REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 18, 2014
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, Director
Development and Resource Management Department
BY: DEL ESTABROOKE, Parking Manager
Parking Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Parking Permit Agreement between Housing Authority and the City of Fresno:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facility) of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and
2. Approve a Parking Permit Agreement for up to 25 parking spaces in City of Fresno Parking Garage #7 located at 801 Van Ness at a base rate of $35 per month per stall for a two (2) year term (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Adopt findings of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facility) of the CEQA Guidelines for the Parking Permit Agreement between the Housing Authority and the City of Fresno and approve a Parking Permit Agreement for up to 25 parking spaces in City of Fresno Parking Garage #7 (Spiral Garage) located at 801 Van Ness at a base rate of $35 per month per stall for a two (2) year term with two (2) optional one (1) year extensions.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno and the Housing Authority have partnered to revitalize the intersection of Inyo Street and Van Ness Avenue in downtown. The former Droge building was razed and CityView @ Van Ness, an affordable urban living building, is under construction. This mixed use project will include residential and commercial components. The footprint of the new building does not provide enough parking for the tenants. Additional parking of up to 25 parking stalls will be made available in the City of Fresno Spiral Garage located across the street at 801 Van Ness for a monthly rate of $35 per stall. The Parking Agreement has an initial term of two (2) years with two (2) optional one (1) year terms. Monthly rates can be renegotiated after the initial two (2) year term. The $35 monthly rate is comparable to other affordable housing units for low and moderate incomes.
BACKGROUND
In a collaborative effort to revitalize downtown, while providing residents with affordable housing, the City of Fresno partnered with the Housing Authority on the CityView @ Van Ness project. This mixed use building offers affordable studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units and ground floor space for commercial use. The building footprint allows for a limited amount of onsite parking for the tenants. The City of Fresno and the Housing Authority propose an agreement for offsite parking across the street in the Spiral Garage. The agreement includes up to 25 parking stalls for tenants and visitors at a discounted rate of $35 per stall per month.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has determined that the proposed Agreement is exempt under CEQA Guideline 15301 Class 1, which provides exemption for the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public structures and facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. The proposed Agreement is within the Class 1 exemption because it involves existing City parking structures and facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use.
The above exemption is not precluded by Guideline 15300.2, which prevents the use of categorical exemptions for projects where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances, or where a project may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. The proposed Agreement does not have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances, nor does it cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this agreement does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The parking agreement could generate a maximum $21,000 in revenue for the initial term.
Attachment: Garage 7 Housing Authority Parking Agreement