BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WA

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1 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WA December 1, 2008 Public Hearing TOWN CENTER PARKING TIME LIMITS (FIRST READING) Proposed Council Action: Conduct public hearing and first reading of Ordinance No. 09C-01 amending MICC Chapter Permit Parking. DEPARTMENT OF COUNCIL LIAISON Development Services Group (Steve Lancaster) n/a EXHIBITS 1. AB 4328: Town Center On-Street Parking (7/7/2008) 2. SE 28 th Street Head-In Angle Parking Stalls Map 3. Letters from interested persons (3) 4. Map showing driveway locations/vehicle movements on SE 28 th Street 5. Options for Parking Time Limits (4 maps) 6. Proposed Ordinance No. 09C-01 (based on Option 1) APPROVED BY CITY MANAGER AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE $ n/a AMOUNT BUDGETED $ n/a APPROPRIATION REQUIRED $ n/a SUMMARY BACKGROUND At its January, 2008 Annual Planning Session, the City Council asked that staff prepare an agenda bill regarding the potential for creating additional on-street parking in the Town Center through re-striping of existing streets. Council also indicated interest in considering additional two-hour parking limitations in the Town Center. KPG, an Engineering Consulting company, was retained to assist staff in evaluating options for adding or improving on-street parking. The City Council held a Study Session on July 7, 2008 (see Exhibit 1) to consider the recommendations included in KPG s June, 2008 Town Center On-Street Parking Study. Councilmembers reacted favorably to the Study s proposal to re-stripe SE 28 th Street between 78 th and 80 th Avenues SE to provide approximately 15 new head-in angle parking spaces on the north side of the street (see Exhibit 2). The Study also suggested placing time restrictions on some on-street parking in order to better support the needs of town center retail establishments. PUBLIC INPUT Community-wide publicity regarding potential changes to Town Center on-street parking has included articles in the July 23, 2008 and October 22, 2008 editions of the Mercer Island Reporter. Additionally, staff worked with the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce to seek input from Town Center businesses and Page 1

2 property owners regarding these potential changes. Two meetings have been held over the past several weeks, organized and publicized by the Chamber. The first meeting, held on August 4, 2008 focused specifically on the potential for additional on-street parking along SE 28 th Street. This meeting was attended by the owner of Maggie Moo s Ice Cream and the Manager of QFC. Both expressed support for the restriping proposal as depicted by Exhibit 2. The second meeting was held on October 14, 2008 and was attended by representatives of Dollar Development, Maggie Moo s Ice Cream, Six Walls, Auto Spa and the Mercer Island Reporter. Meeting participants generally supported both the re-striping of SE 28 th Street, and parking time limits in portions of the Town Center. The owner of Maggie Moo s suggested the need for one or two of these spaces to be short-term parking of perhaps 15 or 30 minutes. This was based on her observation that patrons of her shop and of Noah s Bagels frequently park in the QFC lot for short periods. Others indicated they have heard from other business operators that a three-hour time limit might better accommodate customers who want to combine lunch with a shopping trip (the Mercer is considering making this change in their private parking garage). We also received three letters from persons unable to attend the meetings (Exhibit 3) and a telephone call from Dr. Jacqueline Obando of Mercy Veterinary. Dr. Obando supports two-hour parking limits in the Town Center. She stated her employees (about 3) have difficulty parking near the business ( th Avenue SE) due to contractors and others who leave their vehicles parked on the street all day. ANALYSIS SE 28th Street Head-In Angle Parking Stalls: Staff conducted further research and analysis regarding the potential of creating approximately 15 additional, head-in angle parking stalls on the north side of SE 28 th Street, between 78 th Avenue SE and 80 th Avenue SE (see Exhibit 2). Customers of many of these businesses (Island Square, Noah s Bagels, Maggie Moo s Ice Cream) occasionally utilize parking in the QFC lot across the street, and jaywalk across SE 28 th Street, creating potential safety concerns. The QFC parking lot has a significant amount of traffic by grocery store customers entering and exiting driveways during peak periods at the east and west ends of 78 th Avenue SE. Staff recorded turn movement counts at all the commercial driveways including QFC, Washington Mutual, Island Square Parking Garage, Shell Gas Station, as well as the traffic entering and exiting SE 28 th Street. The data was collected during the busiest time of the day (between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) The proposed new parking configuration was modeled and analyzed to determine the potential for adverse queuing or operational problems. The results not only revealed no likely adverse impacts but also indicated that the intersections and the driveways along SE 28 th Street should continue to operate at a high level of service (LOS). Exhibit 4 illustrates the location of driveways as well as the traffic movements associated with them. Recorded accidents on SE 28 th Street between 78 th Avenue SE and 80 th Avenue SE including both intersections, over the past 4 ½ years (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and through June 2007), were obtained from the Mercer Island Police Department. Fifteen accidents occurred during the past 4 ½ years, resulting in an average accident frequency of 3.3 per year. The majority of these accidents (10) occurred at the intersections of 78 th and 80 th Avenues SE. Most of these are Rear-End, Right Angle and Left Turn incidents common to intersections controlled by stop signs, and are unlikely to be affected by the addition of new parking along SE 28 th Street. Based on average daily traffic on SE 28 th Street (6,150 average daily trips) the accident rate for the portion of the road between intersections is This rate is far below average accident rates for similar streets in town center/downtown locations. Parking Time Limits: One of the trade-offs associated with increasing the number of time-limited parking spaces in the Town Center is a corresponding decrease in the number of permit parking spaces. Parking analysis conducted over a three week period for vehicles utilizing permit parking spaces on both sides of 78 th Avenue SE, revealed that as many as 75% of these spaces appear to be utilized as park and ride Page 2

