Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Min 1993-05-03 I I I 4-26-93 / 5-3-93 I~' ')h ( . t ,/ 'a.u-,C-.) C y/Clerk and ex-off1 ~ty of Seal Beach of the Approved: <ff.u.. /~AJ' / ~~ Mayor Attest: , \... Seal Beach, California May 3, 1993 The City Council of the City of Seal Beach met in regular adjourned session at 7:03 p.m. with the Planning Commission and Environmental Quality Control Board. Mayor Forsythe called the meeting to order with the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Forsythe Councilmembers Brown, Doane, Hastings, Laszlo Absent: None Plannina Present: commission: Chairman Fife (arrived at 7:20 p.m.) Commissioners Dahlman, Law, Sharp, Soukup Absent: None Environmental Present: Oualitv Control Board: Chairman Voce Boardmember Hotchkiss Absent: Boardmembers Hood, Hurley, Logan Mayor Forsythe stated the purpose of the joint workshop was to seek input as to problems and/or suggested solutions to parking concerns in the downtown area. She noted that recent and prior information/studies relating to parking were available for public review. Staff advised that two hundred fifty notices of the workshop had been mailed, the list of Main Street property owners obtained by means of the most recent assessors parcel roll. The Mayor invited those present to express their views. Comments to the downtown parking issue, in general, were: Parking impacts to 8th and 10th Streets occur after 5:00 p.m., weekends, and throughout the summer. An alternative parking area for restaurant/bar traffic would be helpful. * Parking and noise impacts on residents of Central Avenue should also be given consideration. Impact is the greatest from Friday through Sunday, 5:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m.; there should be additional signs and police enforcement to ensure use of off-street parking areas. * 5-3-93 * Parking problem perceived to be no more than any other beach community. * There were no such impacts from parking or noise twenty years ago. * The overflow from Main street and beachgoers impacts all downtown streets on weekends and during the summer. I * The impact of Tuesday night activities at some establishments have brought forth complaints. * Parking is a problem on all downtown people do not park in their garages. Pasadena prohibits nighttime parking parking sticker. streets because The City of without a local * Main street businesses and the residential community must learn to co-exist. Parking'study suggested use of beach lots for nighttime parking, yet residents must use their garages for vehicle parking, not for storage. * A rental may provide parking for one vehicle per unit, however as most often occurs, the occupants of the unit have two cars, therefore one must then utilize street parking. It is also not uncommon that certain vehicles can not access a garage as it exists. * None of the garages of an apartment complex backing to 7th street alley are used for vehicle'parking, and resolution of the parking issue shOUld start with garage use. I Employees of Main street businesses generally utilize the parking lots, most businesses purchase annual permits for off-site, lot parking for employees. * Question was raised as to the hours that parking is permitted in the lots by means of a parking permit. * * After 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. the 8th/Central lot is full and there is no enforcement. * Evening utilization of the parking areas behind businesses on the east side of Main street was mentioned. * Directional signage to parking areas in lieu of Main street was suggested, the beach lots as an example. * Signs within the local businesses directing patrons to 'parking at the rear' was mentioned. * Prior recommendations have included a parking structure located at the 8th/Central lot, restriping of the streets, including portions of Electric Avenue. * An easement behind the alleys was offered for consideration. Reduction of Main Street parking to one hour with an incentive program for use of the beach lots was suggested, a free entry, pay exit program. I * * Abuse of the two hour parking on Main street by beachgoers was mentioned. * It was noted that there is presently two twenty-four minute parking spaces adjacent to the mid-street cross walks. I I I 5-3-93 * Support for a merchant validation program in conjunction with use of the beach lots was indicated. * Question was raised as to the position of the Coastal Commission with regard to extended use of the beach lots. Question was posed as to whether parking is a perceived or real problem; claimed there is a schism between the residents and business community as a result of a small citizens group; the business community has never been healthier, yet can not survive on summer traffic only. Suggestion was made that patrons of Main Street stores seek parking behind those locations. Parking was cited as a problem at the Mary Wilson Library given the small area and inadequate spaces, thus an impact on residential streets; likewise the parking issue may resolve itself with the replacement of multi-residential with single family units. * The in-lieu parking program was claimed to be the problem. * * Recommendation was made that the in-lieu fees be looked at for increase; also expert assistance will be necessary to resolve the in-lieu issue. * The goal is to implement short term solutions, then proceed towards a long term resolution. It was claimed that there are no in-lieu parking spaces by any formula, as there is no in-lieu program in the eyes of the Coastal Commission. with regard to intensification of use on Main Street, statement was made that no matter what is approved at the City level it will not be approved by the Coastal Commission unless some parking is provided. It was acknowledged that twenty-three spaces in the beach lot were created for the Hennessy's location through restriping, approved by the Coastal Commission. * Implementation of some type of people mover from the beach lots to various shopping areas in the city had been indicated as a positive step by the Coastal Commission. * * A two story parking structure at the 8th/Central lot could be offensive to some adjacent residents, yet a sub-structure could be considered. * Looking five to ten years in the future, a stacked parking structure should be the goal; garage use should be encouraged with incentives rather than punishment. * Reference was made to a parking structure in the city of Laguna, a clean-line structure with dual access. * It was mentioned that quite often on-street areas that could accommodate four cars, as an example, are occupied by only three. * Suggestion was made that streets near Main Street could be striped for diagonal parking on the travel side least used with parallel parking on the other side; also compromise is necessary from all concerned to resolve this issue. * Objection was raised to noise resulting from car doors being slammed in late night hours. * Support was indicated for diagonal parking, possibly a 40 or 60 degree angle on the streets where it could 5-3-93 be