City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: OCTOBER 8, 2024 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARD: ALL SUBJECT: REMOVAL OF SIXTH STREET TIMED PARKING ZONE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF CARSHARE PARKING ZONES AT FIVE LOCATIONS – RESOLUTION ISSUE:
Consideration of the removal of a portion of the Timed Parking Zone on Sixth Street, west of Market Street; and establishment of Carshare Parking Zones at five locations Citywide.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution to amend Resolution No. 22451 known as the Master Parking Schedule Resolution to remove a portion of the existing timed parking zone on Sixth Street and establish carshare parking zones; Approve the removal of a portion of the existing 90-Minute Parking Zone on the south side of Sixth Street, from Market Street to 72’ westerly thereof; and Approve the establishment of a “Tow-Away No Parking Anytime Except Riverside Clean Air Carshare Vehicles” zone on:
The south side of Sixth Street from Market Street, to 72’ westerly thereof; The west side of Kansas Avenue, from the alley between University and Ninth Street, to 68’ southerly thereof; Three parking stalls in the Casa Blanca Library and Riverside Public Utility parking lot on Emerald Avenue; Two parking stalls in the Arlanza Library parking lot on Wohlstetter Street; and The west side of Polk Street, from 50’ north of Collett Avenue, to 68’ northerly thereof.
BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS:
On August 7, 2024, the Transportation Board reviewed this matter; six of seven members were present. The item passed with five votes in support of the proposed removal of the segment of existing 90-minute parking zone and establishment of the five car share parking zones.
BACKGROUND:
On October 6, 2020, City Council authorized the submittal of a $1,000,000 grant application through the CALSTART “Clean Mobility Voucher Pilot Program” to establish a network of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with free usage (up to two hours) for qualifying low-income residents, in partnership with StratosShare and the University of California Riverside’s Center for Environmental Research and Technology (UCR CE-CERT). The Grant was formally accepted by the City Council on July 6, 2021.
To facilitate the implementation of the Carshare program, an Ordinance amending Chapter 10 of the Riverside Municipal Code to add section 10.52.260 regarding parking of carshare vehicles was introduced. The ordinance was subsequently adopted on June 6, 2023, allowing establishment of exclusive parking zones for Riverside Clean Air Carshare (RCAC) vehicles.
On May 7, 2024, City Council authorized the acceptance of an additional $500,000 in funding and replaced StratosShare with Mobility Development Operations as program operator.
DISCUSSION:
Riverside Clean Air Carshare is expected to launch in the Fall of 2024 with a fleet of up to nineteen (19) zero-emission vehicles available for rent at seven station locations within the City of Riverside. The program is unique, operating exclusively with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), which do not emit harmful air pollutants like traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles and can be driven within a 100-mile radius of the rental station.
In addition to increasing accessibility of zero-emissions vehicles to all residents, the program plans to offer qualifying low-income residents with free drive time and discounted rental rates. The qualification and administration of the program will be managed by the Operator. The city will not own or maintain the vehicles used as part of the program. In turn, the City intends to provide on-street and off-street parking locations within the qualifying Assembly Bill 1550 Low-income Communities and Senate Bill (SB) 535 disadvantaged communities locations for vehicle rental stations as shown in the attached Program Station Map. Each station location can accommodate up to three vehicles. Users can select a vehicle from any station location and will be required to return the vehicle to the station from which it was rented. Program rental rates have not been finalized; however, tentative rates are as follows:
Standard Pricing
● $9/hour up to $65/day
● $25 one-time application fee
Qualifying Low-Income User Pricing
● $6/hour up to $45/day
● $10 one-time application fee
The seven carshare stations will be physically located within four wards throughout the City and will service all seven wards. Two stations with three stalls each will be located within UCR parking lots and are not required to be designated through the City’s Carshare Parking Program. Proposed station locations within City right-of-way and the type of parking facility are listed in Table 1 below. Vehicles are required to be returned to their original location.
Table 1 – Parking Facilities
Location #
Locations*
Ward
Parking Facility Type
# of Spaces
1 Riverside Food Lab – Sixth St
1 On-Street parking Stalls
3 2
Bobby Bonds Park – Kansas Ave
2 On-Street parking Stalls
3 3
Casa Blanca Library/RPU CRC
5*
Covered Parking Lot Stalls
3 4
Arlanza Library
6**
Parking Lot Stalls
2 5
La Sierra Neighborhood – Polk Ave
6***
On-Street parking Stalls
3 *Services Wards 3, 4, and 5.
** Services Wards 3,5, 6, and 7.
*** Services Wards 5, 6, and 7.
The Public Works Department has been working diligently with its grant partners on the planning of the program, including parking locations for the Carshare vehicles. In preparation for the launch of Riverside Clean Air Carshare, staff is requesting the establishment of several on and off-street Carshare Parking Zones to facilitate operations.
Exclusive Carshare Parking Zones will ensure vehicles can be made available at the designated locations and will ensure parking is available for users to return the vehicles after completing their rental. Staff utilized a set of criteria for selecting the proposed zones that are:
Located within or adjacent to a qualifying Assembly Bill 1550 Low-income Community and Senate Bill (SB) 535 disadvantaged community census tracks to meet grant requirements Walkable with adequate pedestrian facilities such as sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
Within low-medium and higher density housing areas ensure a higher population within the station service area.
