REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, AICP, HDFP, Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: MELISSA J. ALMAGUER, Parking Division Manager
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Residential Permit Parking District #10
1. HEARING to consider an amendment to Residential Permit Parking District #10
2. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Class 1/Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines
3. ***RESOLUTION - Amending Residential Permit Parking District #10 (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the Resolution to amend Residential Parking District #10, adjacent to the Veterans Administration facility on East Clinton Avenue and North First Street.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Article 20 of Fresno Municipal Code allows for the creation and amendment of residential parking districts within the City. Residential Parking District #10 was created by Council Resolution in June 2018 and at this time staff recommends changes to the enforcement hours and boundaries of the district.
BACKGROUND
On June 14, 2018, the City Council responded to resident concerns regarding parking to create a residential parking district in District #7, comprising of the area between Simpson Avenue and Cambridge Avenue and Thesta Street and First Street and that was enforced from 7am-7pm every day including holidays. The residents of Residential Parking District #10, which is located in Council District #7, requested the area be set aside for a residential parking district due to ongoing parking impacts caused by employees of the nearby Veterans Administration facility.
Since the original establishment of the parking district, a number of modifications have been made to improve the effectiveness of the district. These include a boundary change in 2020 that reduced the residential parking district to the area of Cornell Avenue and Clinton Avenue and Thesta Street and First Street and a change of enforcement times to 9am-6pm every day including holidays.
Since the district’s creation, Parking Division staff has studied the operations and heard feedback from residents. Beginning in 2021, District #7 and Planning & Development staff began evaluating the effectiveness of the parking district. On September 26, 2022, Parking Division staff attended a community town hall meeting sponsored by Councilmember Esparza and heard additional feedback from residents.
With the public feedback, the following changes are recommended:
• Residential parking district permits are currently required all days, including holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Staff recommends enforcement signs be changed to 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
• Staff recommends revising the district boundaries to alleviate the necessity of obtaining a permit for residents living further from the VA facility. This will also allow enforcement staff to spend additional time in the areas closer to the VA facility. A map identifying these proposed changes is attached to the Resolution as Exhibit A.
Pursuant to Article 20, the following has occurred:
• On September 26, 2022, Council District #7 staff held a neighborhood meeting with residents within the boundaries of the proposed areas to discuss the issue. Parking Division staff attended this meeting.
• Notice of the public hearing was published in the Fresno Bee on October 21, 2022, and was posted in the proposed area on or before November 3, 2022.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has determined that amendment of Residential Parking District #10 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 amendment is within the Class 1 exemption because it involves negligible or no expansion of use because the boundaries will be revised to condense the area of the parking district, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. 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 resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed changes will result in a decreased cost due to a reduction in the number of residential parking permits issued.
Attachments:
Resolution
Exhibit A - Slide Deck
Exhibit B - Public Notice