REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
January 14, 2016
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, Director
Development and Resource Management Department
BY: DEL ESTABROOKE, Parking Manager
Development and Resource Management Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Parking Permit Agreement between J. Colin Computing Systems, Inc., a California Corporation, DBA J - I.T. Outsource 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 30 parking spaces in City of Fresno Underground Garage #8 located at 1077 Van Ness Ave at a base rate of $40 per month per stall for a one (1) year term (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt findings of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facility) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for a Parking Permit Agreement between J. Colin Computing Systems, Inc., a California Corporation, DBA J - I.T. Outsource and the City of Fresno and approve a one year Agreement between the City of Fresno and J - I.T. Outsource to provide parking in the Underground Parking Garage #8, at a fixed rate of $40 per month per stall for up to 30 stalls.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Parking Garage No. 8 is located under Van Ness Avenue between Tulare and Fresno Streets and provides parking to various downtown businesses and public agencies. J - I.T. Outsource would like to contract parking privileges with the City of Fresno for its staff and service vehicles. The most recent analysis concludes that Garage #8 has the capacity to house J - I.T. Outsource, Club One visitors, Holiday Inn guests, and the usual volume of monthly permit holders. This contract will take effect on June 1, 2016 and will conclude on May 31, 2017.
BACKGROUND
J - I.T. Outsource is a full-service information technology support firm with plans to relocate to Downtown Fresno from Clovis. J - I.T. Outsource serves small to medium businesses with ten or more computers connected to a server. They work with CEOs, Presidents, and business owners to help solve business problems with technology in the Fresno, Clovis, and surrounding areas of California. A parking arrangement with J - I.T. Outsource will help incentivize the business to relocate to the downtown core, as well as provide a steady revenue stream for Parking Services to maintain facility operations at one of the division’s most heavily utilized garages. J - I.T. Outsource believes that they will have approximately 36 employees and will generate an estimated $9,000 per year in net new business tax revenue when they relocate from Clovis to downtown Fresno which should help offset the discounted rate of $40 per stall.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has determined that the proposed contract is exempt under CEQA Guideline 15301 Class 1, which provides exemption for the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or other 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 contract 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 $14,400 in revenue as well as approximately $9,000 in new business tax revenue.
Attachment:
J - I.T. Outsource Parking Agreement