Agenda Item
City Council
Item #: 7.2. 8/10/2021 File #: 21-0405
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Rick Otto, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cash, Public Works Director
1. SUBJECT
Agreement with Fehr and Peers to perform Old Towne Orange Parking Study.
2. SUMMARY
With the addition of popular restaurants and retailers, Old Towne Orange has become more vibrant and inviting than ever before. With this trend expected to continue, it is critical for the City to better understand short and long term parking needs in the downtown area as it plans for the future.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve the contract with Fehr and Peers in the amount of $92,840 for preparation of the Old Towne Parking Study; and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute on behalf of the City.
2. Authorize the transfer of $92,840 from expenditure account number 952.9810.56020.20247, CITY TRF: NW & SW Merged 2003 Taxable Bonds- SAORA Capital Projects, to expenditure account number 952.9810.51670.20488, CITY TRF: NW & SW Merged 2003 Taxable Bonds - Old Towne Parking Study.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
The total expenditure for this agreement is $92,840 and will be funded in Old Town Parking Study (20488) through CITY TRF: NW & SW Merged 2003 Taxable Bonds (952.)
5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 1. Provide for a safe community
b. Provide and maintain infrastructure necessary to ensure the safety of the public Goal 3. Enhance and promote quality of life in the community a. Renovate, maintain, develop and/or expand public use of places and spaces
6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
Over the past few decades, Old Towne Orange has transformed from a quaint shopping district to a popular destination, with the area’shistoric character and charm being preserved during the process.
This general trend of converting what was once antique stores to now high-performing restaurants and retail is expected to continue, presenting the City with potential parking challenges and opportunities that must be better understood to ensure adequate parking supply and implement sound parking policies.
Moreover, the City established a Downtown Parking District in 1998 to provide an economic City of Orange Printed on 8/5/2021Page 1 of 3
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Item #: 7.2. 8/10/2021 File #: 21-0405
Moreover, the City established a Downtown Parking District in 1998 to provide an economic development incentive for reinvesting in any of the 8 square blocks closest to the Plaza. Within its narrow boundaries, the Parking District (a) provides relief from required parking with changes in building tenancy, and (b) established an “in-lieu”fee whereby any projects adding floor area, or eliminating existing private parking spaces, would contribute funds so the City could then invest into improving parking facilities. Since the Parking District’sinception, the City has collected $111,600.
During this time, the increase in parking generation appears to have substantially outpaced additional parking that could have been created through the collected fees. In addition, potential developments situated outside the boundaries are not eligible to participate in the in-lieu fee, limiting the options that property owners have when contemplating redevelopment. Based on these circumstances and the changes that have occurred in Old Towne, staff believes it is beneficial to reevaluate both the mechanics and boundaries of the Parking District.
Lastly, there has long been uncertainty and at times, frustration, over parking supply and demand in Old Towne. As the City makes future land use decisions, a comprehensive parking document would help to inform those decisions. The recent implementation of the Orange Plaza Paseo and the consideration of scenarios for its continuation has presented potential parking impacts. Those impacts, studied as part of this process, will be considered in the final Paseo implementation.
A well-understood and well-managed parking infrastructure can become a key asset that has the potential to help advance the City’spolicy goals. With that in mind, the scope of the Old Towne Parking Study is several fold:
· Establish current and future parking demand to identify any parking deficiencies or imbalances · Determine optimal limits of potential fee area expansion and analyze various fee levels through an economic development and sustainability lens · Identify sustainable parking management strategies that the City can implement, including providing additional parking supply, if necessary, and
· Identify and prioritize “smart”technologies that could significantly improve parking and traffic efficiency
Because this type of study requires highly specialized knowledge, staff recommends retaining the expertise of a transportation and parking consultant. To that end, staff issued a request-for-proposals to four engineering firms known to provide such services. The City received one proposal, from Fehr and Peers. Fehr and Peers has successfully completed parking studies in Orange County, including the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Garden Grove. More importantly, the firm has delivered on several key projects here in Orange, most recently participating in the City’seffort to modernize its Transportation System Improvement Program (TSIP) fees. From its knowledge of Orange County parking studies, to its rapport with multiple City departments, staff has confidence that Fehr and Peers is well qualified for this important project, and respectfully recommends approval of the professional services agreement. The cost of the project is $92,840.
7. ATTACHMENTS
· Consultant Proposal
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Item #: 7.2. 8/10/2021 File #: 21-0405
· Agreement
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