HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD Regulation of On-Street Parking on Narrow Streets____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: February 1, 2021
Disposition: Passed Ordinance No. 1989 to print
Agenda Item No: 7.b
Meeting Date: February 1, 2021
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: San Rafael Fire Department
Prepared by: Darin White, Fire Chief
Quinn Gardner, Emergency Manager
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: REGULATION OF ON-STREET PARKING ON NARROW STREETS
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL CODE
SECTION 5.40.080 REGULATING PARKING ON NARROW, HILLY CITY STREETS
RECOMMENDATION: Pass to print an ordinance amending San Rafael Municipal Code Section
5.40.080 to include parking restrictions on narrow, hilly streets throughout the City.
BACKGROUND:
Due to the geography and terrain of the local landscape, numerous narrow, winding and hilly streets exist
in City neighborhoods. These types of roadways can create high risk travel situations for residents, first
responders, and other large vehicles. Presently, parking is permitted on both sides of these narrow
streets, resulting in vehicles constricting available space and creating a significant challenge for
emergency response and evacuation efforts, as well as putting first responders’ and citizens’ lives and
safety at risk.
The City’s Municipal Code (section 5.40.080) states, in part: “Parking of vehicles upon any city street is
prohibited unless an unobstructed distance of not less than six feet (6′) is maintained to the centerline or
to the center of the improved or main traveled portion of the street”. On some hilly, narrow City streets,
this presents an issue when vehicles are parked on roadsides and emergency apparatus don’t have
enough room to pass safely. Vehicles parked along narrow roadways also present a challenge to
evacuation efforts by acting as choke points, which can cause unnecessary backups and delays.
Staff have concluded that to minimize these challenges, additional parking restrictions are needed on
select streets. These changes will assure all City streets can accommodate safe emergency vehicle travel
and resident evacuation. Staff propose roadside parking should be identified and marked accordingly
with signage and painted boxes on select roadways (see example images below). Vehicles parked in
violation of signs or markings may be cited and if necessary immediately removed to ensure that
roadways remain clear for emergency access and egress at all times.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
ANALYSIS:
During a wildfire or other emergent event, the narrow streets present in some of the City’s hillside
neighborhoods have the potential to exacerbate fire, due to their potential to funnel winds and debris,
threaten lives, hamper evacuation efforts, and choke out responding emergency vehicles. These dangers
are heightened in these high-risk areas by civilian vehicles being allowed to freely park along the narrow
roadways, which further restricts access by rendering them impassable to larger fire apparatus and
creating single lane access for residents. These narrow, hilly, limited access streets in San Rafael exist
in areas such as the West End, Lincoln Hill, Gerstle Park, San Rafael Open Space and neighborhoods
on the borders of Santa Venetia and China Camp State Park.
In order to keep residents and visitors safe and to facilitate emergency vehicle access and efficient
evacuations, parking should be restricted to marked areas only and vehicles in violation should be
ticketed and removed as quickly as possible. To accomplish this, high risk neighborhoods will be reviewed
for accessibility to ensure emergency vehicles have space to enter roads and assist where needed. The
dimensions and turning radius of a fire engine will determine how much road must be devoted to
emergency vehicle access and remaining space will be marked to delineate where civilian vehicles can
park without obstructing access or egress. Staff will walk each high-risk roadway accompanied by an
engine and physically measure the distance between the roadside and the engine to determine where
roadways may be marked to accommodate both parking and safe engine passage. These easy to
understand markings will help make both adherence and enforcement easier. Similar parking box
regulations exist in Marin in areas such as Larkspur and Corte Madera.
Prior to parking box installation, roadside and overhanging vegetation will be cleared to increase potential
parking areas and improve evacuation routes. In addition, reasonable efforts will be made to maintain as
much safe parking as possible. Staff will work with residents and neighborhood groups to review and
accommodate unique individual needs, while maintaining a focus on the overarching goal of public safety.
Signage will be posted along each high-risk roadway to delineate areas in which street parking will be
limited to within designated spaces only.
Installation of parking boxes along select roadways will be prioritized based on roadway conditions,
properties impacted, and fire risk in the nearby area. In addition, feedback from fire suppression staff
regarding access and egress challenges has been collected and considered as part of implementation
prioritization. Staff anticipate the initial areas of implementation may take four-eight months. This will
allow for adequate and ongoing community outreach, meeting notification requirements, vegetation
removal, and finally the marking and painting of the parking boxes. The efforts to fully implement parking
boxes on all selected roadways will span multiple years.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
This proposed change to the City’s municipal code was incorporated into the Wildfire Prevention and
Protection Plan outreach, part of the Wildfire Action Plan which was adopted by City Council in August
of 2020. Feedback was received and will continue to be welcomed and considered throughout the
adoption process and implementation.
