November 6, 2023 www.cityofpaloalto.org/carfreestreets
Car-free Streets:
California Avenue and
Ramona Street
Alternatives Study contract
approval + next steps
Ozzy Arce, Senior Transportation Planner
Steve Guagliardo, Assistant to the City Manager
Philip Kamhi, Chief Transportation Official
2 PURPOSE OF TONIGHT’S ITEM
• Approval of the Contract to Study the Long-Term Street Configuration
• Provide direction on street configuration during study period (through Dec. 2024)
• Approve additional administrative actions to support these efforts
3 CAR-FREE STREETS: PANDEMIC RESPONSE & ECONOMIC RECOVERY ▪ “Summer Streets”
▪ Uplift Local
▪ Car-free California Avenue from
El Camino Real to Birch Street
▪ Car-free Ramona Street, half
block between University
Avenue and Hamilton Avenue
4 OVERVIEW
▪ Early-mid 2022:
▪ Council directed staff to issue RFP
▪ Extended program through
December 31, 2023
▪ Late 2022-Early 2023:
▪ Pre-RFP engagement
▪ Opportunities & Challenges
▪ Near-term interim changes &
improvements
▪ Topics for RFP scope of work
▪ Early 2023: Council priorities + CFS
Cal Ave—Perspective on street closure
Want at least
one vehicle
lane open
Zoning too
restrictive to
attract tenants
Build outdoor dining
to destination
Need daytime
vitality
Can’t attract
tenants, erodes
shopper base
RETAILERS
“We’re at high risk to further impacts
with permanent closure”
RESTAURANTEURS
“Outdoor dining saved our business”
Customers enjoy
outdoor dining
Need signage
from parking to
shops
Need shops
open before &
after dinner
Heaters
essential
RESIDENTS
“Close street permanently”
Ped/bike
safetyDoesn’t feel like
community space
Desire events
Need community
gathering places
Retail
Diversity
Support small
business retention
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10 Mural festival on Cal Ave!
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13 ALTERNATIVES STUDY RFP + SCOPE OF WORK
▪ Effort to pursue consensus on the future of Cal Ave. and Ramona Street ▪ Project schedule: January 2024-December 2024 (one year) ▪ Topics:
▪ Streetscape design and amenities
▪ Circulation
▪ Design guidelines for private outdoor dining areas and public areas ▪ Fee/Pricing the Right-of-Way
▪ Parking Strategies
▪ Historic Resources
▪ Signage
▪ Legislative Options
▪ Equity & Accessibility
▪ Partnership Building
▪ Includes a robust community engagement plan
14 RECOMMENDED 2024 STREET CONFIGURATIONS
▪ Staff recommends continuing existing street configurations through December 31, 2024, while the Alternatives Study is conducted. ▪ In alignment with 2023 Council Priorities
▪ Provides continuity and avoids repeated changes in a short time frame ▪ Continues using existing City staff resources
▪ Businesses would need to update insurance certificate only; no new permit required
▪ Additional activations and interim improvements through 2024 ▪ New barriers
▪ Public art opportunities
▪ Curate experiences
▪ More Proactive Enforcement of Permit Terms, including Fire and Code Enforcement into 2024
15 SALES TAX DATA
16 Pre-pandemic trends of
sales tax revenues
generally resumed after
low points during
pandemic.
SUPPLEMENTAL MEMO: MEETING + “COMPROMISE” PROPOSAL
▪ Meeting with stakeholders on October 30, 2023
▪ Diversity of opinions on future of streets and configurations ▪ “Compromise” proposal from some business owners on Cal Ave. ▪ One-way vehicle travel lane with a potential bicycle lane, entering from El Camino Real traveling east and out onto Birch Street (Option C in Staff Report)
▪ Steps and Timeline Identified
▪ Potential Considerations
17 EXTENSION OF OTHER OUTDOOR DINING USES
▪ Staff recommends allowing other types of outdoor dining be extended through March 2024:
▪ Public and private parking lots and sidewalk uses, and other outdoor areas on the premises of a restaurant (lawn).
▪ Will match existing sunset date for interim parklets (March 31, 2024) to allow time for staff to determine how to continue or phase out these uses in lieu of others, such as parklets.
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract with Urban Field for the 12-month Alternatives Study.
2. Amend the FY24 Budget Appropriation in General Fund.
3. Adopt the Interim Ordinance continuing on-street outdoor dining until December 31, 2024, and some parking lot and sidewalk uses through March 2024.
4. Adopt the Resolutions extending the City Manager’s authority to temporary close portions of California Avenue and Ramona Street through December 31, 2024 while the Alternatives Study is conducted
5. Provide direction on the closed street configuration during the study period.
Staff recommends continuing existing street configurations through December 31, 2024, while Alternative Study is conducted Council Priority - Q3 2023
Council Priority - Q4 2023
20 CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAM - KEY STAFF
▪ Ozzy Arce, Senior Transportation Planner, Office of Transportation ▪ Philip Kamhi, Chief Transportation Official, Office of Transportation ▪ Steve Guagliardo, Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager’s Office ▪ Holly Boyd, Assistant Director, Public Works
▪ Tamara Jasso, Fire Marshal, Fire Department
▪ Ripon Bhatia, Senior Engineer, Office of Transportation ▪ Tim Shimizu, Assistant City Attorney, City Attorney’s Office Ozzy Arce
Senior Transportation Planner
[email protected]
650-329-2156
Steve Guagliardo
Assistant to the City Manager
[email protected]
650-329-2261
Philip Kamhi
Chief Transportation Official
[email protected]
650-329-2136
November 6, 2023 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Car-free Streets:
California Avenue and
Ramona Street
Alternatives Study contract
approval + next steps
Ozzy Arce, Senior Transportation Planner
Steve Guagliardo, Assistant to the City Manager
Philip Kamhi, Chief Transportation Official