TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare amendment to the Long Beach Municipal Code prohibiting the parking of oversized vehicles, defined as vehicles which exceed 20 feet in length, 85 inches in height, or 80 inches in width, on Pacific Coast Highway between the San Gabriel River and the west City limit and on Santa Fe Avenue between Pacific Coast Highway and Anaheim Street. (Districts 1,3,4,6,7)
DISCUSSION
On April 20, 2004, the City Council directed the City Manager to initiate necessary processes within the appropriate departments to support an ordinance prohibiting the parking of oversized vehicles on Pacific Coast Highway citywide. Because Pacific Coast Highway is a state facility, a letter was sent to Caltrans requesting authorization for said prohibition. In a letter dated August 16, 2004, Caltrans responded stating that conceptually they had no objections to the proposed oversized vehicle parking restriction so long as the City agrees to install and maintain the signs under an encroachment permit. Further, they recommended that the City provide advance notice directly to the ports and to trucking associations.
In response to specific invitations, in October and November, staff attended two meetings of the Westside Project Area Committee (West PAC) to discuss this issue, as well as one meeting of the Magnolia Industrial Group (MIG). MIG voted to support the position of the West PAC. West PAC requested staff to attend a follow-up meeting to allow West PAC an opportunity to canvass the properties on Pacific Coast Highway as well as Santa Fe Avenue. Their findings were that all of the businesses were supportive of a complete ban on oversized vehicle parking because the trucks create safety issues at intersections, they block the business fronts during the day, and they tend to leave trash and debris when parked overnight. The West PAC voted in support of a complete parking prohibition on Pacific Coast Highway, and requested that the prohibition be extended to include the adjacent truck route on Santa Fe Avenue as well, from Pacific Coast Highway south to Anaheim Street.
Notices have been mailed to affected owners and city occupants along Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Fe Avenue, advising them of the City Council's intention to consider this item at the February 1, 2005 meeting. Letters have also been sent to both ports and to the California Trucking Association.
In Section 10.24.076 of the Long Beach Municipal Code, an oversized vehicle is defined as a vehicle exceeding 20 feet in length, 85 inches in height or 80 inches in width. If implemented, an oversized vehicle parking prohibition would preclude vehicles exceeding any of these three dimensions from parking along Pacific Coast Highway within the Long Beach city limits and on Santa Fe Ave between Pacific Coast Highway and Anaheim Street at all times.
Staff suggests that a similar definition be adopted for proposed restrictions in industrial or commercial areas. This parking prohibition, if implemented, could enhance traffic safety by improving visibility of approaching traffic at intersections and driveways, improve the visibility of businesses in the affected area and reduce litter from overnight truck parking. However, this proposal could potentially result in adverse impacts, such as increased truck parking on other streets that are identified as truck routes, the diversion of oversized vehicle parking on other streets that are not restricted and could adversely impact businesses with limited on-site parking.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Lisa Peskay Malmsten on January 24,2005, and Budget Management Officer David Wodynski on January 14,2005.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is not time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of materials and installation of the recommended "No Parking of Oversized
Vehicles" signs is estimated at $15,000. Sufficient funds are budgeted in the General
Fund (GP) and in the Department of Public Works (PW) to support this activity.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CHRISTINE F. ANDERSEN
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS