Title
Resolution to Approve a Residential Parking District for the South University Neighborhood Association and Appropriate General Fund Unobligated Fund Balance ($4,156.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to establish a Residential Parking Permit (RPP) district for the South University Neighborhood Association (SUNA). Also attached is a Traffic Control Order (TCO) indicating streets to be signed for residential parking.
The streets to be included are as follows, excluding frontage for non-residential properties:
1. Elm Street, S University Av to Geddes Av
2. Geddes Av, south side, Observatory St to east property line of 1610 Geddes Av
3. Linden St, S University Av to Geddes Av
4. Mack Court, Elm St to end
5. South University Av, north side, Washtenaw Av to Oxford Rd.
6. Walnut St, S University to Geddes Av.
7. Washtenaw Av, northeast side, Wilmot St to S University Av.
8. Wilmot Ct, Elm St. to end
9. Wilmot St, Washtenaw Av to Observatory St.
Streets currently signed for "no parking" or other restrictions will remain unchanged. The inclusion of a street signed for "no parking" in the District allows residents fronting that street to be eligible to participate, purchase a permit and park on another RPP Designated street within the SUNA RPP District.
The SUNA has been in discussions with Councilmembers Smith and Briere because of the impending increase in parking demand associated with the opening of the new University of Michigan dormitory at State and Huron. While parking in the area has already been a problem, the SUNA has been unsuccessful in attempts to achieve the required signatures for a petition to establish a RPP District due to the low number of long term residents in the area. As a result, we are recommending the district be established by waiving the requirement that the association submit a petition request with 60% signed support. Implementation of the district, including installation of signage, mailings to eligible properties and sale of permits will take 6 to 8 weeks to complete after authorization by council. Permits for the district will be sold annually with the permits effective August 15, 2010 and expiring August 14, 2011. This timeframe was selected since this area has a high number of rental units whose lease period coincides with the University calendar.
The proposed SUNA RPP District would have a two hour parking limit from 8:00am till 6:00pm, Monday through Friday, permit exempt, open weekends and holidays. The restriction would apply to all streets included in the RPP District. Each street included in the RPP District includes "no parking" on one or both sides of the street as seen on the attached map. Alternating the side of the street to be enforced in this RPP District would not be an option. This is similar to the Oxbridge Neighborhood Association and North Burns Park Neighborhood Association RPP Districts.
A site visit was performed to estimate the number of parking block-faces available for parking in the district. Some blocks are extremely long and count as more than one, while some are extremely short and count as one-half block-face; not included in the count are the block-faces posted "no parking". The participating block-face count is 32 block-faces but due to the high number of block-faces with "no parking" restrictions, the SUNA was found to have only 10 block-faces eligible for signing as part of their RPP District. The streets eligible to participate are contiguous and meet program criterion. The streets to be signed for the RPP District parking are not contiguous because the SUNA is surrounded by University of Michigan Campus and commercial property resulting in "no parking" on the SUNA's boundary streets (such as Geddes, Washtenaw, and South University).
T
he number of parking block-faces is used to determine the incremental cost to establish the RPP District. We estimate each block-face to cost $415.55 for Field Operations/Sign Shop: material, fabrication, installation, minimal trimming, overhead and equipment.
The Public Services Area budget does not contain adequate funding for all set up costs associated with this General Fund program. The request for funding is limited to our Field Operations/Sign staff costs represented above, totaling $4,156.00 ($415.55 x 10).
We request approval to create this new South University Neighborhood Association Residential Parking Permit District as shown on the attached Map, and signed as shown on the attached Traffic Control Order, with an appropriation of $4,156.00 from the General Fund Unobligated Fund Balance.
Staff
Prepared by: Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Administrator
Body
Whereas, The South University Neighborhood Association has worked with their Councilmembers to establish a new Residential Parking Permit District;
Whereas, Council acknowledges the increased parking demand in the area and the low level of long term resident population that has made it difficult to meet petition signature requirements to establish an Association-initiated Residential Permit Parking district; and
Whereas, It is requested to waive the requirement for petition submittal with 60% signature support; and
Whereas, Funds are not adequate in the approved Public Services Area General Fund budget for FY2011 to implement this new residential parking district;
RESOLVED, That City Council:
1. Approve the establishment of the South University Neighborhood Association Parking Permit District as shown on the attached map;
2. Approve the streets to be signed to implement this residential parking district as shown on the attached Traffic Control Order; and
3. Appropriate $4,156.00 from the General Fund Unobligated Fund Balance for the purpose of sign installation; and
RESOLVED, That Council authorize the Administrator to take appropriate action to implement this Residential Parking District.