3 spaces. It appears that many Mercer Island residents utilize these permit spaces between 7:00 and 9:00 am, but leave the vehicle parked in that space for most of the day, limiting access to those spaces by other residents and business customers. Each of the options described below would decrease the number of permit parking spaces available in the Town Center. This impact will be relatively slight compared to current conditions after the temporarily closed sections of 78 th Avenue SE and Sunset Hwy are reopened (2010). OPTIONS Based on this input and analysis of the existing configurations (depicted by Exhibit 5, Page 14), staff has developed several possible scenarios: Option 1 (Exhibit 5, Page 15 and Exhibit 2) The first scenario includes the new head-in parking along SE 28 th Street (see last bullet below), as well as designating several permit parking spaces as two hour limit parking. Several spaces that are currently designated as permit parking would be changed to unrestricted parking: New parking created by re-striping SE 28 th Street between 78 th and 80 th Avenues SE (approximately 15 spaces depicted by Exhibit 3) would be time-limited to 2 hours, with the exception of two spaces which would be limited to 30 minutes. New parking created by construction of 7700 Central mixed-use project (12 spaces depicted as Currently Under Construction ) would be time-limited to 2 hours. Eight (8) existing spaces on 76 th Avenue SE just north of SE 27 th Street extension would be time-limited to 2 hours. Two (2) existing spaces on the west side of 77 th Avenue SE between SE 27 th Street and Sunset Highway would be time-limited to 2 hours. Eleven (11) spaces on both sides of 78 th Avenue SE between SE 27 and 28 th Streets would be time-limited to 2 hours (these spaces are currently limited to permit holders from 7AM to 9AM M-F and unrestricted other times). Nineteen (19) spaces on both sides of SE 29 th Street between 76 th and 77 th Avenues SE would be unrestricted (these spaces are currently limited to permit holders from 7AM to 9AM M-F, unrestricted other times, and are currently underutilized). Parking regulations for other areas would remain unchanged. Option 1 was supported by participants in the October 14 meeting of business representatives. Option 2 (Exhibit 5, Page 16 and Exhibit 2) Same as Option 1 except the 11 parking spaces on 78 th Avenue SE between SE 28 th Street and SE 27 th Street would have same designation as today (permit parking). Option 3 (Exhibit 5, Page 17 and Exhibit 2) Same as Option 2 except eight spaces on 76 th Avenue SE between SE 27 th Street and the extension of SE 27 th Street would be designated as permit parking. The table on the next page summarizes the supply of on-street parking within the Town Center (a) under Current Conditions (with the 78 th Avenue SE and Sunset Highway closure); (b) under current conditions but with 78 th and Sunset re-opened; and (c) under each option described above. Page 3

