Palm Desert City Council
March 14, 2024

PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL

STUDY SESSION MEETING
AGENDA

Thursday, March 14, 2024
3:00 p.m.

Council Chamber, City Hall
73-510 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert, California
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the purpose of the Study Session is to review the items listed on the agenda. No action will be taken.

Pages

1. CALL TO ORDER - STUDY SESSION

2. STUDY SESSION TOPICS

2.a STUDY SESSION: TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT STUDIES OF EL PASEO

RAISED MID-BLOCK CROSSINGS AND UNIVERSITY DOG PARK

PARKING OPTIONS
3 3. ADJOURNMENT

4. PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTE: Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449, this meeting may be conducted by teleconference. Study Session is accessible in person or on the City’s website:
www.palmdesert.gov under the Council Agenda link at the top of the page.

Agenda Related Materials: Pursuant to Government Code §54957.5(b)(2) the designated office for inspection of records in connection with this meeting is the Office of the City Clerk, Palm Desert Civic Center, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. Staff reports for all agenda items considered in open session, and documents provided to a majority of the legislative bodies are available for public inspection at City Hall and on the City’s website at www.palmdesert.gov by clicking “Council Agenda” at the top of the page.

Americans with Disabilities Act: It is the intention of the City of Palm Desert to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk, (760) 346-0611, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible.

AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
I, Níamh M. Ortega, Assistant City Clerk of the City of Palm Desert, do hereby certify, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California, that the foregoing agenda for the Palm Desert City Council, Successor Agency for the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency, and Housing Authority, was posted on the City Hall bulletin board and City website www.palmdesert.gov no less than 72 hours prior to the meeting.
/S/ Níamh M. Ortega
Assistant City Clerk
City Council Study Session

CITY OF PALM DESERT

STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: March 14, 2024
PREPARED BY: Bassam AL-Beitawi, Senior Project Manager
REQUEST: STUDY SESSION: TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT STUDIES OF EL PASEO

RAISED MID-BLOCK CROSSINGS AND UNIVERSITY DOG PARK

PARKING OPTIONS
RECOMMENDATION:

Receive and file an update on the El Paseo raised mid-block crossings and University Dog Park parking options.

BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:

City staff has recently undertaken various requested traffic assessment studies, including on the El Paseo raised mid-block crossings and University Dog Park parking options. The purpose of this study session is to review the findings and recommendations of the assessment studies for City Council discussion.

Legal Review:

This report has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office.

ATTACHMENT:

1. Presentation

University Dog Park:

Parking Study
Study Session
March 14, 2024

Agenda
 Why Study Parking?
 Existing Conditions
 Alternatives
 Recommendation

Why Study Parking?  Initially developed as a neighborhood park  Residential growth in North Sphere has increased demand on park space & parking  Existing: 1,890  Approved: 3,710  Under Review: 1,340  Under Construction: 770  5,800 additional homes in development
(308% increase over next 10 years)
Resident requests to increase parking
 Explore options to increase parking

Existing Conditions
Parking Spaces
 13 parking spaces (2 ADA spaces)  On-street parking prohibited (both sides)
Roadway
 University Park Drive  46’ roadway (curb
-to-curb)
 11’ travel lane  6’ bike lane  12’ raised median island  35 MPH
 College Drive  46’ roadway (curb
-to-curb)
 11’ travel lane  6’ bike lane  12’ raised median island  40 MPH

Alternative 1: Parking Pocket
 Construct a parking pocket
(south side of College Drive)
 Provides 8 additional parking spaces
(includes 1 ADA spaces)
 Requires retaining wall with fill to
bring parking area to street level
 Cost: $710,000 ($88,800 per space)

Alternative 2: Parking Area
 Construct a parking area
(driveway into College Drive)
 Requires grading of slope
 Provides pedestrian access to
park from existing path
 Provides 34 additional parking spaces
(includes 2 ADA spaces)
 Cost: $2,140,000 ($62,900 per space)

Alternative 3: Street Parking
 Remove raised median on University Drive
(Baylor Way & College Drive)
 Remove Class II bike lane & divert bicycle
traffic to sidewalk
 Realign travel lanes to accommodate left
& right turns (College Drive)
 Provides 42 additional parking spaces
 Construct mid-block crosswalk with
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB)
 Cost:
 $440,000 (striped) – $10,500 per space
 $694,000 (raised) - $16,500 per space

Recommendation
Location Alternatives New
Spaces
Cost
Per
Space
Total
Cost
Alternative 1:

Parking Pocket
Build new parking pocket to
accommodate additional parking spaces
8 $88,800 $710,000
Alternative 2:

Parking Area
Build new parking area above park to
accommodate parking spaces
34 $62,900 $2,140,000
Alternative 3A:

Street Parking
(Raised
Crosswalk)
Remove existing median & bike lane,
construct crosswalk with RRFB, & divert
bike lane into sidewalk to accommodate
parking spaces on both sides of street
42 $16,500 $694,000
Alternative 3B:

Street Parking
(Striped
Crosswalk)
Remove existing median & bike lane,
construct crosswalk with RRFB, &
divert bike lane into sidewalk to
accommodate parking spaces on both
sides of street
42 $10,500 $440,000

