Council Communication Office of the City Manager	Date	February 11, 2008
	Agenda Item No. 41 Roll Call No. 08- Communication No. 08-060 Submitted by: Jeb E. Brewer, P.E. City Engineer

AGENDA HEADING:

Amending Chapter 114 of the Municipal Code regarding traffic regulation changes as follows:

A. Parking Revisions - Public Library lots.

B. Parking Revisions - West Side of 24^th Street between Carpenter and University.

C. Parking Restriction - Both Sides of Pleasant View Drive at Dead-End East of SW 5^th Street.

D. Parking Restriction - North Side of East Watrous Avenue West of Indianola Avenue.

E. Request for Loading Zone – 1500 Block of East Grand Avenue.

SYNOPSIS:

Approval of the Traffic and Transportation Division staff recommendations, including first reading of the Ordinance regarding the traffic regulation changes.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Amount: Minor costs.

Funding Source: 2007-2008 Operating Budget, Page 133, Engineering Department Traffic & Transportation – Sign Installation and Maintenance, ENG100413.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

A. The Traffic and Transportation Division has worked with the Library Director regarding designating parking restrictions in the underground library parking lot at the new main library. The current section of the municipal code that regulates parking at the main library still refers to the location of the old main library at 2^nd Avenue and Walnut Street.

The following changes to the municipal code are necessary to provide for the operation of the underground parking area at the new central library:

Sec. 114-361.06. Public Library lots.

(a) No person shall park a vehicle in the southeast reserved section of the main library underground parking lot at First Tenth Street and Walnut Grand Avenue without displaying an authorized city parking permit which is specifically designated authorization granted by the library director. All parking spaces in this area are reserved for official library vehicles only. All non-reserved parking spaces in this area are public parking spaces and are restricted to two hour parking.

B. The Police Department Traffic Unit is moving to a new location on 24^th Street in the Drake University area, and because of limited off-street parking has requested that an area be designated on the west side of 24^th Street for a limited amount of official police vehicles and also a short-term parking area for customers. Traffic and Transportation Division staff have reviewed this request and recommend approval.

The following changes to the municipal code are necessary to implement these parking restrictions:

Sec. 114-2823. Twenty-fourth Street‑‑Ingersoll Avenue to Bennett Avenue.

Twenty-fourth Street, on the west side, from University Avenue to a point 50 feet south of Carpenter Avenue 240 feet north thereof, no parking any time.

Twenty-fourth Street, on the west side, from a point 50 feet south of Carpenter Avenue to a point 50 feet north of Carpenter Avenue, no parking any time 240 feet north of University Avenue to a point 60 feet north thereof, two-hour parking.

Twenty-fourth Street, on the west side, from a point 300 feet north of University Avenue to a point 50 feet north thereof, no parking anytime.

Twenty-fourth Street, on the west side, from a point 25 feet south of Carpenter Avenue to a point 75 feet south thereof, reserved parking for marked police vehicles only. 

Twenty-fourth Street, on the west side, from Carpenter Avenue to a point 25 feet south thereof, no parking anytime.

C. The Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department has requested a parking restriction at the end of the dead-end section of Pleasant View Drive east of Southwest Fifth Street to allow solid waste vehicles to turn around. Staff has reviewed this request and recommends that parking be restricted on both sides of the street for a distance of 60’ at this dead-end.

The following change to the municipal code is necessary to implement this parking restriction:

Sec. 114-3578. Pleasant View Drive—South Union Street to Southwest Eighteenth Street.

Pleasant View Drive, on both sides, from the dead end east of Southwest Fifth Street to a point 60 feet west thereof, no parking any time.

D. The Traffic and Transportation Division has reviewed on-street parking on East Watrous Avenue near Jackson Elementary School. Currently, parking is prohibited on the south side of the street, but is allowed on the north side. However, there is a curve where Watrous connects to Indianola Avenue. Parked vehicles on the north side of Watrous at this curve block visibility for traffic and create congestion at the intersection where students cross Indianola Avenue. Staff recommends that parking be prohibited on Watrous through this curve to enhance safety for both motorists and students.

The following change to the municipal code is necessary to restrict parking at this curve:

Sec. 114-3760. East Watrous Avenue—South Union Street to Hartford Avenue.

East Watrous Avenue, on the north side, from Indianola Avenue to a point 180 feet west thereof, no parking any time.

E. The Traffic and Transportation Division has received a request from the owners of the commercial buildings located at 1514-1552 East Grand Avenue to designate a commercial loading zone. These buildings house a variety of retail businesses, including a grocery store at 1524 East Grand, and the loading zone would provide a convenient location for deliveries to serve these businesses. Staff has reviewed this location and recommends approval of the request for a loading zone.

The following changes to the municipal code are necessary to designate this loading zone:

Sec. 114-3274. East Grand Avenue‑‑East Fifteenth Street to East Eighteenth Street.

East Grand Avenue, on the north side, from East Fifteenth Street to a point 460 300 feet east thereof, no parking any time.

East Grand Avenue, on the north side, from a point 460 300 feet east of East Fifteenth Street to a point 50 feet west of East Sixteenth Street, no parking 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

East Grand Avenue, on the north side, from a point 460 300 feet east of East Fifteenth Street to a point 50 feet west of East Sixteenth Street, no parking 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

East Grand Avenue, on the north side, from a point 460 300 feet east of East Fifteenth Street to a point 35 50 feet east thereof, commercial loading zone, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

East Grand Avenue, on the north side, from a point 495 350 feet east of East Fifteenth Street to a point 50 feet west of East Sixteenth Street, two-hour parking 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): NONE

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:

Second and third readings of Ordinance.