COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

August 9, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 31, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Elimination of a Twenty-Minute Parking Zone on Charter Street near Bay Road and Establishing a One-Hour Parking Zone on Bay Road near Charter Street - Redwood City Area

Recommendation

Adopt Ordinances:

1.

Repealing Ordinance 4199 that established a twenty minute parking zone on Charter Street near Bay Road; and

2.

Establishing a one-hour parking zone on Bay Road near Charter Street.

Previous Board Action

Adopted Ordinance No. 4199 in December 2003 establishing a twenty-minute parking zone on Charter Street near Bay Road. The zone was established at the request of the owner of Quizno’s Sub Shop to provide additional short-term parking for his customers.

Key Facts

Ø

We received complaints that the limited time parking zone eliminated long-term parking opportunities for employees of nearby businesses, which in turn forced them to park several blocks from their place of work.

Ø

We determined through our monitoring that the most recently created short-term parking spaces remain unused during the majority of the business day.

Ø

There is currently a one-hour zone on the westerly side of Bay Road which is not codified in the Ordinance Code.

Ø

Adopting an ordinance will legitimize this one-hour limited time parking area.

Discussion

Elimination of the Twenty-Minute Parking Zone

We monitored the use of the twenty-minute and the one-hour parking zones established on Charter Street at Bay Road adjacent to Quizno’s on several occasions. The two zones provide sufficient space for up to ten (10) vehicles. We observed that the zones are typically occupied by five (5) to seven (7) vehicles during the lunch hour (between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.), but are typically vacant or are occupied by only one (1) or two (2) vehicles between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We concluded, based on our observations, that the amount of restricted parking can be reduced without impacting Quizno’s business, and are therefore recommending the elimination of the twenty-minute parking zone and retaining the one-hour zone.

We believe that eliminating the twenty-minute zone on the south side of Charter Street will restore up to four (4) long-term parking spaces; and retaining the one-hour zone on the north side of Charter Street will continue to provide sufficient dedicated short-term parking for the neighborhood businesses.

We sent letters to all of the property owners along Charter Street between Bay Road and Spring Street in July notifying them of our intent to recommend that the ordinance establishing the twenty-minute parking zone on the south side of Charter Street be repealed. To date, we have received no responses. Copies of this report have also been sent to the property owners.

Establishment of a One-Hour Parking Zone

We also monitored the use of a one-hour zone on the westerly side of Bay Road just north of Charter Street. This zone is indicated by green curb markings stenciled “One-Hour.” There is presently no ordinance establishing this zone and our records do not indicate when the zone was originally painted. We are recommending that your Board adopt an ordinance formalizing this zone as it does provide short-term parking opportunities for the businesses in this area.

Vision Alignment

We believe our recommendation is consistent with the Shared Commitment of “responsive, effective and collaborative government” and Goal Number 20, “government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain,” as removing the limited time parking zone from one side of Charter Street restores needed long-term parking opportunities for neighborhood businesses which would otherwise be shifted to nearby residential streets.

Fiscal Impact

We estimate that the costs associated with removing the twenty-minute parking zone will be $200. There are sufficient funds available in the Road Fund to accomplish the work. There is no impact to the General Fund.

Forms of ordinances have been approved by County Counsel.