City of Piedmont
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: September 18, 2023
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Rosanna Bayon Moore, City Administrator
SUBJECT: Consideration of Changes to Parking and Traffic on Guilford Road (Recommended CEQA Action: Exempt under CEQA Guideline Section 15301)
RECOMMENDATION
By a single motion, take the following actions with regard to the proposed modifications on Guilford Road:
1. Find the project exempt under California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guideline Section 15301 (existing facilities).
2. Adopt the attached resolution which implements changes to parking and traffic on Guilford Road and addresses public safety concerns for vehicular access.
BACKGROUND
City staff were contacted in Spring 2023 regarding a recent incident involving a Piedmont Fire Department emergency vehicle that was unable to access Guilford Road due to existing conditions associated with the width of the roadway, including parking on both side of the street.
After discussion with City staff, residents provided a signed petition requesting that the City consider parking restrictions to the “odd” side of the roadway, and for the conversion of Guilford Road into a one-way street to facilitate improved accessibility. The petition was unanimously signed by all property owners on Guilford Road.
DISCUSSION
After consulting with various City Departments, Public Works confirmed the following:
• Piedmont Fire Department has experienced multiple instances when emergency response vehicles have been unable to gain access to Guilford Road. • Solid Waste sanitation trucks have periodically been unable to access Guildford Road. • Street Sweeping is impacted by the narrow roadway.
Based on these observations and recognizing the sensitivity of public parking, Public Works developed a plan for potential parking and traffic modifications. Outreach performed for this proposed plan included the following:
• Posting maps of the proposed modifications (Attachment B), along with public notification information along Guilford Road.
• Mailing of a public notice to residents within a 500-foot radius of Guilford Road. • Placement of information about the proposed modification on the City Projects portion of the website.
• Issuance of a press release regarding the proposed modifications. • Dissemination of the proposed modifications to Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) and its stakeholders.
In response to outreach efforts, Public Works received three emails regarding the proposed modifications. Two affirmed their support for the proposal, while the third expressed concerns about the loss of approximately 20 curbside parking spaces. To mitigate the impacts of the parking loss, City staff are proposing the following:
• Remove the parking restrictions for the 9 diagonal and parallel, “2-hour” parking spaces that were temporarily designated on January 17, 2023.
• Remove the parking restrictions for the 8 diagonal and parallel, “City Staff” parking spaces that were temporarily designated on January 17, 2023.
These 17 parking spaces are currently underutilized, and this action will provide teachers and students with access to additional parking that will help offset the impacts of the proposed parking and traffic changes on Guilford Road.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The recommended proposed action designates Guilford as a one-way travel street, eliminates approximately 20 curbside parking spaces on the odd-numbered side of Guilford street to allow for emergency and utility vehicle access, and mitigates the loss of parking by removing parking restrictions on the east side of Highland Avenue between Sheridan and Sierra Avenues. Because this action proposes relatively minor changes on an existing roadway where the changes do not establish a higher speed limit and will not result in increased use of the roadway, these minor changes are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guideline Section 15301 (existing facilities).
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed striping and signage modifications can be implemented by utilizing the $15,000 in funding from the approved Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget, under the Miscellaneous Repairs line item.
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this staff report.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Proposed Resolution
B. Map of Proposed Parking Space and Traffic Modifications on Guilford Road C. Map of Proposed Parking Space Modifications on Highland Avenue Agenda Report Page 2
By: Daniel Gonzales, Public Works Director
Agenda Report Page 3
RESOLUTION ______
A RESOLUTION MAKING PARKING AND TRAFFIC CHANGES GUILFORD ROAD WHEREAS, public safety considerations necessitate the use of the public right of way to facilitate the efficient and effective access on Guilford Road; and WHEREAS, the City Council acknowledges the challenges of accommodating parking needs in the Civic Center;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PIEDMONT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Guilford Road is designated for one-way direction travel.
SECTION 2. Staff is directed to update the “Unlawful Parking Map” to reflect the elimination of parking on the “odd” numbered side of Guilford Road.
SECTION 3. Parking restrictions to the thirteen diagonal and four parallel parking spaces on the east side of Highland Avenue between Sheridan and Sierra Avenues are hereby removed. [END OF RESOLUTION]
Attachment A Agenda Report Page 4
Notes
This map is a user generated static output from an Internet mapping site and is for reference only. Data layers that appear on this map may or may not be accurate, current, or otherwise reliable.
© Rochester | DCCM GIS Services THIS MAP IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION Guilford Rd One Way
Legend
Piedmont_CA_72523 (Map Service)
Planimetrics
Existing Sidewalk
No Existing Sidewalk
Park Paths
Retaining Wall
Road Edge
Road Names
PARKING
PERMITTED
PARKING
PROHIBITED
20 SPACES
REMOVED
R6-1 SIGN
"ONE WAY" R5-1 SIGN
"DO NOT ENTER" R26(CA) SIGN (TYP)
"NO PARKING ANY TIME"
R6-1 R26(CA) R5-1 Sign Types 1" = 50'
Attachment B Agenda Report Page 5
August 17, 2023
Attachment C Agenda Report Page 6
City Council 2023-09-18
Agenda Item #6
Late Correspondence 2023-09-18
From: Elene Manolis
To: City Council
Subject: GUILFORD ROAD SAFETY
Date: Sunday, September 17, 2023 11:20:19 AM
[Some people who received this message don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] [EXTERNAL] This email originated from an external source. Please use judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding.
Thanks to the City of Piedmont for making this process a very positive experience. Both Daniel Gonzales and Conna McCarthy have been supporters of making Guilford Road a safer street. Originally, it was firemen who came to my home for a non- emergency issue that suggested I contact City Council because they would be unable to navigate the narrow road in case of an emergency. Police, Fire, Scavenger Co, UPS, USPS all will benefit from a one way street, one side parking only, and have endorsed the plan.
With the current unrest about safety in our town, it seems this change would be rather straight forward and show the Councils’ concern for citizen safety.
Thank you, Elene Manolis
City Council 2023-09-18
Agenda Item #6
Late Correspondence 2023-09-18
City Council 2023-09-18
Agenda Item #6
Late Correspondence 2023-09-18