After presenting the draft Plan on January 22, 2019, staff gathered public feedback and additional input
from many community partners. These efforts included but were not limited to a community meeting at
City Hall on February 11th, and meetings with the Marin County Fire Chiefs, Marin Association of
Realtors, Marin County Fire Prevention Officers, San Rafael Fire Commission, San Rafael
Neighborhoods Association, and Friends of China Camp. Presentations, including time for questions and
feedback, were made to the Gerstle Park Neighborhood Association, Lincoln-San Rafael Hill
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
Neighborhood Association, Rotary Club of San Rafael, San Pedro Road Coalition, Villa Real HOA, the
Citizens’ Oversight Advisory Committee and Marinwood Community Services District. In addition, the
Plan was presented, and feedback received at meetings with San Rafael CERT, attendees of the 1 Hour
2 Get Ready classes, and the County Public Disaster Education and Preparedness Committee (PDEP).
Additional outreach was conducted using various online tools, including social media and the City of San
Rafael website. The City website was updated shortly after the January 22, 2019 meeting to include a
copy of the draft Plan, supporting documentation, and an online feedback form. Short videos describing
aspects of the Plan and encouraging feedback were added to the website. As of March 8, 2020, the
dedicated webpage and feedback form had 3,736 views and 84 submissions, many with multiple
comments. Two Nextdoor poll questions had over 325 total responses. Staff will continue to host
community workshops, meetings and continue social media outreach and digital updates to engage and
inform the public.
Prior to and during implementation of the parking ordinance, staff will conduct social media outreach via
Nextdoor and the City website, distribute mailed letters and flyers to affected residents, and use other
social media updates to continue to engage and inform the public while mitigating the risks associated
with COVID-19.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The costs of implementation of the program, including the vegetation clearance, roadway paintings, and
updated parking signs will be covered by the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority with funds raised through
Measure C. Any revenue from ticketed violations is intended to be used to support costs associated with
paint and sign maintenance after the expiration of Measure C.
OPTIONS:
Staff suggest the following options be considered on this matter:
1. Pass to print the ordinance making amendments to SRMC Section 5.40.080
2. Pass the ordinance to print with modifications.
3. Direct staff to return with more information.
4. Take no action.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the Council pass to print the attached proposed ordinance amending SRMC
Section 5.40.080.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance amending San Rafael Municipal Code Section 5.40.080 regulating parking on narrow
city streets
2. Public Notice of Ordinance for parking on narrow city streets
3. Visual Examples
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ORDINANCE NO. 1989
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
RAFAEL AMENDING SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION
5.40.080 REGULATING PARKING ON NARROW, HILLY CITY
STREETS
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to preserve the safety and attractiveness of
the City’s streets and the functionality for residents and businesses using those streets;
and
WHEREAS, areas in the City of San Rafael with narrow and hilly roads or in
territory where access is otherwise difficult are particularly vulnerable to wildfire; and
WHEREAS, the regular parking of vehicles on streets with narrow widths or in
territory difficult to access often creates hazards to vehicular and pedestrian travel; and
WHEREAS, the width of said roads cannot always safely accommodate the
passage of City fire or emergency medical apparatus when vehicles are parked on
roadsides; and
WHEREAS, San Rafael Municipal Code Section 5.48.010 authorizes the City
Traffic Engineer to regulate, restrict, or prohibit parking upon specified streets and
during specified hours; and
WHEREAS, the amendments to the San Rafael Municipal Code adopted herein
will allow the City Traffic Engineer to place signs or markings to designate limited areas
where parking on narrow streets may be allowed without obstructing safe passage of
vehicles and pedestrians, and will facilitate the City’s ability to effectively enforce its
parking restrictions on narrow hilly roadways, thus facilitating emergency access and
evacuation, and protecting the public health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that adoption of this ordinance would provide
limitations on the use of public streets for parking, and is therefore categorically exempt
from environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”)
Guidelines Section 15301 concerning the operation or minor alteration of existing public
facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
DIVISION 1: AMENDMENT.
Section 5.40.080 of the San Rafael Municipal Code, entitled “Parking prohibited
on narrow streets” is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
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(a) The city traffic engineer is authorized to place signs or markings indicating
no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed
twenty feet (20’), or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs or
markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed thirty feet (30’);
(b) When official signs or markings prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow
streets as authorized herein, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such
street in violation of any such sign or marking;
(c) Parking of vehicles upon any city street is prohibited unless an unobstructed
distance of not less than six feet (6’) is maintained to the centerline or to the
center of the improved or main traveled portion of the street;
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, when the stopping or
parking of vehicles on a narrow hilly street constitutes a hazard to traffic, life
or property, or an obstruction to the adequate access by fire, police, health,
sanitation and public utility vehicles, the traffic engineer may install signs or
markings, including parking boxes, upon the street or portions thereof giving
notice that no person shall stop or park or leave standing any vehicle,
except as designated by such signs or markings, and that vehicles parked
in violation of such signs or markings may be cited and immediately
removed.
