CCMIN071916 - Laserfiche WebLink

15. Accept an update of the Downtown Parking Strategy and Implementation Plan Community Development Director Beaudin provided an update of the Downtown Parking Strategy and Implementation Plan including implementation of some of the items. He addressed improvements made, developing management strategies, increasing parking enforcement, updating wayfinding signs related to parking, the need for a new parking specific plan, private versus public parking, parking availability on Main Street and Downtown, addressing increased parking demand, existing conditions, encouraging parking at alternative locations, and opportunities to manage parking supply. He added that staff looked at supply-related strategies and addressed the implementation section of the parking plan. He noted that this is a draft plan and requested input from Council. In response to Mayor Thorne's question regarding the need for the City to buy the Bank of America site presented under one of the options, Community Development Director Beaudin responded affirmatively. Mayor Thorne asked whether they are willing to sell it and Community Development Director Beaudin pointed that as one of the challenges related to this plan. In further response an inquiry about bicycles, Community Development Director Beaudin addressed the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan update and reported that installing bike parking is included in the plan and is relatively easy to implement. Additionally, he referenced the Downtown•Specific Plan update and the Zoning Code update. Bike parking can be made a requirement in terms of the latter. In reply to Councilmember Pentin's question, Community Development Director Beaudin addressed short- and long-term bike parking and bike corrals. Councilmember Pentin noted the need to install corrals where bikes are safe (right on Main Street). Community Development Director Beaudin reported he would like to obtain input from various bike groups in the City and commented on the possibility of reprioritizing the plan. Mayor Thorne noted the need to review sites where structures are being planned to make sure they are close enough to Main Street that people will use them. Whatever is done, it must be as close to Main Street, as possible. Vice Mayor Narum commented on the evaluation of parking structure sites and commented on the possibility of reviewing buildings that have outlived their useful life, tearing them down and building small pockets of parking. Community Development Director Beaudin stated there are a number of parking management strategies that can be implemented in the near term that would provide noticeable solutions. Staff will work with consultants in this regard. Councilmember Brown stated she supports the idea of staff talking to commercial real estate agencies to determine what is possible. Brief discussion followed regarding considering subterranean parking. Mayor Thorne opened the item for public comment. Todd Nelson, Pleasanton, commented positively regarding the plan but noted that terminology used was in terms of spaces for vehicles rather than bikes and stated that would affect staffs decision as to whether to install a ten-bike corral. He noted that the report listed barriers to pedestrians and bicycles getting downtown and worried that focusing on parking spaces will eliminate the chance for the Southern Pacific rail path through the downtown area to be cut off from future bicycle path potential. City Council Minutes Page 11 of 14 July 19, 2016