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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated November 26, 1996 Item # /J Date: November 26, 1996 COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: HYLAND AVENUE PARKING PROHIBITIONS (ROSS ROAD TO SHELDON AVENUE) BACKGROUND: The Hyland Avenue section between Forest Hills Drive and Ontario Street is anticipated to open for traffic prior to December 1, 1996. As part of this widening project, parking prohibitions were planned along both sides of the street from Sheldon Avenue to Ontario Street. (Currently, parking is only allowed on the east side between Ross Road and Sheldon Avenue on weekends and evening periods after 7:00 p.m.) This measure to prohibit parking is proposed to accommodate the two traffic and two on-street bike lanes planned along this 37' wide street. This plan had been discussed during several City Council meetings with the final plan approved on May 16, 1995. The area residents and members of the Unitarian Church expressed concerns over the loss of parking along Hyland Avenue during the project development phase. The integrity of the on-street bike lanes would be severely reduced if parking were to be allowed thus blocking the bike lane. ALTERNATIVES: 1 . Prohibit parking along the east side of Hyland Avenue from Ross Road to Sheldon Avenue/Oakland Street. 2 Prohibit parking at all times except along the east side on Sundays from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in an area 300' north and south of the Unitarian Church. This action would close the bike lane during the time when parking is allowed. 3. Do nothing which would allow parking on the east side of the street thus blocking the on-street bike lane. MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative number 1 , thereby directing the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance for action on December 3, 1996 to prohibit parking along the east side of Hyland Avenue from Ross Road to Sheldon Avenue/Oakland Street. This measure would remove parking along both sides of Hyland Avenue from Ontario Street and Oakland Street/Sheldon Avenue to accommodate two bicycle and traffic lanes. If Council wants to accommodate the Unitarian Church's lack of off-street parking, the City Attorney should be directed to prepare an ordinance in accordance with alternative #2. COUNCIL ACTION: CAFAPPROVAL SS . BK SL JK JP SR t To be sent to Alternative Proposal for New Parking Ordinance for Hyland from the members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship It is our hope that the needs of all the people using Hyland Avenue can be balanced in the new ordinance being written. Because we learned of the agenda item too late to discuss it with the Ames Bike Committee at their regular meeting, we can only say that we have discussed it with some members who do not see our request for Sunday parking as unreasonable. We, in turn, support cycling as transportation, recreation, and sport and will do everything we can to avoid interfering with cycling. This has included going to two services to reduce the need for overflow parking from our off-street lots. Our present lots accommodate 50 cars; when we pave our South lot within the next year or so we will be have spaces for 64 to 70 cars. We have two requests: Parking on Sunday until 1 p.m. (our second service does not end until noon) Evening parking 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. during the school year. Our summer activities are less, so, if it was seen as necessary for cyclists, we could accept a full ban on parking during the summer when the temperature and the light increase evening biking. This is a compromise position recognizing that night biking for most people is a seasonal activity. The way the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Building is currently used, the way it was designed to be used according the plan approved by the city, the 200 person auditorium requires overflow parking beyond all the off street lots the site will allow. This auditorium was designed as a public facility, and groups are coming to us to hold both musical and theatrical performances. It fits a unique niche in Ames. It is larger than the Octagon and the Maintenance Shop, but smaller than City Hall or school auditoriums. Last year we started a very successful monthly coffee house featuring nationally-known performers in an alcohol free and smoke free environment. All of these activities would be seriously compromised by a ban on parking, because the alternative parking(including the university lot we have been using this fall) is not only several blocks away but at the top of a steep hill. Balancing Use of Hyland The case for permitting parking at night and Sunday mornings Groups having an interest in the proposed ordinance: • Bicycle commuters -- The ordinance will provide unlimited access to the bike lanes all weekdays year-round during the commuting hours • Fresh Aire Delivery -- They do their deliveries during the daytime hours when there will be unlimited access to the bike lanes • Recreational Bikers -- They will be inconvenienced on Sunday mornings even if cars are prohibited from parking on the street, because 50 to 64 cars will be driving in and out of the UU parking lots across the southbound downhill lane. • Intrepid bicyclists for whom bicycles are the sole means of transportation -- These people will also be inconvenienced by any event held at the UU Fellowship • Residents living on Hyland and Ross Road -- The on street parking in this neighborhood is extremely limited. Parking is permitted on only one side of Ross Road. This is barely enough for the people living on the street when two of them are giving parties at the same time. Sharing the already limited parking with Hyland residents and people parking for events at the UU Fellowship presents a serious parking problem for residents. • People scheduling events at the UIJ Fellowship -- We encourage outside groups to use our building. Smaller groups, like the Hindus, can be accommodated with off street parking. Others, like the Malaysian students, are more numerous. In the case of cultural events, the facility is unusually flexible. It is beautiful space for musical performances. Because we have no fixed chairs and even our new risers are modular, we can accommodate theater in the round as well as other theatrical presentations. We have a dance floor in our meeting room, so large dances are also a