MEMORANDUM 08-104

TO: Port and Harbor Commission

FROM: Walt Wrede

DATE: July 16, 2008

SUBJECT: Update on Spit Parking Issues

The Purpose of this memorandum is to provide the Commission with an update on Administration actions so far regarding the Spit Parking Recommendations that were a product of the Joint Planning Commission / Port and Harbor Commission workshop earlier this summer. It is also a response to requests made by the Commission at its last meeting.

The City Council will receive a Memorandum from the Commission which contains its recommendations from the last meeting; including an emergency parking ordinance and creation of a Spit Parking Committee. The staff elected to not do anything directly with those recommendations other than to make sure the Council was aware of them.

Both recommendations were discussed at a recent staff meeting regarding Spit Parking. It was decided that drafting an emergency ordinance for parking along a State Highway would have little effect until the City reached an agreement with DOT/PF and assumed responsibility for parking enforcement. The Chief of Police relayed that Committees have been formed before. He said he served on one for two years but nothing came out of it. The problem is that the community just seems to have a hard time deciding on a course of action when it comes to parking on the Spit. No matter what you recommend, somebody thinks their ox is getting gored! It is hard for the administration to act without clear and agreed upon direction.

As noted above, a staff meeting took place last week to talk about Spit Parking issues and to establish a formal course of action and assign responsibility for various tasks. What follows is about as far as we can take it without direction from the City Council. Although the Council received the recommendations which resulted from of the joint workshop, they have not yet discussed them or taken any action.

The meeting started with a report from the Chief of Police. Mark reported that parking enforcement activities have ramped up significantly this summer. As you may know, the City hired two summer officers that are responsible for Spit parking enforcement and beach patrols. As of the end of June, the officers had issued 24 parking citations, 30 warnings, and many verbal contacts. Emphasis has been on having a presence, making contact, and educating people. Mark also said that the Department has not received any complaints about parking on the Spit since October of last year. Bryan noted that it is probably because they contact the Port and Harbor office instead!

The Chief reported further that the Department examined the existing parking signage and determined that it was adequate but could certainly be improved. He also reported that the Department purchased pedestrian crossing signs that are designed to sit on the center line right in the crosswalk however, they have not yet been able to get permission from DOT/PF to put them there. The Police applied for a ROW permit to do this many months ago but have received no response.

The staff established the following action items:

1. The City Manager will contact people at the DOT/PF ROW division, and higher up if necessary, to try and get some action on the ROW Permit application.
2. The staff will draft a resolution for Council consideration at the July 28 meeting that formally requests that the City be given the authority to manage all parking in the State ROW between Freight Dock Road and Fish Dock Road (or all the way to End of the Road Park). This would enable the City to implement and to enforce some of the Commission recommendations including limiting the size of parking spaces, creating loading zones, establishing better lines of sight, parking on one side of the road only, creating a pedestrian zone, etc.
3. The staff will draft an ordinance for Council consideration and possible introduction at the July 28 meeting which appropriates $15,000 for a parking study.
4. The City Manager will explore with the Council and DOT/PF the idea of the City taking over ownership and maintenance responsibility for the Sterling Highway from Freight Dock Road to the End. There are cost, liability, and other considerations to take into account and DOT/PF many not want to do this for a variety of reasons, including federal highway system inter-modal connectivity with the ferry dock and terminal. However, doing this would give the City the ability to manage and enforce parking in the ROW without undue delays and oversight by a State agency.

Hope this information is helpful and that you think we are on the right track.