REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Resolution to Modify On-Street Parking Regulations on Cecil Avenue between Henry Avenue and Dorcich Street
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
Cecil Avenue between Henry Avenue and Dorcich Street is a 25-mph residential and commercial street with single family residential uses along the northern side of the street and commercial uses along the southern side of the street. Along the northern side of Cecil Avenue, existing on-street parking is regulated by 1-Hour and 2-Hour time-limited parking from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays excepted). Homeowners do have the option of obtaining an exemption permit from the City that exempts them from the time restrictions. There are no on-street parking restrictions along the southern side of Cecil Avenue.
Residents along the northside of Cecil Avenue have raised concerns regarding commercial business use of Cecil Avenue between Henry Avenue and Dorcich Street. Specifically, residents have stated that used car brokers, with offices on Cecil Avenue, use the southern side of Cecil Avenue for storing, maintaining, and cleaning for-sale vehicles in the public right of way. This has led to excess trash, debris, and noise complaints with residents stating their quality of life has been impacted.
Petition to Establish a new Residential Permit Parking Zone: Previously, residents submitted a petition for a new Residential Permit-Only Parking (RPP) zone for Cecil Avenue, Westridge Drive, North Henry Avenue, and Dorcich Avenue. In accordance with the City Council approved “Guidelines for Designation of Residential Permit Parking Areas,” the Department of Public Works (DPW) surveyed residents to determine potential support for the creation of an RPP zone. Of the 93 properties surveyed, 29 (31%) were in support of the RPP zone. Per the RPP policy, the residents were informed that an RPP zone would not be established, as a simple majority concurrence was not met.
Alternative Measures: The City continued to engage with the residents to identify potential alternative mitigation measures to help address their concerns. For example, to address resident concerns related to parking availability, DPW conducted a parking demand study for the following streets: Cecil Avenue, Westridge Drive, North Henry Avenue, and Dorcich Avenue. The study concluded that only about 30 percent of the available parking was being occupied which left many vacant spaces.
Additionally, the Santa Clara Police Department performed targeted parking enforcement on these streets, the Community Development Department continued communication with adjacent commercial businesses about appropriate public right of way uses, and DPW continued to work with the neighborhood representatives to see if other modifications to on-street parking restrictions might address their concerns.
After much discussion and coordination, neighborhood representatives and DPW staff determined that the following proposed additional on-street parking restrictions on Cecil Avenue could potentially address many of their concerns (Table 1 below, also included in map form in Attachment 1).
Table 1: Proposed Changes to On-Street Parking Restrictions
(Cecil Avenue between Henry Avenue and Dorcich Street)
|
Location |
Existing Parking Restrictions |
New Proposed Parking Restrictions |
Parking Exemption Permits Allowed?* |
|
North side of Cecil Avenue (Henry Avenue to 82 feet east of Henry Avenue) |
8AM-6PM: 1-Hour Parking, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays Excepted |
All Day: 1-Hour Parking, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays Excepted |
Yes |
|
North side of Cecil Avenue (82 feet east of Henry Avenue to Dorcich Street) |
8AM-6PM: 2-Hour Parking, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays Excepted |
All Day: 2-Hour Parking, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays Excepted |
Yes |
|
South side of Cecil Avenue (Henry Avenue to Dorcich Street) |
None |
10PM-6AM: No Parking Anyday |
No |
*Per the City’s Residential Permit Parking program, residents who reside along streets with time-limited parking are eligible to apply for a parking permit through the Police Department to exempt certain vehicles from the posted time-limited parking restriction.
The proposed changes to on-street parking restrictions on Cecil Avenue between Henry Avenue and Dorcich Street would restrict overnight parking (10pm to 6am) on the south side of Cecil Avenue and would also expand the time limited parking on the northern side from 8am-6pm to all-day. The proposed overnight parking restrictions (after normal business hours of surrounding businesses) on the south side of Cecil Avenue is proposed to deter excessive parking and storage of vehicles. The proposed expansion of time limited parking on the north side to an all-day restriction is intended to deter the potential shifting of excessive parking and storage of vehicles from the south side to the north side of Cecil Avenue.
DISCUSSION
In late 2023 and early 2024, DPW conducted outreach (mailers and surveys) to the 20 properties with frontages along Cecil Avenue between Henry Avenue and Dorcich Street.
Survey Responses
After three rounds of mailers and surveys, staff received 10 responses as detailed in Table 2 below (and included in Attachment 2). Survey respondents were given the ability to provide feedback on the proposed changes to on-street parking restrictions for both sides of Cecil Avenue. The following table provides a summary of these responses.
Table 2: Survey Responses on Proposed Parking Regulations
|
Location |
Proposed Parking Regulations |
Support |
Do not Support |
No Response |
|
North side of Cecil Avenue (Henry Avenue to 82 feet east of Henry Avenue) |
All Day: 1-Hour Parking, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays Excepted (Except by Exemption Permit) |
7 |
3 |
10 |
|
North side of Cecil Avenue (82 feet east of Henry Avenue to Dorcich Street) |
All Day: 2-Hour Parking, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays Excepted (Except by Exemption Permit) |
|
|
|
|
South side of Cecil Avenue (Henry Avenue to Dorcich Street) |
10PM-6AM: No Parking Anyday |
7 |
3 |
10 |
Staff Recommendation
DPW staff reviewed the survey responses and recommends approval of the proposed modifications to parking regulations on Cecil Avenue to discourage improper use of the public right-of-way after hours while maintaining on-street parking during the day to support neighboring business activities.
In 2012, City Council approved an ordinance amending “Title 10 Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 10.05 Motor Vehicle and Traffic Regulations” of the City Code to delegate certain traffic and motor vehicle regulatory functions from the City Council to the City Manager, or designee. As the proposed parking regulation changes exceed the authority delegated to the City Manager (i.e. zone greater than 350 feet in length), only the City Council has the authority to approve the Resolution (Attachment 3).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) - Existing Facilities, as the activity consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no additional cost to the City other than staff time and expense.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, the Police Department, the Community Development Department, and adjacent property owners on Cecil Avenue between Henry Avenue and Dorcich Street.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution to modify on-street parking regulations on Cecil Avenue between Henry Avenue and Dorcich Street.
Staff
Reviewed by: Craig Mobeck, Director of Public Works
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Map and Proposed Parking Regulation Changes
2. Survey Response Map
3. Resolution