HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 2008 09 15 (SPECIAL)MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA
SEPTEMBER 15, 2008
CALLED TO ORDER MEETING #2195 AT 7:03 P.M.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Mayor Jerry Amante; Mayor Pro Tem Doug Davert; and
Councilmembers Lou Bone, Tony Kawashima, and Jim Palmer
Absent: None
City Clerk: Pamela Stoker
Others Present: William A. Huston, City Manager and Doug Holland, City Attorney
WORKSHOP ITEM
1. REGULATION OF PARKING ON PUBLIC STREETS
City Manager Huston provided introduction on parking workshop.
Presented by Community Development Director Elizabeth Binsack
Background:
/ City Council held Workshops on October 16, 2007, March 18, 2008, and
discussed at the Regular Council Meeting of April 15, 2008, the issue of
overcrowded on-street parking which:
o Prevents street sweeping,
o Prevents police observation of properties,
o Masks presence of abandoned/inoperable vehicles,
o Harms neighborhood appearance and creates blight, and
o Jeopardizes neighborhood safety.
/ City Council directed staff to prepare an off-street parking ordinance.
/ The Tustin Planning Commission reviewed the draft Off-Street Parking
Ordinance on May 27, 2008 and recommended approval.
What Led to Neighborhood Problems/Blight?
/ Inoperative Vehicles
o Vehicles parked in front of garages -limit access to garages and
trash/debris piles up
o Inhibits trash collection
o Vehicle repairs done on-street
o Prevent street sweeping
o Trash receptacles pushed to street to allow for pick-up
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/ Vehicles for Sale
o Within a typical city block, 80% of vehicles parked were "for sale"
/ Recreational Vehicles Storage
o Boats, jet-skis, or other recreational vehicles are stored on street
/ Businesses utilizing public street for commercial vehicles
o Commercial vehicles parked on public streets
/ Residential Parking
o Garages are being used for storage or recreational space
o Parking/storage on landscape areas or in front yards blocking access
to garage(s)
o Use of canvas awnings, sunshade, and carport canopies within the
front yard area for parking, storage, etc.
o Over paving of front yard
o Garages and carports converted to living spaces
o Examples:
^ 138 condominium unit project in southwest area of the City
adjacent to single family neighborhoods
/ Each unit is required to provide garage and carport
/ 89 illegal garage conversions exist on the project site
/ Perimeter parking spaces are substandard and cause
substandard drive aisle width
/ Prevent emergency vehicles from accessing the property
/ Delivery trucks parking along the drive aisle exacerbates
current condition
o Block emergency vehicle access
o Cars encroach onto drive aisle
o Parking spaces not meeting City's standards
^ 82 unit apartments in southwest neighborhood
/ Approximately 50% of garages are being rented to non-
residents
/ Overflow parking crowded the adjacent street
• Long-term recreational vehicle parking
^ Parking of boats, inoperable vehicles, etc.
^ Blocking of sidewalks impact pedestrian safety
^ Garages and accessory structures used as storage of hazardous
materials within residential neighborhood
/ Creates safety concerns
/ Hazardous materials dangerous to children and occupants
/ Limits Fire and Police rescue efforts
/ Recreational Vehicle Storage
o RV storage poses aesthetic issues to neighbors and streetscape
o RV storage poses potential safety issues (i.e., blocks sidewalk and
visibility)
o Visible from street and by neighbors
o Can dominate front, side or rear yards or be inches from sidewalk
o Considered as blight by neighbors
o Block emergency access to residence/yards
o Blocks access to driveways and garage
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o RVs not moved for months or years or are in a deteriorated condition
o Larger portion of front yard paved instead of landscaping
o Storage Safety Issues: RVs usually contains combustible fuels
(gasoline, propane, etc.)
o When not properly parked, RVs can pose immediate threat to
pedestrians, children riding bicycles, skateboards along sidewalk
o May cause fire/electrical shortage when illegally connected to the
home's utility
o Typically placed against neighbor property line or street -away from
owner's home
o Can damage public right-of-way
Recommended Code Amendments
/ Consolidate, clarify and strengthen parking and driveway regulations,
including:
o Consolidate parking development standards into one Tustin City Code
section
o Require residents to park vehicles in garages
o Require that garages be available for parking
o Clarify recreational vehicle storage
o Establish enforceable parking lot design standards
o Prohibit canvas awnings, temporary sunshades and carport canopies
as covered parking
o Clarify regulations related to storage of unregistered vehicles, boats,
campers, etc.
o Restrict RV parking and require screening
o Prevent over paving and preserve landscaping in street front yards
o Prohibit the use of canopies or tents as garages or carports
o Provide regulations related to storage of commercial vehicles (i.e.,
overnight parking)
o Require commercial parking lots to be used only by business owners,
tenants and patrons and prohibit residential parking
Public Works Director Tim Serlet provided additional recommendations as they
related to street sweeping and parking on main arterials as follow:
Staff Recommendations:
/ Adopt an ordinance restricting parking on public streets during the hours
and on the day the street is scheduled to be swept
o Residential streets 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
o Arterial streets 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.