accommodated, from which an excess of a hundred spaces could be realized. Support was likewise indicated for an increase of the in-lieu fee; identification of a location for a parking structure; and construction of such structure accomplished by means of bonding was mentioned. A second city was mentioned that does not allow street parking after 7:00 p.m. without resident permit, and allowance for only a specified number of guest passes. * It was alleged that it appears the intent is to revert thirty years backward; restaurant establishments are an asset; parking is reflective of any beach town. I * * One perception was that there is not a parking problem but a parking shortage, which is typical of a beach community; instead of the notion that business is creating the parking problem it is more likely that parking is impacting business, that problem likely to continue. If one returns home after working hours one must search for parking if there are inadequate on-site spaces, yet if one returns home at 1:00 a.m. Main Street is not the problem. The lack of adequate funds to develop a parking structure was cited, as well as a potential conflict between the generation of sales tax and parking. Claim was made that all studies relating to parking since the 1960's have reached the same conclusions; the Council and Planning Commission should review each option from an economic standpoint, then present the findings to the public as to whether or not they are feasible and affordable. * I * Support was indicated for diagonally striped spaces, night street parking by permit only, decking of the 8th/Central lot, and retention of two hour Main Street parking. Question was raised as to whether people would utilize beach lot parking and walk to the restaurants. * Preference was noted for additional 20 minute spaces and the reduction of street parking from two to one hour. * Anticipating upcoming applications for Main Street businesses, it was suggested that the environment and quality of life be considered first. * A suggestion was made that the merchants be the ones to pose solutions to the parking situation; possibly the rear of the stores could be cleared to provide additional area for parking space(s), with a posted time limit. * It was noted that the vacant area on the east side of Main in the 300 block is for Chevron employee parking, yet sometimes accommodates other vehicles. * It was reported that a survey of the 100 block of the 8th Street alley during the dinner hour, prior to this workshop, revealed forty empty parking spaces, some were posted for no parking, twenty-four hours per day, yet the particular business was closed. It was suggested that the businesses must cooperate with the City and other businesses after regular business hours to free the use of parking spaces as an alternative to parking on adjacent residential streets. Support was indicated for resident permits for street parking during nighttime hours, however as a beach community, parking will likely always be a problem. I I I I 5-3-93 * Mention was made that parkinq on Main street appears to have worsened over the past two years yet residential population has decreased; a request also for improved safety for bicyclists on Main street. with reqard to a qreater number of persons frequentinq the community, the increase of population nationally over recent years was pointed out. * Another comment acknowledqed that Main street is busier than in years past, yet restaurants, such as Walts Wharf, not only create activity in the down town area, they promote the retail community. * It was suqqested that retail businesses extend their hours to coincide with the restaurants, qivinq the opportunity for increased profit. * * Once aqain there was mention that there must be a cooperative effort by both residents and merchants; suqqested that attractive, liqhted window displays could be an incentive for persons awaitinq a restaurant seat to revisit a business if it does not choose to stay open later; fences and walls could be allowed to be built hiqher as a deterrent to noise. * Consideration should be qiven to a senior citizen rate for the beach parkinq lots. * Question was raised as to liability should a business choose to make their on-site parkinq available to another business after daytime hours. Any chanqe of use of a Main street property poses problems, especially where there is an intensified use; potential for concern with the use of the beach lots after 10:00 p.m. * * Density of Main street is a problem; impacts from surroundinq development; need to provide safety for bicyclists; implement short term parkinq improvements, plan for lonq term resolution. It was the order of the Chair, with consent of the Council, to declare a recess at 8:30 p.m. The Council reconvened at 8:41 p.m. with Mayor Forsythe callinq the meetinq to order. * Invitation was offered for anyone who may have a problem with the Council implementinq any of the various solutions offered to let it be known at this time. * Preparation of an environmental impact report for the entire Main street area, rather than for individual businesses, was suqqested; preference for a lonq term commitment rather than a short term fix. Noted that approximately two hundred parkinq permits for business employees are issued annually at a cost of $40 each, allowinq parkinq in any of the city lots. * Suqqested that staff develop quidelines for the use of parkinq stickers. * * Noted that a Main Street property with qrandfathered parkinq loses the riqht to operate a like business after a periOd of ninety days; the ninety day period is too short and has the potential to impact a number of Main street businesses; all properties, whether commercial or 5-3-93 I 5-10-93 residential, should be required to pay a fee for each parking space that is lacking, such fees placed in a fund for a long term solution; a long range plan for Main street should be developed in order to identify what is desired for the area in future years. * I Grandfathered parking should no longer be allowed; concurrence that all persons that have a shortage of parking should be required to pay a fee. * Assessment of a fee for each parking space lacking could drive low volume businesses from Main street and encourage those of high volume. Mayor Forsythe expressed appreciation for the attendance and comments from all persons present at the workshop, and advised that the suggestions will be evaluated for implementation short and long term. ADJOURNMENT It was the order of the Chair, with consent of the Council, to adjourn the city Council session to Monday, May 10th at 6:00 p.m. to meet in Closed Session. By unanimous consent of the City Council, Planning Commission, and Environmental Quality Control Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. of the I Approved: _~~~/~~-6. ayo Attest: Seal Beach, California May 10, 1993 The regular adjourned City Council session scheduled for 6:00 p.m. this date was cancelled as a result of the lack of Closed Session items for discussion. ED THIS~ day. J nne M. Yeo, cit ity of Seal Beach I