DATE: MARCH 21, 2023
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS, TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION DIVISION FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
BY: ANDREW EASTERLING, TRAFFIC ENGINEER
TITLE: REQUEST FOR BLUE ZONE AT 1224 HAWAII PLACE
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to deny the request for one (1) blue accessible zone designation at 1224 Hawaii Place.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Public Works staff received an application for one (1) blue zone at 1224 Hawaii Place. While California law allows for exclusive parking for disabled persons via a blue curb marking, the City of Salinas established a policy for considering blue curb marking requests. The request received does not meet the City’s policy, and therefore staff cannot recommend the approval of the request to install one (1) blue zone designation at 1224 Hawaii Place. However, at its meeting on February 9, 2023, the Traffic and Transportation Commission recommended an alternative motion from staff recommendation. The Traffic and Transportation Commission’s recommended motion is to approve the request for one (1) blue accessible zone designation at 1224 Hawaii Place.
The City Council could therefore choose to:
1) deny the request for one blue accessible zone designation; or 2) approve the request for one blue accessible zone designation (though this action would be inconsistent with the City’s existing policy); or 3) approve the request for one blue accessible zone designation and request staff to review the blue curb marking policy to better accommodate disabled residents BACKGROUND:
Staff received a request from Victor Z. Worden, resident of 1224 Hawaii Place, to install one (1) blue zone designation on Hawaii Place. Mr. Worden states he and his wife have a hard time with getting in and out of the car when parked in the driveway. In addition, Mr. Worden commented that their neighbors park their vehicles along the frontage of their home for long periods, making on-street parking difficult.
California law provides special privileges to persons with disabilities who drive including parking spaces identified with blue curb parking for exclusive use by people with disabilities (California Vehicle Code, §21458(a)(5)), or parking on designated curb markings for extended periods of time, including metered parking without paying.
To better regulate blue curb markings, the City of Salinas established a policy for the consideration of blue curb markings, Resolution No. 19056, effective August 15, 2006. The City’s policy established the following criteria:
Off-street parking facilities for the residential property do not exist. The property does not have a garage, driveway, or other on-site parking space that can be provided for the disabled member of the household; or On-street parking is unavailable. This criterion requires that the site be located adjacent to a school, apartment, and/or other businesses that consume on-street residential parking supply; and The path of travel from the proposed on-street parking stall to the home meets ADA/Title 24 path of travel requirements.
The following criteria are required in all cases:
Proof that the disabled resident has a permanent disabled placard on file; and Signed statement acknowledging applicant understands that the on-street disabled parking requested can be used by other residents in the community that have a disabled placard.
Staff has reviewed Mr. Worden’s request based on the policy criteria and determined it does not meet the City’s policy. The residence at 1224 Hawaii Place has a garage and paved driveway which provide direct access to the home. The on-street parking is farther from the home and provides a less direct path of travel between the vehicle and the home. While the site is not near a school or apartment complex, parking availability appears minimal at times. Installation of the disabled parking would further limit parking to the general public. ADA accessible parking stalls are required to have an accessible path of travel to the building. Field measures were taken and it was determined that the driveway does not provide an ADA accessible path of travel between the on-street parking to the sidewalk and the home. Also, there is no ADA-compliant curb ramp along this street to provide the required access to the sidewalk.
Consequently, staff cannot recommend the approval of the blue zone request at 1224 Hawaii Place.
TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION:
Staff’s recommendation to deny the request for one (1) blue accessible zone designation at 1224 Hawaii Place was presented to the Commission at its February 9, 2023, meeting. The Commission voted (2-4) against staff recommendations. Then Commissioner Quigley made an alternative motion to approve the request for one (1) blue accessible zone designation at 1224 Hawaii Place. The Commission voted on the alternative motion (3-3) to recommend City Council to approve the request for one (1) blue accessible zone designation at 1224 Hawaii Place. Commissioners Canseco, Hernandez and Quigley voted in support of the alternative recommendation and Commissioners Howell, Davis, and Cox voted against the alternative recommendation. The District 4 appointment is currently vacant.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
This recommendation does not meet current City Council initiatives.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
The estimated cost to install one (1) blue zone designation is $870. The applicant did not submit funds to cover the cost of installation and processing.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1 - Location Map
Attachment 2 - Location Photos
Attachment 3 - Flowchart for Salinas Accessible (Blue) Parking Zones Attachment 4 - Special Curb Marking Application
Attachment 5 - Resolution No. 19056 - Disabled (Blue) Parking Zones on Residential Streets Policy Page | 3
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