4 Parking Supply by Category Time-limited Parking Permit Parking Un- Restricted Total Current Conditions With 78 th /Sunset Re-Opened With Option With Option With Option SUMMARY Proposed Ordinance No. 09C-01 is based on Option 1. The amendments outlined in this Ordinance would go into effect thirty (30) days after adoption. However, enforcement of the new parking regulations would not occur for ninety (90) days after the effective date. During that time, information would be disseminated to the public through the local newspaper, the City s website, signage and other media. Should Council decide to make any changes to Option 1 or choose Option 2 or 3, staff will make the necessary changes before bringing the Ordinance back for a second reading and adoption in early RECOMMENDATION Development Services Director MOVE TO: Conduct the first reading of Ordinance No. 09C-01 and schedule for second reading and adoption at the first regularly scheduled Council meeting in Page 4

5 Exhibit 1 Page 5

6 Exhibit 1 Page 6

7 Exhibit 1 Page 7

8 Exhibit 1 Page 8

9 Exhibit 2 Page 9

10 Exhibit 3 Page 10

11 Exhibit 3 Page 11

12 Exhibit 3 Page 12

13 Exhibit 4. Driveway locations/vehicle movements SE 28 th looking north east SE 28 th looking east Exhibit 4 Page 13

14 Exhibit 5 Page 14

15 Exhibit 5 Page 15

16 Exhibit 5 Page 16

17 Exhibit 5 Page 17

18 Exhibit 5 Page 18

19 CITY OF MERCER ISLAND ORDINANCE NO. 09C-01 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WASHINGTON, AMENDING MERCER ISLAND CITY CODE CHAPTER PERMIT PARKING REGARDING TOWN CENTER PARKING TIME LIMIT. WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that commercial and mixed-use development during the last few years in Town Center have increased the need for on-street parking, due to an increased number of employees, shoppers, and others utilizing services; and WHEREAS, meetings were held with local property and business owners, as well as residents in order to gain better understanding of their needs and desires, and explore and identify potential options. Comments by , regular mail and voice were also received and considered; and WHEREAS, business owners expressed the need for short-term parking, due to changes to the business activity characteristics of Town Center, such as: mixed use, high density residential and additional retail; and WHEREAS, additional parking in Town Center will afford residents and visitors greater opportunities to support local businesses, consistent with the City Council policies and its desires to promote development of a walkable community as a way to better utilize improved nonmotorized areas and increase pedestrian connectivity; and WHEREAS, the majority of parking stalls at the current Park and Ride facility is being utilized by off-island regional transit users and causing adverse impacts in the Town Center, reducing the number of spaces available for Island residents, and forcing an increased volume of long-term parking in Town Center. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WASHINGTON DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: Amendment of MICC Parking restrictions Town Center. MICC (A)(1) is hereby amended as follows: A. In the North Mercer neighborhood: 1. Establishment of North Mercer Restricted Parking District. All streets described in subsection (A)(2) of this section, and as more particularly shown in Figure 1, are hereby established as a restricted parking district where parking shall be restricted except by permits issued to district residents. The city engineer shall have discretion to exclude those streets or a portion of streets included within this district from the restricted parking district if the occupants of a majority of the residences on such streets or portion of such streets request such exclusion in writing. Exhibit 6 Page 19

