City of Gonzales
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: October 21, 2024
FROM: Carmen Gil, City Manager
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Report on Parking District Formation
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council receive the report and provide Staff with direction on whether to move forward with preparation of an ordinance facilitating the establishment of parking districts.
BACKGROUND
Over the course of the last few months the City Council has discussed the possibility of establishing residential parking districts in the City. Members of the community have complained about the lack of street parking and illegal parking in their neighborhoods (across driveways, over handicap ramps), and councilmembers have observed and reported significant parking violations and congestion throughout the City. The problem seems to be based in part on the fact that on-site parking spaces, such as garages and driveways, are being used for storage purposes. Additional problems arise due to the fact that in many cases, each residence houses a multitude of car owners all vying for a place to park vehicles.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
As a general matter, municipal parking districts operate by imposing parking restrictions or prohibitions on an identified grouping of streets. Restrictions may include an outright prohibition to parking or a limitation on how long you can park on the street. Exemptions to the restrictions are then established by way of permits issued to local residents. For example, a street could be restricted to no more than twohour parking unless you are a resident with a valid parking permit. The number of permits per resident is always limited, and there is often a cost associated with the issuance of the permits. (Such costs are used to offset the expense of operating the district.)
AGENDA
ITEM
15 Vehicle Code Section 22507 provides cities with the authority to adopt measures that restrict parking on designated public streets. Section 22507 reads in relevant part “Local authorities may…prohibit or restrict…parking…of vehicles…on streets or highways, or portions thereof, during all or certain hours of the day [and] may include a designation of certain streets upon which preferential parking privileges are given to residents and merchants adjacent to the streets for their use…under which residents and merchants may be issued a permit or permits that exempt them from the prohibition of parking.”
The typical parking district formation process contains the following elements:
1. Formation of a restricted parking district is usually initiated at the request of residents via petition. The petition must describe the parking problem and how establishing a parking district will assist in the elimination or reduction of overflow parking impacts. The proposed district boundaries should be included as a part of the application process and various requirements may be imposed in this regard. For example, the City may require that the proposed district must contain a minimum number of contiguous blocks and must always include both sides of the street. The petition must also represent the support of a majority of the residents proposed to be impacted by district formation (a minimum of 51%) although in several examples I reviewed the required percentage of support was higher.
2. Once the petition results have been verified, the City prepares a parking study or on-street parking survey to determine whether the area in question meets certain thresholds justifying parking restrictions. Considerations include the average length of time vehicles are parked, percentage of non-resident vehicles parking in the zone, and the total number of vehicles using on-street parking during the study period.
3. If the parking study/survey reveals that formation of a parking district is warranted, a public hearing is conducted for input from the residents within the proposed district. Information to be provided by the City includes a description of the boundaries of the proposed district, proposed parking restrictions and the cost of parking permits.
4. After the public hearing, the request to establish the parking district is presented to the City Council for consideration.
Of the various programs I reviewed, once a parking district ordinance is in place, formation of a district can take anywhere between 6 to 18 months depending on the size of the district and other factors.
My review of parking district ordinances and programs indicated that the parking district concept has primarily been embraced by larger cities with a complex set of rules and regulations governed by a specially formed board or commission. Additionally, districts are often formed in response to parking congestion caused by an adjacent facility or use, such as a college, arena, or public transportation hub.
That doesn’t mean such programs can’t be carried out on a smaller basis, but the City should recognize that establishing and enforcing new parking restrictions may be taxing on a smaller city with limited administrative and enforcement resources.
I have attached some sample ordinances and policies for your review. If the Council is interested in establishing parking districts they should provide direction and Staff will prepare the necessary implementing ordinance for future consideration.
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision.
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small town charm.
Explain: Ensuring adequate and legal street parking in the City’s residential and commercial neighborhoods provides safety and aesthetic benefits to our citizens and helps the City to maintain its small-town charm.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community. X Yes ____No ____NA
Explain: See above.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner. Yes ___No _X_NA Explain: See above.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety Yes ____ No X NA
• Housing Yes ____ No X NA
• Recreation Yes ____ No X NA
• Environment Yes ____ No X NA
• Education Yes ____ No X NA
Explain: NA.
ALTERNATIVES
• Provide Staff with direction on possible parking districts. • Do not provide direction and request additional information before making a decision.
BUDGET IMPACT
There will be costs associated with the formation of parking districts, but it is too difficult to determine what they may be at this time.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that City Council receive the Staff’s report and provide direction on the formation of parking districts.
PUBLIC NOTICE
None required.
Attachments:
1. Exhibits A - F