DIVISION 2: SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any
reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance. The Council hereby declares that it would have adopted the
Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase thereof, irrespective
of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be
declared invalid.
DIVISION 3: PUBLICATION; EFFECTIVE DATE.
A summary of this Ordinance shall be published and a certified copy of the full text
of this Ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk at least five (5) days prior
to the Council meeting at which it is adopted.
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after its final
passage, and the summary of this Ordinance shall be published within fifteen (15) days
after the adoption, together with the names of the Councilmembers voting for or against
same, in the Marin Independent Journal, a newspaper of general circulation published
and circulated in the City of San Rafael, County of Marin, State of California.
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Within fifteen (15) days after adoption, the City Clerk shall also post in the office of
the City Clerk, a certified copy of the full text of this Ordinance along with the names of
those Councilmembers voting for and against the Ordinance.
KATE COLIN, Mayor
ATTEST:
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
The foregoing Ordinance No. 1989 was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council
of the City of San Rafael on February 1, 2021 and ordered passed to print by the following
vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
and will come up for adoption as an Ordinance of the City of San Rafael at a Regular
Meeting of the Council to be held on the February 16, 2021.
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City Council of the City of San Rafael will hold a public hearing:
PURPOSE: Public Hearing: To consider adoption of an ordinance
amending Title 5 (Traffic Regulations), section 5.40.080 of the
San Rafael Municipal Code to establish a parking box program
on narrow streets to improve routine emergency access and
evacuation along such streets and thereby better protecting lives
and property from wildfire. The ordinance would provide that
the City’s Traffic Engineer may restrict on-street parking on
narrow streets to areas that are specially marked as parking
boxes.
DATE/TIME/PLACE: Monday, February 1, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
Consistent with Executive Orders No.-25-20 and No. N-29-20
from the Executive Department of the State of California and
the Marin County Shelter in Place Order, the San Rafael City
Council hearing of February 1, 2021 will not be physically open
to the public and the meeting will be streamed live to YouTube
at www.youtube.com/cityofsanrafael. Instructions on how to
participate online will be available on the YouTube channel.
You will also be able to listen/speak by telephone. The number
will be provided on agenda.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: You may comment on the proposed amendment to establish
parking boxes on narrow streets. The City Council will
consider all public testimony and will then decide whether to
pass the amendment to print .
IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND: You may send a letter to City Clerk, City of San Rafael,
1400 Fifth Avenue, Room 209, San Rafael, CA 94915 or by
email Lindsay.Lara@cityofsanrafael.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: You may contact Quinn Gardner, Emergency Manager, at (415)
485-5336 or quinn.gardner@cityofsanrafael.org. Office hours
are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL
/s/ LINDSAY LARA
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
Attachment 3-Visual Examples
Coleman Drive, in the Lincoln Hill neighborhood, is an example of a winding and narrow road within the
City of San Rafael. The parked vehicles in the image from Google maps, are parked legally according to
current regulations, but impede emergency traffic. As part of the proposed program, vegetation along the
roadway would be cleared, reducing potential ignitions such as from hot mufflers, and creating more
space to safely park in newly marked spaces. In this example, the spot near the bend were visibility and
turning radius creates challenges, a parking spot may be eliminated if the topography, rather then
removable vegetation, limits the capacity to safely park off the roadway.
Attachment 3-Visual Examples
Fair Drive provides a good example of how parked cars can constrict roads and impede access. If the
engine can safely travel the area pictured, parking boxes would be installed in similar locations to which
the vehicles are currently parked. The boxes would clearly indicate safe and allowable parking locations.
Attachment 3-Visual Examples
Spring Grove Avenue, below, is another example of a street that presents challenges to evacuation and
emergency egress. The truck in the photo from Google Maps is parked on a blind curve and pushes
traffic to a single lane around the curve. Parking may be retained in the area behind the truck, but specific
on-site measurements may demonstrate a need to limit parking in the space occupied.
Attachment 3-Visual Examples
Below are some examples of marked parking boxes as implemented in Larkspur, CA, clearly delineating
where parking is
allowed. As part of the
City’s proposal
vegetation would be
removed along the
roadways, further
increasing visbility and
improving emergency
access and egress.
Note, the boxes are
painted to be as long as
it is safe, and not
designed to be one
vehicle per spot,
providing for the
additional flexibility.