Additionally, none of the proposed parking zones will reduce the metered parking inventory in the Downtown or eliminate parking on residential frontages.
Location 1 – Sixth Street
The proposed location on the south side of Sixth Street, west of Market Steet is adjacent to the Riverside Food Lab, existing sidewalk micro-mobility hub, and within an existing 90-Minute Parking Zone. To facilitate the proposed establishment of the Carshare Parking Zone at this location, the Public Works Department is also requesting removal of the overlapping portion of the Timed Parking Zone. This location would serve Downtown residents as well as visitors to the area and is walkable from dense single and multifamily homes, apartment buildings, and hotels.
Location 2 – Kansas Avenue
The proposed Car Share Parking Zone segment on the west side of Kansas Avenue, north of Ninth Street aims to serve Eastside residents around Bobby Bonds Park. While adjacent to a residential property, the proposed Zone does not front any homes. Public Works staff contacted a resident of the adjacent property, but the resident declined to engage.
Locations 3 and 4 – Casa Blanca Library/RPU Customer Service Center and Arlanza Library In addition to on-street Parking Zones, the Public Works Department is proposing the establishment of Car Share Zones within City-Owned parking lot stalls. Public Works conferred with Library for authorization to establish two Carshare Parking stalls at the Arlanza Library off Wohlstetter Street and Philbin Avenue. This location serves the Arlanza community, including Home Front at Camp Anza affordable housing for Veterans.
Public Works conferred with both the Library and Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) regarding the use of 3 stalls within the shared lot at the Casa Blanca Library and RPU Customer Service Center off Emerald Street and Madison Ave.
Designation of on-street parking and some Downtown parking facilities are governed by Resolution; however, Library and RPU parking facilities are exempt and excluded from the attached Resolutions.
Location 5 – Polk Street
A third on-street Carshare Parking Zone is proposed on the west side of Polk Street, north of Collett Avenue. This location serves the single-family homes and many apartment buildings in the La Sierra Neighborhood. While adjacent to a residential property, the proposed Zone does not front any homes. Public Works staff contacted the residents of the adjacent property, and they are in full support of the proposed Parking Zone.
Regulatory Signs and Pavement Markings
Each parking stall, whether on- or off-street, will be designated with signage as well as pavement markings, such as the example shown in the image below:
Los Angeles and San Francisco have existing carshare parking zones and staff conferred with them regarding their program regulations, parking conversion, and enforcement. Both agencies have established No Parking Tow-Away Zones for carshare vehicles and recommended the City of Riverside do the same to mitigate violations and subsequent impacts to the Carshare Service.
The proposed Tow-Away No Parking sign and exemption plaque are shown below. An additional sign panel with program information and rental instructions will be installed as well.
The establishment of the proposed Carshare Parking zones is consistent with the City’s initiatives for a cleaner environment and make low-cost, zero emissions vehicles more accessible to disadvantaged communities.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The proposals presented in this report contribute to Strategic Priority 3 – Economic Opportunity, Strategic Priority 4 – Environmental Stewardship, and Strategic Priority 6 – Infrastructure, Mobility, and Connectivity, and the following goals:
Goal 3.1 - Facilitate partnerships and programs to develop, attract and retain innovative business sectors.
Goal 4.3 - Implement local and support regional proactive policies and inclusive decision-making processes to deliver environmental justice and ensure that all residents breath healthy and clean air with the goal of having zero days of unhealthy air quality per the South Coast Air Quality District’s Air Quality Index (AQI).
Goal 6.1 - Provide, expand, and ensure equitable access to sustainable modes of transportation that connect people to opportunities such as employment, education, healthcare, and community amenities.
This item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as demonstrated below:
Community Trust – The purpose of this presentation is to initiate community engagement regarding the proposed establishment of exclusive parking zones for the City’s carshare vehicles.
Equity – The purpose of the carshare program is to increase accessibly of zero emissions vehicles to residents, especially those in disadvantaged communities. The establishment of a parking program within walking distance of the disadvantaged communities would ensure the best service to the transportation hubs.
Fiscal Responsibility – Riverside is a prudent steward of public funds and ensures responsible management of the City’s financial resources by garnering available grant funding from the California Climate Investment’s Clean Mobility Options Voucher Program.
Innovation – Riverside is inventive and timely in meeting the community’s changing needs and prepares for the future through collaborative partnerships and adaptive processes. Riverside Clean Air Carshare will be the City’s first carshare program and will be a part of the only hydrogen fuel carshare network in the region.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Riverside is committed to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future and ensuring the City’s capacity to persevere, adapt and grow during good and difficult times alike.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated fiscal impact of the action is $3,723.23 for the cost of the signs and the pavement marking installation. Funding is available in the General Fund, Public Works, Streets Maintenance, Signing Supplies account number 4110100-424143.
Prepared by: Philip Nitollama, City Traffic Engineer
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Program Station Map
Site Maps
Resolution
Presentation
Transportation Board Meeting Minutes – August 7, 2024
Riverside Clean Air Car Share Parking Zones Establishment Page 2