Questions

El Paseo
Raised
Mid-block
Crossings
Study Session
March 14, 2024

Agenda
 Why Study Crosswalks?
 Existing Raised Crosswalks
 Recommendations (Existing)
 New Crosswalk Alternatives
 Recommendations (New)
 Cost Summary Page 17 of 31
Why Study Raised Crosswalks?
 Why study raised crosswalks on El Paseo?
 El Paseo merchants requested the City to install additional mid-block raised crosswalks on El Paseo (Highway 74 & San Pablo Avenue)  What locations are apart of the study?
 3 existing locations
 3 new locations

 El Paseo (San Pablo Avenue & Larkspur Lane)
 El Paseo (Larkspur Lane & San Luis Rey Avenue)
 Larkspur Lane (El Paseo & Shadow Mountain Drive)
Rectangular
Rapid
Flashing
Beacons (RRFB)
Existing Raised Crosswalks

Recommendations:

Existing Raised Crosswalks
 Keep 3 existing raised crosswalks
 Replace the RRFB units at 3 locations
 Construct a sidewalk bulb-out
(Larkspur Lane)

Recommendations: Existing Raised Crosswalks
Location Recommendation Cost
El Paseo (San Pablo Avenue to Larkspur Lane) • Retain existing raised crosswalk • Replace RRFB system
$130,000
El Paseo (Larkspur Lane to San Luis Rey Avenue) • Retain existing raised crosswalk • Replace RRFB system
$130,000
Larkspur Lane (El Paseo & Shadow Mountain Drive) • Construct a raised sidewalk bulb-out on east side & west sides
• Replace RRFB system
$240,000
Total: $500,000 Page 22 of 31
El Paseo
(Ocotillo Drive & Sage Lane)
El Paseo
(Sage Lane & Lupine Lane)
El Paseo
(Lupine Lane & San Pablo Avenue)
Raised Crosswalk
Alternatives Explored…

Collision Data
 No vehicle-pedestrian collisions observed at location Field Observations
 Existing segment length is ~800 feet
 Located near restaurants & jewelry shop
 Connects to 2 pedestrian-only passages leading
to parking areas behind stores
 No driveways along this segment
Business Outreach
 Generally supportive
Recommendation
 Construct raised pedestrian crossing & RRFB system
 Cost: $470,000 (asphalt only)
Raised Mid-block Crosswalks:

El Paseo (Ocotillo Drive & Sage Lane)
El
Paseo
Ocotillo Drive
Sage Lane

Collision Data
 No vehicle-pedestrian observed collisions at location Field Observations
 Existing segment length is ~675 feet
 Located near retails stores & 2 jewelry shop
 Connects to 2 pedestrian-only passages leading
to parking areas behind stores
 No driveways along this segment
Business Outreach
 Generally supportive
Recommendation
 Construct raised pedestrian crossing & RRFB system
 Cost: $470,000 (asphalt only)
Raised Mid-block Crosswalks:

El Paseo (Sage Lane & Lupine Lane) Sage Lane
Lupine Lane
El Paseo

Collision Data
 No vehicle-pedestrian collisions observed at location Field Observations
 Existing segment length is ~510 feet
 Located near retails stores & coffee shop
 Connects shopping center into the interior
of the north side of block
 Terminates near existing driveway, which
creates potential for vehicle-pedestrian conflicts
Recommendation
 Not recommended
Raised Mid-block Crosswalks:

El Paseo (Lupine Lane & San Pablo Avenue) Lupine Lane
El Paseo
San Pablo Avenue

Location Recommendation Cost
El Paseo
(Ocotillo Drive to Sage Lane)
Construct raised crosswalk w/RRFBs $470,000
El Paseo
(Sage Lane to Lupine Lane)
Construct raised crosswalk w/RRFBs $470,000
Total: $940,000
Improvement Cost
New High Visibility “Ladder” Type Striping (per location) $27,000 Brick Pavers (per location & 1 color design) $32,000
New Decorative “Flower” Art Paint (per new location) $34,000 Interlocking Pavers (per location & multi-color design) + $35,000 Additional Costs (Pavement Enhancements):

Base Costs (Asphalt Only):

Recommendations:

New Raised Crosswalks

Interlocking Pavers

New or Existing
Location Location Asphalt Only
Ladder
Striping
Brick
Pavers
Decorative
Flower
Interlocking
Pavers
Existing El Paseo
(San Pablo Avenue to Larkspur Lane)
$130,000 $157,000 $162,000 $164,000 + $165,000
Existing El Paseo
(Larkspur Lane to San Luis Rey Avenue)
$130,000 $157,000 $162,000 $164,000 + $165,000
Existing Larkspur Lane
(El Paseo & Shadow Mountain Drive)
$240,000 $267,000 $272,000 $274,000 +$275,000
New El Paseo
(Ocotillo Drive to Sage Lane)
$470,000 $497,000 $502,000 $504,000 + $505,000
New El Paseo
(Sage Lane to Lupine Lane)
$470,000 $497,000 $502,000 $504,000 + $505,000
Total: $1,440,000 $1,575,000 $1,600,000 $1,610,000 + $1,615,000

Questions