HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Tamalpais East Taxicab Stand____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
File No.: 245
Council Meeting: 2/5/2018
Disposition: Resolution 14463
Agenda Item No: 6.d
Meeting Date: February 5, 2018
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Public Works
Prepared by: Bill Guerin,
Director of Public Works
City Manager Approval: ____________
TOPIC: NEW TAXICAB STAND ON TAMALPAIS EAST
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ESTABLISH A
TAXICAB STAND ON TAMALPAIS EAST, BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH STREETS
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the resolution.
BACKGROUND: Beginning February 1, 2018, taxicabs are no longer be able to use the existing private
taxicab stand in the C. Paul Bettini Transit Center (Transit Center). The current owner and operator of
the Transit Center, the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District (GGBHTD), has notified
the City of this change. The removal of the private taxicab stand is required to accommodate the
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Larkspur Extension Project. This will displace four taxicab operators
that have exclusive rights with GGBHTD to use their stand.
Due to public comment and the important role taxicabs play in assisting public transportation users to
and from their first and last mile, the City has worked with local stakeholders, including GGBHTD, taxicab
operators, the Marin General Services Authority, and Whistlestop to determine a new taxicab location.
Any taxicab stand designated by the City on City property would be available to use by the taxicab
operators displaced from the Transit Center, as well as all taxicab operators licensed in the County of
Marin unless the City Council determines, through an ordinance, that it prefers to limit, through a
permit or other selection system, the number of taxicabs that can operate from the taxicab stand near
the new transit center.
The City of San Rafael Municipal Code Section 5.40.170 regulates taxicab stand location,
signage/marking, and usage:
5.40.170 - Taxicab stands.
(a) The city council shall, by resolution, establish taxicab stands and determine the locations thereof.
(b) The curb surface within each taxicab stand shall be painted white and marked "Taxicab Stand" in red
lettering, or shall be designated by signs of a type and size approved by the city traffic manager.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
(c) It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle, other than a taxicab or automobile for hire, to park the
vehicle in the taxicab stand.
ANALYSIS: Staff received public comment and met with local stakeholders to determine a suitable
location for the new taxicab stand. A number of factors were weighted when selecting the new
location. These factors included the following:
• Proximity to the Transit Center and the Downtown SMART Station
• Impact to local businesses
• Number of metered parking spaces that would be eliminated
• Stakeholder and public comment
Staff determined the location that best optimized these factors was Tamalpais East, between Third and
Fourth Streets. Tamalpais East is a one-way street that currently has five consecutive metered parking
spaces. To accommodate a six space taxicab stand, the City will remove the five metered parking
spaces, as well as convert 22 feet of red curb to white curb. The removal of five metered parking spaces
will impact the overall parking availability immediately adjacent to the transit center but staff believes
that access to taxicabs near the transit center is important and access to taxicabs will have a positive
impact on parking use in the area. The City will also add signage and paint the curb white as specified in
Section 5.40.170 of the municipal code.
It is anticipated that allowing all taxicabs licensed to operate in Marin County to use the taxicab stand
will result in significant congestion in and around the transit center, an already congested area of San
Rafael. Staff is pursuing the implementation of a permit system or other licensing mechanism in order
to limit the number of taxicab companies who will be able to use the new taxicab stand. Selection
criteria might include the number of taxicabs operated by the company, fleet age and quality, company
and driver qualifications, ability to pay a permitting fee that would be used to offset the cost of meter
removal and other city operating expenses, local preference, and other possible selection factors. Staff
will develop selection criteria and an ordinance for consideration by Council at a future City Council
meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT: The removal of five parking meters will result in the loss of $3,000/year in parking
meter revenue. The removal of the existing meters and the signage/marking upgrades will cost $3,100.
Sufficient funds are available in the General Fund to support this action.
OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1. Adopt the resolution authorizing the Department of Public Works to establish a new taxicab
stand on Tamalpais East, between Third and Fourth Streets.
2. Not adopt the resolution, which would prohibit the construction of a taxicab stand on
Tamalpais East, between Third and Fourth Streets.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the resolution authorizing the Department of Public Works to
establish a taxicab stand on Tamalpais East, between Third and Fourth Streets.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
RESOLUTION NO. 14463
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ESTABLISH A
TAXICAB STAND ON TAMALPAIS EAST, BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH
STREETS
WHEREAS, the private taxicab stand in the C. Paul Bettini Transit Center will no longer
be available after February 1, 2018, due to the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District’s
Larkspur Extension Project; and
WHEREAS, the City received public and taxi cab operator comments requesting a new
taxicab stand in close proximity to the C. Paul Bettini Transit Center; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael Municipal Code Section 5.40.170 regulates taxicab
stands and authorizes the City Council to establish taxicab stands and determine the locations
thereof; and
WHEREAS, the City Traffic Engineer recommends locating a new taxicab stand on
Tamalpais East between Third and Fourth Streets, in the place of five metered parking spaces;
and
WHEREAS, there are sufficient funds in the General Fund Street Maintenance Program
to support this project.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
RESOLVES as follows:
1. The Department of Public Works is hereby authorized to remove five parking
spaces and meters on Tamalpais East between Third and Fourth Streets and to
replace them with a taxicab stand.
2. The Director of Public Works is hereby authorized to take any and all such
actions, make changes, and issue such change orders as may be necessary to
accomplish the purpose of this resolution.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Interim Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the
City Council of the City of San Rafael held on Monday, the 5th day of February, 2018 by the
following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Colin
_______________________________
LINDSAY LARA, Interim City Clerk
STAFF REPORT APPROVAL
ROUTING SLIP
Staff Report Author: Charmine/Thomas Date of Meeting: 02/05/2018
Department: DPW
Topic: NEW TAXICAB STAND ON TAMALPAIS EAST
Subject: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ESTABLISH A TAXICAB STAND ON TAMALPAIS EAST, BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH
STREET
Type: (check all that apply) ☒ Consent Calendar ☐ Public Hearing
☐ Discussion Item ☒ Resolution ☐ Ordinance
☐ Professional Services Agreement ☐ Informational Report
*If PSA, City Attorney approval is required prior to start of staff report approval process
Was agenda item publicly noticed? ☐ Yes ☐No Date noticed: ☐Mailed ☐Site posted ☐Marin IJ
Due Date Responsibility Description Completed
Date Initial / Comment
DEPARTMENT REVIEW
FRIDAY noon
Director Director approves staff
report is ready for ACM,
City Attorney & Finance
review.
1/28/2018
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BG
CONTENT REVIEW
MONDAY
morning
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
Finance
ACM, City Attorney &
Finance will review items,
make edits using track
changes and ask questions
using comments. Items will
be returned to the author
by end of day Wednesday.
1/29/2018
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DEPARTMENT REVISIONS
WEDNESDAY
noon
Author Author revises the report
based on comments
receives and produces a
final version (all track
changes and comments
removed) by Friday at
noon.
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ACM, CITY ATTORNEY, FINANCE FINAL APPROVAL
MONDAY
morning
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
ACM, City Attorney &
Finance will check to see
their comments were
adequately addressed and
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Finance
sign-off for the City
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TUES
noon
City Manager Final review and approval Click here to
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