possibility. Whether we are talking about weddings, parties, rituals, or fundraisers, the space is the building is suitable for 150 to 200 people, which is more than can be accommodated by our parking lots. • People attending events at the UU Fellowship -- At the present time we have off- street parking for less than 50 cars. Potential maximum off-street parking is limited by the topography of our sites and the regulations of the city of Ames to 64 places North lot -- 36 legal parking places South lot -- 28 legal parking places (projected by Edin Scmidt in Planning and Housing) The current unpaved lot holds only 12 cars. When we spend the $40,000 to pave it, we will have a net gain of only 16 parking places. We have counted 50 cars parked on Hyland for Fellowship event, so relocating them is not a trivial problem. From our experience this fall we know where these cars will park. Most of them will park on Ross Road. Parking on Ontario Road is more than three full blocks from the Fellowship. People parking on Ross Road have to walk in the street to the sidewalks on Hyland, and when they get there, they have to walk for nearly a block down a steep hill. This is especially dangerous at night in the winter. Although parking on Hyland and crossing two lanes of auto traffic is not ideal, at least it is well lit (or will be when the street lights are replaced) and relatively level. You can look both ways and have a straight line of visibility, unlike Ross Road, which curves. The alternative of parking in the university lots by the Design Center is only feasible with a shuttle because it is literally up the hill and through the trees. On a lovely morning in the spring or fall it may be possible, but at night or in icy weather it is dangerous. To say that a shuttle would be difficult to arrange for the varied events at the UU Fellowship is something of an understatement. This is a very unusual parking/fraf fic situation. In spite of the fact that it is the only direct link between 13th .Street and Lincoln Way for over a mile in either direction, most of the traffic on Hyland on Sunday or in the evening is generated by the 1111 Fellowship. This is not theoretical. It is based on years of observation. Traf fic is only slightly affected by events at CY Stevens, Hilton Coliseum, or the football stadium because 13th Street is more convenient. Even though Hyland is adjacent to the campus, students never park there at night or on weekends. They have better options at those times. For at least half the year very few bicycles use the road even during the daytime. 1 think it is significant that the council members who regularly bike and drive on Hyland or who have attended events at the UI Fellowship support the proposed ordinance. �JJ` y`' 4r�ar�fs�bb CUPERTINO CITY ADMIN PAGE 02 11.08.210 If the Passenger is a minor weighing forty pounds any street in the city indicating the existence of a Or less, the seat shall have adequate provision for bicycle lane,and otherwise regulating the location retaining the minor in place and for protecting the and use of vehicles and bicycles with respect to minor from the moving parts of the bicycle.(Ord. them,so long as the same are consistent with this 1420(part), 1987) chapter.Before such a sign is erected,the subject bicycle lame shall be designated on such streets by 11.08-M Carrying articles, an approved painting or sign or in such other No person operating a bicycle shall carry any manner as the City Manager shall determine win package,bundle or article which prevents the op- provide sufficient notice of the existence of such erator from keeping at least one hand upon the bicycle lane. When such a painting or sign is in handlebars.(Ord. 1420(part), 1987) place,no person shall disobey it. 11.08230 Motor vehicles and motorized DFMGNA77ON OF BTCY=LAM bicycles in bicycle lanes. on _ A. Whenever a bicycle lane has been estab- Blaney Avenue From the southerly iliAe of Homestead Both lished on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207 of Road to the northerly line of Bollinger the California Vehicle Code, any person operat- wkhin the city limits Road all POrtiOw c�urentlyorharwfter ing a motorvehicle on such roadway shall not drive Bollinger Road From the easterly City limits to the North in the bicycle lane except to park where parking is easterly Lune of Blaney Avenue permitted, to enter or leave the highway, or to B° Road From the henbane ly L of of StevensBoth Drive to the southerly line of Stee prepare for a turn. clack Boulevard B. This section does not prohibit the use of a Homestead From the easterly City limit to the Both Road westerty city limit all portions currently motorized bicycle in a bicycle lane pursuant to or hereafter within the city umits Section 21207.5 of the California 'Vehicle Code, Kim Street From the southerly line of Kirwin Lane Both provided, that no person shall operate a motor- to the northerly(lue of Bollinger Road ized bicycle upon a bicycle lane at a speed greater c ellen cF From she easterly line of Byrne Avenue Both than is reasonable or prudent having due regard currently r hereafter w,�the city for visibility and the traffic on,and the surface of limits the bicycle lane,and in no event in a manner which Rambo"Drive From the Cape*line of Stelling Road Both to the westerly line of endangers the safety of bicyclists utilizing the bi- sarawgasunnyvale Road cycle lane,(Ord. 1420(Pan), 1987) Staking Road From a point one hundred feet Both southerly of Carriage Circle to the southerly line Of Homestead Road all 11.08.240 Impoundment. Portions currently or hereafter within the The City may impound and retain possession of Stevens Creek From the eassttarly line of De Anna Both any bicycle in violation of the provisions of this Boulevard Boulevard to the westerly tine of Taatau chapter,and may retain possession of such bicycle Avenue all portions currently or hereafter within the City limits until the provisions of this chapter are complied Tantau Road From the northerly line of Stevens Both with. In addition, a fine may be imposed for any Creek Boulevard to the southerly line of violation of this chapter pursuant to Section Homestead Road 11.08.310.(Ord. 1420 art 1987 Mary Avenue Between Stevens Creek Boulevard and Both (pan), ) Meteor Drive 11•08-250 Bicycle lanes—Designated (Ord. 1544, 1991; Ord. 1517, 19900; Ord. 1420 The City Manager, upon approval of the City (part), 1987) Council,is authorized to erect or place signs upon 295 (Cuperdw 2-91)