January 7, 2025
City Council
DATE: January 7, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Doria Robinson
Councilmember Cesar Zepeda (co-sponsor)
Subject:
Temporary Moratorium on Parklets in the City of
Richmond
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
For the City of Richmond to observe a temporary
moratorium on Parklet development to revise the existing RMC 14.46.090 - Exclusive use of parking spaces.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
DIRECT the City Attorney’s Office to draft a temporary
moratorium on parklets and amendments no later than
October 2025 to Richmond Municipal Code section
14.46.090 to address: 1) inconsistencies or lack of clarity in the building permit versus easement process, 2) issues with the citing of parklets (both number in and area and permitted locations), 3) the length of time parklets are allowed considering the cost of constructing a parklet, 4) the impact parklets may have both positively on the
economy due to encouraging a pedestrian and active
transportation culture that tends to patronize small
businesses, and negatively due to further limiting
availability of parking spaces, and 5) improve clarity on AGENDA
REPORT
January 7, 2025
non-exclusive use by any one or more businesses or
their patrons - Councilmember Doria Robinson (510-620-
6568) and Councilmember Cesar Zepeda (510-620-
6593).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond exercises management and maintenance responsibility for the use and occupancy of the City’s right-of-way. Its mission is to provide a clean, safe and healthy environment. The City of Richmond piloted a Parklet Program in May 2016 and the Parklet Program is an extension of this mission. Each parklet requires a permit.
A parklet is a removable platform made available to the public for recreational use that occupies a portion of a parking lane that is closed to motor vehicle parking. A parklet is a way to repurpose and activate public space innovatively, creating space for all users.
The City of Richmond Parklet permits shall be issued by Parking Services after a complete parklet permit application has been submitted to and approved by Transportation in accordance with the parklet program guidance. Parklet applicants shall also obtain an encroachment permit from the City Engineer or his/her designee and receive a final inspection and parklet installation approval from Engineering before moving forward with any parklet construction. This provision shall not permit anyone other than the applicant to occupy a parking space during a posted no-parking period or within the term of an approved parklet permit. Failure to comply with the parklet guidelines and to receive encroachment permit approval may result in the revocation of all permits and administrative fines.
It is prudent that the City of Richmond enact a temporary parklet moratorium to give City staff an opportunity to amend RMC 14.46.090. The request is for the City Attorney’s Office to draft such a moratorium and to return for City Council approval during the first meeting in February 2025. No later than October 2025 amendments to RMC 14.46.090 should, at minimum, address the following:
1. Inconsistencies or lack of clarity in the building permit vs easement process.
2. Issues with the citing of parklets, both number in and area and permitted locations.
3. The length of time parklets are allowed considering the cost of constructing a parklet.
January 7, 2025
4. The impact parklets may have positively on the economy due to encouraging a pedestrian and active transportation culture that tends to patronize small businesses, and negatively due to further limiting availability of parking spaces.
5. Improve clarity on non-exclusive use by any one or more businesses or their patrons.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – RMC 14.46.090
Attachment 2 – Ord. No. 6-17 N.S., § I, 4-4-2017
Attachment 3 – Ord. No. 01-21 N.S., § 1, 3-2-2021