City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MARCH 22, 2022 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARD: 2
SUBJECT: ESTABLISHMENT OF A TIMED NO PARKING ZONE ON WATKINS DRIVE – RESOLUTION ISSUE:
Establishment of a Timed No Parking Zone on the west side of Watkins Drive from Blaine Street to Valencia Hill Drive.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt a resolution to establish a “No Parking between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Daily” zone on the west side of Watkins Drive from Blaine Street to Valencia Hill Drive.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION:
On January 5, 2022, the Transportation Board (Board) reviewed this matter; six of seven members were present. The Board voted unanimously to recommend establishment of the proposed Timed No Parking zone on the designated segment of Watkins Drive.
BACKGROUND:
City staff received a request from the University Neighborhood Association to restrict nighttime parking on Watkins Drive between Valencia Hill Drive and Blaine Street. The City works with residents and local businesses to establish various time-restricted parking zones. Time restricted parking zones are utilized to control parking availability and may help to minimize safety impacts, noise, or other concerns generated by parking during specific times of the day.
Establishment of time-restricted parking zones traditionally requires submission of a petition from immediately impacted residents or businesses showing support from a minimum of 75% of tenants or owners for the proposed time-restricted parking zone; however, the petition criteria method is usually implemented for residential streets, which have direct driveway access to residential homes. Since Watkins Drive does not have any abutting residential driveways and is not classified as a residential street, the petition criteria method is not utilized for this request. Instead, City staff coordinated with the University of California, Riverside (UCR) staff regarding the submitted request from the University Neighborhood Association. Once both entities were notified, the proposal was scheduled for consideration by the Transportation Board, who makes recommendations to the City Council regarding the matter.
DISCUSSION:
The Public Works Department received an original request from the University Neighborhood Association to consider elimination of nighttime (8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.) on-street parking along the west side of Watkins Avenue between Blaine Street and Valencia Hill Drive to better align with the University Neighborhood Plan, which envisioned the implementation of time-restricted parking in this area. The Watkins Drive restriping project recently installed a curbside two-way cycle track, buffer, and adjacent parking lane along the west side of Watkins Drive between Blaine Street and Valencia Hill Drive. The striped parking lane (situated between the bike buffer area and southbound travel lane) currently allows parking at all times except within segments equipped with diagonal striping and posted parking restriction signs such as areas adjacent to driveways to aid in ingress/egress movements and visibility of approaching traffic.
Due to potential impacts to adjacent University of California at Riverside (UCR) facilities situated along the west side of Watkins Drive, students at the UCR campus, and to balance the needs of the residents and UCR, the Public Works Department is proposing establishment of an overnight parking restriction between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. daily. The proposed restriction will aid in deterring noise and illegal/illicit activity associated with late night and early morning on-street parking. It will also minimize impacts to residents while ensuring UCR facility employees, patrons, and students are not displaced during typical school and business hours. The proposed timed parking restriction would apply to all segments of the parking area.
The Public Works Department has informed UCR of the proposed timed parking implementation from the hours of 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This proposal supports Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goal 2.4, to “Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.” It also aligns with each of the Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust: This project is directly responsive to the University Neighborhood Association’s request to establish nighttime parking restrictions from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily at the subject street with consideration given to UCR’s input regarding school and facility operating hours to establish an overnight parking restriction at the designated location. The Traffic Engineering team responded in a timely manner to include the item on the Board agenda to address the needs of the community.
Equity: The proposed nighttime parking restriction hours balance the needs of both the University Neighborhood Community and UCR by allowing on-street parking during peak school and business operating hours while prohibiting parking during the later evening and early morning hours when impacts to area residents are most problematic. The Traffic Engineering division will continue to work with all entities should any concerns arise.
Fiscal Responsibility: Nighttime parking restrictions are a cost-effective measure to regulate on-street parking and minimize late-night noise and trash concerns.
Innovation: This project is neutral towards this cross-cutting thread.
Sustainability & Resiliency: This project is neutral towards this cross-cutting thread.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $900. The cost of sign fabrication and installation is estimated to be $900. Funding is budgeted and available in General Fund, Public Works-Street Maintenance, Signing Supplies account number 4110100-424143.
Prepared by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Resolution
Site Map
Transportation Board Meeting Minutes – January 5, 2022
Establishment of a Timed No Parking Zone on Watkins Drive – Resolution Page 2