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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1999 0217 CC REG ITEM 10DCity of Moorpark AGENDA REPORT TO: The Honorable City Council asZ . -, CBS ITEM 10 • D• CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA City Council Meeting of z -k - -VN ACTION: __ App c;11_.1Cl BY: FROM: John Brand, Senior Management Analyst 1-1 DATE: February 8, 1999 (CC meeting of February 17, 1999) SUBJECT: Consider Overnight Parking Options at the Moorpark Rail Station Parking Lots. SUMMARY At the request of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), the City Council is asked to consider allowing Amtrak and Metrolink rail passengers to park vehicles overnight in the parking lots of the Moorpark Station. BACKGROUND Occasionally Metrolink commuters or Amtrak riders park overnight in the Metrolink parking lots. Because there is no parking overnight without a permit, tickets are issued to cars parked at the lot between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. These tickets are routinely dismissed if they are appealed based on rail usage. Approximately twelve parking tickets a month are issued at the station. Parking restrictions are established by Council Resolution. City Resolution No. 92 -831 (Attachment A) concerns parking at the north parking lot on High Street. Section 2 of that resolution provides for overnight parking when proper signs are posted. However, as a policy overnight parking at the Metrolink station has been prohibited. Resolution 92 -888 established the parking restrictions for the south parking lot. It does not have the provision to allow overnight parking. On September 16, 1998, the City Council adopted a permit system to allow for overnight parking at the station to address concerns expressed by train riders. All persons who appealed their citations within the past year were sent an application for an overnight parking permit. The permit hangs on the rear view mirror, and 000041 Overnight Parking at Metrolink Lots CC Meeting of February 17, 1999 Page 2 allows that vehicle to park in the Metrolink parking lot overnight without being cited. Amtrak agreed to notify their ticket agents of the necessity for long -term parking permits at the Moorpark Station. To date, four permits have been sold at $12 each. Individuals who park overnight without a permit continue to receive parking tickets. In a letter to the City, VCTC's Executive Director states that she finds the permit system to be insufficient. Riders not familiar with the permit system may not know about the need for one prior to arriving at the station. She also believes that the City's state and /or federal funding for transportation may be at risk due to the City's restrictive overnight parking policy, because state and federal funds were used to construct the station. (See Attachment B.) DISCUSSION Allowing a less restrictive overnight parking policy at the Metrolink station will address the concern expressed by VCTC and those expressed by train riders. Council has several options in considering overnight parking. A specific number of spaces could be designated for overnight parking, one or both lots in their entirety could be opened up for overnight parking. VCTC's Executive Director has indicated informally that the Commission would be willing to assist the City with obtaining funding for overnight security to address concerns the City may have about overnight parking. The firm the City uses for Metrolink security, Security Above, states that the cost for a guard 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. weekdays would be the same as the City pays currently for a daytime guard, about $30,000 per year. The Council can direct that the north lot be opened for overnight parking without additional action because the existing resolution makes overnight parking permissible when certain conditions are met. However, as the smaller and more convenient lot, the north lot fills first each morning. Train riders who come later in the day may still find themselves without a space to legally park overnight. A new Resolution is required to allow overnight parking in the south lot. Depending on its decision, the Council may also wish to consider eliminating the permit system by rescinding Resolution No. 88 -1513. Overnight Parking at Metrolink Tats UODU4 f Overnight Parking at Metrolink Lots CC Meeting of February 17, 1999 Page 3 In the event that the Council in both the north and the eliminate the current parking attached resolution. RECObMNDATION wishes to allow for overnight parking south Metrolink parking lots and to permit system, staff has prepared the 1. Provide direction to staff regarding overnight parking at the Metrolink station. And 2. Adopt Resolution No. 99- , establishing revised restrictive parking regulations to permit limited overnight parking in the south Metrolink parking lot, and rescinding Resolutions 92 -888 and 98 -1513. And 3. Approve overnight parking for rail passengers at the north parking lot of the Moorpark Rail Station, in accordance with Resolution 92 -831, and direct staff to cause proper signs to be placed at the station on both lots as appropriate to identify where overnight parking is allowed. And 4. Direct staff to request funding from VCTC in their next budget for an overnight (8:00 p.m. to 4 a.m.) security guard at the Moorpark station. Ovem & Parking at Metrolink Lots 000043 Attachment A RESOLUTION NO. 92 - 83L A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, PROHIBITING OVERNIGHT PARKING IN THE COMMUTER RAIL PARKING LOT ON HIGH STREET WHEREAS, Section 22519 of the California Vehicle Code provides for the regulation of parking in any publicly -owned offstreet parking facility; and, WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate to establish certain parking regulations for the City -owned Commuter Rail parking lot at 310 High Street;-and, NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That, except as provided for in Section 2, the parking of vehicles in the Commuter Rail parking lot at 310 High Street, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 5 :00 a.m., is hereby prohibited. SECTION 2. That, when proper signs are erected giving notice thereof, certain parking spaces may be reserved for overnight parking which may be required by Amtrak passengers. SECTION 3. That the City Manager is hereby directed to have placed and maintained the appropriate signs and /or curb markings giving notice of these parking regulations. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 5th day of February, 1992. Mayor, Cit)��f Moorpark4'California A= Attachment B or - -.. December 3, 1998 Mr. John Brand, Senior Management Analyst City of Moorpark 799 Moorpark Avenue ` Moorpark, CA 93021 VENTURA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION 9S0 County Square Drke sore 207 Ventura, CA 93003 18051 654.2868 (8051642-1591 FM (805) 642.4860 Dear 441, - Than1&Ou for the information about the City's concerns and actions regarding overnight parking at the Moorpark Rail Station and Park - and -Ride location. We understand your desire to limit crime and vandalism and prevent the station lot from becoming a "used car" sales lot or RV storage facility. It must be remembered that State intercity rail funds were used to build the station and park - and -ride lot and with that funding comes the responsibility to make sure that parking is readily available to intercity rail passengers, cvcn those who take overnight or multiple day trips. As you know, we received a complaint from an Amtrak passenger who left the station because he was unwilling to "illegally" park his car and get a ticket. Because the rail station functions as an Amtrak intercity station, it is not possible for the City to ban overnight parking or require an overnight parking permit. This would clearly discourage and -discriminate against the occasional rail passenger who did not know about the City's parking restrictions in advance. Although you explained in your letter that tickets which were issued in the past to overnight parkers were dismissed when contested because of rail usage, there are no signs in the rail station parking lot that explain this appeal process. The passengers have no idea that the tickets will be dismissed, moreover, just the process of having to deal with a citation is a major problem. I am sorry we did not realize that the City Council was taking action on this type of ordinance in September or we could have discussed this matter with you at that time. It is critical that we resolve this issue expediously in a mutually satisfactory way. Perhaps an area of the station site could be designated for overnight Amtrak rail parking and monitored occasionally to prevent abuse_ I would like to arrange a meeting with you at your earliest convenience . Please give me or Mary Travis a call at the office. Sincerely, Ginger Gherardi Executive Director cc: Mary Lindley, Director of Community Services OM04S Attachment C RESOLUTION NO. 99- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 92- 888,AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 98 -1513, AND ESTABLISHING REVISED RESTRICTIVE PARKING TO PERMIT OVERNIGHT PARKING AT THE PARK AND RIDE METROLINK COMMUTER RAIL LOT EAST OF MOORPARK AVENUE (SOUTH PARKING LOT), WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 21113 and 22519 of the California Vehicle Code, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 92 -888 prohibiting overnight parking in the Park and Ride Metrolink Commuter Rail Parking Lot, and, WHEREAS, Section 22519 of the California Vehicle Code provides for the regulation of parking in any publicly -owned off street parking facility; and, WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate to establish certain parking regulations for the city -owned Park and Ride Metrolink Commuter Rail parking lot located south of the railroad tracks from Moorpark Avenue to a point approximately 1,600 feet east of Moorpark Avenue; and, WHEREAS, The City Council has determined that, in order to better provide for the public health and safety, it is necessary and appropriate to change this parking restriction to permit overnight parking in appropriately designated spaces. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That except as provided for in Section 2, the parking of vehicles in the Park and Ride Metrolink parking lot located south of the railroad tracks from Moorpark Avenue to a point approximately 1,600 feet east of Moorpark Avenue, as generally described on the attached Exhibit "A," between the hours of 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM, is hereby prohibited. SECTION 2. That when proper signs are erected giving notice thereof, certain or all of the parking spaces in the lot may be designated for overnight parking which may be required by authorized high occupancy vehicle (HOV), car pool, mass transit, 000046 Resolution 99- _ Page 2 Metrolink or Amtrak passengers. SECTION 3. That the City Manager is hereby directed to have placed and maintained the appropriate signs and /or curb markings giving notice of these parking regulations. These signs may contain further restrictions as to purpose, duration, and type of vehicle permitted to park overnight as the City Manager may deem appropriate. SECTION 4. That Resolution No. 92 -888 is hereby rescinded. SECTION 5. That Resolution No. 98 -1513 is hereby rescinded. SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of the resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the book of original Resolutions. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of February, 1999. ATTEST: Patrick Hunter, Mayor Deborah S. Traffenstedt, City Clerk 000047