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BACKGROUND <br /> The parking lot between St Mary Street and Division Street, adjacent to the railroad <br /> corridor, was recognized as a temporary parking lot in the Downtown Parking Strategy <br /> and Implementation Plan adopted by City Council on April 18, 2017. The plan identified <br /> the lot for use by downtown business employees or attendees during special events. <br /> The parking lot is comprised of a City-owned parcel of land (APN 94-125-7-1) and a <br /> portion of UPPR's parcel of land (APN 094-125-7-2). The City's parcel has been <br /> undeveloped since the construction of Anderson Street in 1990. The area has been <br /> used for temporary parking, primarily during the Alameda County Fair. The Order of <br /> Demolay leased the western half of the parking area from UPPR for Alameda County <br /> Fair event parking until May 2021. In 2016, the City added gravel, striping and signage <br /> and promoted the use of the parking lot as downtown parking. <br /> The parking lot is scheduled to have lights installed this fall as part of the Lighting <br /> Improvements on St Mary Street from Peters Avenue to the City/Railroad Parking Lot <br /> Project, CIP No. 20462. The lighting is proposed to be installed on the City-owned <br /> portion of the lot. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> In May 2022, UPPR contacted the City about leasing the eastern 30 feet of its parcel, <br /> which is the western half of the current St Mary Street parking lot. The gravel parking lot <br /> accommodates a total of 43 parking stalls, including 22 stalls that encroach onto <br /> UPPR's property. <br /> The lease agreement will allow for the continued use of the western half of the parking <br /> lot. If the City does not enter into the lease agreement, entry and parking will no longer <br /> be allowed on the western side of the current parking area. Continuing to allow parking <br /> in the eastern portion will require the layout of the parking on the City-owned property to <br /> be reconfigured, although it is estimated that the capacity of the reconfigured City lot <br /> would remain at 21 parking stalls. <br /> The parking lot's popularity has been increasing, however, the use is still low overall, <br /> with minimal use during the day and an increase in use in the evening. No formal study <br /> has been conducted but visual observations have identified that about half of the <br /> parking spaces are in use during peak periods. <br /> The lease agreement is for an annual term of$5,000 per year that automatically <br /> extends from year-to-year and is subject to a three percent annual adjustment in cost. <br /> Additionally, the lease agreement allows UPRR to redetermine the fixed rent no more <br /> frequently than once every three years. If the premises are specially assessed for public <br /> improvements by the county tax assessor's office, the annual rent will automatically be <br /> increased by 12 percent of the full assessment amount. <br /> The parking lot is scheduled to have lights installed this fall as part of the Lighting <br /> Improvements on St Mary Street from Peters Avenue to the City/Railroad Parking Lot <br /> Project, CIP No. 20462, to improve the safety and promote the use of the lot. The <br /> lighting project as it is being designed intends to install the light standards on the City <br /> Page 2of3 <br />