TITLE
Recommendation to request City Council to waive the $1,200 fee for the cost of a parking study and community outreach conducted by the City of Long Beach to determine parking conditions and possible remedies in the neighborhood located in and around Parkcrest Avenue between Woodruff Avenue and Bellflower Boulevard adjacent to the south side of Heartwell Park and to implement a preferential parking program in that neighborhood.
DISCUSSION
Soccer has become a growing youth sport in our community. There has been an increase in the amount of youth teams including club teams, which practice and play games in City of Long Beach parks. The area of Heartwell Park between Woodruff Avenue and Bellflower Boulevard has seen a spike in soccer activity, which has significantly decreased the amount of available residential parking on both weekday evenings and weekends.
Due to the increased sporting activity there has been a direct increase the amount of people at Heartwell Park. Soccer, along with an increase in personal activity, which is a positive aspect of our community and is promoted by the City, has created the unforeseen consequence of negatively impacting residents living adjacent to the park.
As a result of this negative impact, neighbors from the community requested a traffic study be conducted to see if they would meet the threshold to qualify as a restricted parking district. Upon completion of the study and a review of the vehicle registration, it was discovered that 80% of the vehicles parked on Parkcrest Avenue during the study period were not resident vehicles. This far exceeds the Municipal Code requirement of over 50%.
In order for this neighborhood to implement a "preferential parking program" which would resolve the problem of residents not being able to park in their own neighborhood, a $1,200 fee must be paid.
As there has been a tremendous increase in sporting activity at Heartwell Park with no increase in available public parking, and the fact the soccer leagues that use City of Long Beach parks are not paying fees for use of the park - fees that could be used to develop additional public parking, it is appropriate for the City Council to grant a fee waiver for the cost of conducting the study and community outreach so that the neighborhood can proceed with implementing parking restrictions which are needed due to the impact of the adjacent park and increased use.
This is a one-time only fee and residents would still be required to pay for necessary signage and for the annual parking permit.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
None.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske
Fifth District