20 Section 2: Amendment of MICC Parking restrictions Town Center. MICC (B) is hereby amended as follows: B. In the Town Center 1. Time-Limited Parking. a. Two Hour Limit. Parking is restricted to two hour limits as follows: i. 76th Avenue SE: both sides between SE 27th Street and Extension of SE 27th Street; ii. SE 27th Street: both sides between 77th Avenue SE and 76th Avenue SE. iii. SE 27th Street: south side between 78th Avenue SE and 80th Avenue SE: iv. 77th Avenue SE: west side between Sunset Highway and SE 27th Street; v. 78th Avenue SE: both sides between SE 27th Street and SE 28th Street; iv. 78th Avenue SE: west side between Sunset Highway and SE 27th Street; iiv. Sunset Highway: south side between 77th Avenue SE and 78th Avenue SE; iiiv. 80th Avenue SE: west side between SE 27th Street and SE 28th Street; xi. SE 28th Street: north side between 78th Avenue SE and 80th Avenue SE. b. 30 Minute Limit. Parking is restricted to 30 minutes, as follows: i. SE 28th Street: two spaces as indicated on north side between 78th Avenue SE and 80th Avenue SE. c. 3 Minute Limit. Parking is restricted to 3 minutes for loading/unloading, as follows: i. 76th Avenue SE: two spaces as indicated on the west side of the street. 21. PermitRestricted Parking. Parking is restricted to vehicles with a valid Mercer Island Town Center or North Mercer Restricted Parking District parking permit between 7 am and 9 am Monday through Friday on the following streets or portions thereof, as more particularly shown in Figure 1: a. Cul-de-sacs located on the east and west end of Sunset Highway. b. 78th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between SE 28th StreetSE 27th Street and SE 29th Street; c. 76th Avenue SE: Parking in the designated pullout areas on both sides between SE 27th Street and SE 29th Street; cd. SE 29th Street: Parking on both sides between 77th Avenue SE76th Avenue SE and 78th Avenue SE; d. 80th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between SE 28th Street and SE 30th Street. e. SE 30th Street: Parking on both sides between 78th Avenue SE and 80th Avenue SE; f. 80th Avenue SE: Parking on the west side between SE 27th Street and SE 28th Street in designated pullout; g. 80th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between SE 28th Street and SE 30th Street. 32. Prohibited Parking. Parking is prohibited as to all vehicles on the following streets or portions thereof (no parking anytime): Exhibit 6 Page 20

21 a. 76th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between North Mercer Way and SE 27th Street; b. 76th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between SE 28th Street to SE 29th Street; cd. Sunset Highway: Parking on both sides between the two cul-de-sacs, except for six (6) spaces on the south side, adjacent to 7700 Sunset Highwayincluding Sunset Highway between 77th Avenue SE and 78th Avenue SE (parking in the cul-de-sac areas will be signed permit parking); de. 77th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between Sunset Highway and SE 32nd Street, except for two (2) designated spaces on the west side of 77th Avenue SE, between Sunset Highway and SE 27th StreetNorth Mercer Way and SE 32nd Street; ef. 78th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between Sunset Highway and SE 27th Street, except for six (6) designated spaces on the west side of 78th Avenue SE; fc. SE 27th Street: Parking on both sides between 76th Avenue SE Extension and Island Crest Way except for two (2) designated spaces on the south side, between 78th Avenue SE and 80th Avenue SE; g. SE 28th Street: Parking on both sides between 78th Avenue SE and Island Crest Way; gh. 78th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between SE 29th Street and SE 32nd Street; hi. SE 32nd Street: Parking on the north side between 77th Avenue SE and 80th Avenue SE; i. SE 32nd Street: Parking on the south side between 77th Avenue SE and 78th Avenue SE except for three (3) designated spaces; j. 80th Avenue SE: Parking on the east side from SE 27th Street to SE 28th Street; k. 80th Avenue SE: Parking in the areas currently signed No Parking Anytime. ; and l. Any other areas specifically signed No Parking Anytime. Section 3: Amendment of MICC Parking restrictions Town Center. MICC is hereby amended by removing Figure 1. Section 4: Ratification. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of this ordinance is hereby ratified and affirmed. Section 5: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force on 30 days after its passage and publication. Passed by the City Council of the City of Mercer Island, Washington at its regular meeting on the day of, 2008 and signed in authentication of its passage. Exhibit 6 Page 21

22 CITY OF MERCER ISLAND ATTEST: Jim Pearman, Mayor Allison Spietz, City Clerk Approved as to Form: Katie H. Knight, City Attorney Date of Publication: Exhibit 6 Page 22