the north. However, along this portion of Hyland
Avenue the problem becomes one of street congestion if parking were allowed
on both sides. Currently alternate side parking is enforced per the provi—
sions of Chapter 18 of the Ames Code. During the night and early morning
hours very few vehicles park on this portion of Hyland Avenue. However
during the day the parking usage exceeds the number of spaces available.
This is due to a number of cars that park illegally along this section of
Hyland Avenue. Apparently the daytime parking demand is generated by
latent parking demand factors, associated with the University, overflowing
into the adjacent residential area. It is also apparent that sufficient
off—street spaces are provided by landlords for their tenants as evidenced
by the absence of high parking utilizations during weekend or evening
hours. One solution to controlling parking in this area would be the in—
stallation of 4—hour and 2—hour parking meters to partially satisfy the
tremendous daytime parking demands. This alternative would be consistent
with steps that the City Council has taken in the area; notably along
Sheldon Avenue where 2—hour and 4—hour parking meters have been installed
and are extremely successful in providing turnover spaces for commuters.
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There are a total of 20 parking spaces available on the east side of Hyland
Avenue. Six of these spaces have already been designated by Council to re-
ceive 2-hour parking meters at a rate of 200 per hour. The six are located
closest to West Street. An additional 14 parking spaces could be installed
between Lincoln Way and West Street to provide for parking space turnover
on a 4-hour interval. These meters could also be rated at 200 per hour.
The estimated cost of installing the 14 additional parking meters is
$3,220.00. If one assumes a 50% utilization factor, then a total of
$4,212.00 would be anticipated in parking fees from the 20 parking meters.
Additionally fines should generate approximately $2,000.00. Thus the total
revenue into the parking system would be $6,212.00. Hyland Avenue would
pay itself back in approximately 6 months.
The issue of installing parking meters and their utilizations is one that
is open for debate at the current time. However, the staff believes that
the installation of parking meters along Sheldon Avenue was a successful
venture in that the goals of installing parking meters have been met. More
specifically the on-street parking space turnover rate has significantly
increased to the point where commuters desiring short term stays can more
than likely secure a metered parking space. Meter and fine revenues are
entering into the Ames Municipal Parking System in an effort to reverse the
deficit spending pattern that has occurred over the years.
Another alternative for managing parking along Hyland Avenue would be a
total prohibition of on-street parking between Lincoln Way and Oakland
Street. This alternative would solve problems with sight distances and
traffic capacity, however the need to satisfy short and medium term parking
demands in the area would remain.
The staff believes that parking meters along Hyland Avenue between Lincoln
Way and West Street would provide for 2-hour and 4-hour parking space turn-
over to satisfy an existing parking demand and that the prohibition of
parking from Hyland Avenue between West Street and Oakland Street would
improve driveway sight distances and maintenance operations to the point
where complaints regarding these two issues would be settled. Should
Council agree, it is recommended that an ordinance be proposed that would
prohibit parking at all times on Hyland Avenue between Oakland Street and
West Street, and that a resolution be proposed that would alter the of-
ficial parking meter map to indicate that fourteen 4-hour meters and six
2-hour meters at a rate of 200 per hour would be installed on the east side
of Hyland between Lincoln Way and West Street.
If Council believes that parking safety issues require on-street parking
prohibitions, than staff should be directed to submit a proposed ordinance
that would remove parking from Hyland Avenue. This ordinance would involve
Hyland Avenue from Lincoln Way to Oakland Street. If Council desires to
address the most critical safety needs while supplying short and medium
term parking spaces, then an ordinance should be prepared prohibiting
parking along Hyland Avenue from West Street to Oakland Street and a
resolution should be prepared amending the official Parking Meter Map to
indicate the installation of twenty metered spaces (six 2-hour and fourteen
4-hour meters) at a rate of 10 cents per hour.
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