/ Adopt an ordinance prohibiting parking on the following designated arterial
streets:
o Irvine Blvd between Prospect Avenue & Holt Avenue
o Newport Avenue between Sycamore Avenue and First Street
o Red Hill Avenue between Sycamore Avenue and Mitchell Street and
between San Juan Street and Bryan Avenue
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^ Existing Condition provides for 2, 3, 4, 6 and 6 lane traffic
^ Proposed Condition would provide for 4 or 6 lane traffic
Police Chief Scott Jordan presented permit parking regulations and enforcement
issues as follow:
Staff Recommendation:
/ In conjunction with implementation of stripping the arterials of on-street
parking, revamp existing preferential permit parking procedures for single-
family residential zones. The purpose would be to:
o Respond to potential spillover parking impacts caused by elimination
of on-street parking on the arterials
o Respond to pending and future preferential permit parking requests
from single-family neighborhoods impacted by adjoining multifamily
neighborhoods
/ In Single Family Residential zones, policies and procedures for a
preferential permit parking zone would include the following:
o If desired, a resident would apply for apermit-parking zone by filing a
written request, describing evidence that restricted parking is
necessary. The City Council would make the final decision.
o If granted, on-street parking would be restricted from 2:00 a.m. - 6:00
a.m.
o Residential exemption permits may be granted based upon full
utilization of on-site garages and driveways
o Temporary permits would be granted for overnight guests
o Other exemption permits would be granted on a case-by-case basis
o All permits in current "preferential permit parking" neighborhoods
would be void, and residents would need to reapply for new permits in
compliance with the new policies and procedures.
o In Single-Family Residential zones, the City will respond to complaints
and insure required and/or garage parking spaces are being used as
intended.
/ In Multiple-Family Residential zones, through the Neighborhood
Improvement Task Force, the City will take a proactive approach to
determine compliance with zoning regulations. Starting with the most
impacted neighborhoods, the City will determine if the residents and
property owners are using approved and required parking spaces and/or
garages for their intended purposes.
/ After one year, staff will return to the City Council and report on the
success of the program.
The following people spoke on the proposed parking regulations: Debbie
McGreevy; David Lowe; Claudia Bosco; Anne McCaffrey; Adrian Callaro;
Cristina Talley; Kurt Allen; William Tepper; William Trice; James Lomas;
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Adrian Gaspar; Rodger Switzky; Jerry Saylor; Ray Grangoff (representing the
Apartment Association); Tom Faralito; Ed Eloe; Maria Holland; Tom Wynn;
Tammie Bullard; Syd Clopton; Hilda Plummer; Tina Blenz; Jerri Hartline;
Phillip Dos Reyes; Mark Denny; Debbie McGreevy; Julia Araiza; Lisa Curlee;
Sarah Baxter; Jim Gominsky; Chuck Rogers; Rob Dickies Don Dart; Garry
Toulson; Christopher Rufello; Neil Ballecer
COUNCIL RECESSED AT 9:45 P.M. AND RECONVENED WITH ALL MEMBERS
PRESENT AT 10:03 P.M.
Council discussion ensued.
Councilmember Palmer:
• Requested clarification on the parking permit procedures, RV parking,
non-operable vehicles and complaints, non-resident garage rental, and
discussed past Minutes on parking regulations. City Manager Huston and
Community Development Director Binsack clarified information.
• Requested that issues be quantified and language on proposed ordinance
be written in easy to follow language. Community Development Director
Binsack noted that City Attorney working on administrative citation
program which will help with enforcement of some of these issues.
Councilmember Kawashima:
• Asked about timetable for adoption of ordinance, City Manager Huston
responded that it would take place on the first meeting in October with
introduction of ordinances; and
• Enforcement would need to be consistent and employ public outreach
through Communications Manager.
Councilmember Bone:
• Opined that apartments should upgrade properties to accommodate more
cars per unit;
• Parking Permit Program -residents will have to prove their need and
proper use of garage; and
• Supports staff recommendations.
Mayor Pro Tem Davert:
• Thanked everyone who attended and spoke on controversial issue;
• Have had at least 4 public meetings, significant discussions with
stakeholders, met with Apartment Association of Orange County and
received many emails and letters from citizens;
• Questioned testing lane restrictions on Irvine Boulevard during certain
hours. Director Serlet said it was discussed at a 2007 meeting as an
alternative, but staff did not recommend due to potential for rear-end
accidents and serious congestion;
• Recommended that staff set a public hearing on October 7, 2007 to
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consider item; and
• Prepared to support staff recommendations.
Mayor Amante:
• Thanked staff for comprehensive presentation, residents that commented
on issues, thoughtful &forward-thinking landlords, apartment owners and
managers;
• Supports staff recommendations and would like ordinances to come back
to Council in the form of a public hearing at the next Council Meeting; and
• Suggested aggressive public outreach program with information posted on
City's website.
ADJOURNED -10:48 p.m.
MELA STOKE ,
City Clerk
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