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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5.1 OversizeVehicleParkingCITY CLERK FILE # 570-20 AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: October 15, 2002 SUBJECT: ATTACHMENTS: Oversized Vehicle Parking on Residential Streets Report Prepared by: Glenn Moon, Lieutenant - Police Services Letter of Complaint From Residents Of Willow Creek Subdivision RECOMMENDATION: ~r, 08t'r Receive Staff report and provide direction to Staff regarding additional action or study on this issue FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None DESCRIPTION: On September 10, 2002 a letter addressed to the Mayor and City Council Members was received from a group of residents of the Willow Creek Subdivision in Dublin. The letter described their concerns attributed to the parking of recreational vehicles and other oversized vehicles in the area of Shady Creek and Alamo Creek Park. The letter requested that the City adopt a City Ordinance that would address the issue of recreational vehicle and oversized vehicle parking in the City of Dublin. The current Dublin City Ordinance, Traffic Code, and Zoning Ordinances do not address the specific issue of on street parking of recreational vehicles or oversized vehicles. The only existing enforcement statute that pertains to this or similar situations is Dublin Municipal Code §6.04.430a "On-street Vehicle Storage Prohibited" This allows the "tagging" of the vehicle and towing the vehicle after seventy-two (72) hours. Unfortunately, it does not address how far the vehicle has to be moved, to meet the 72-hour restriction, nor does it place any limits on how many total days a vehicle can be on the roadway in a specific period of time. Police Services visited the neighborhood of Shady Creek on at least three separate occasions since the date of the letter. Staff observed three recreational vehicles parked in the surrounding neighborhood. One recreational vehicle could be deemed as a traffic hazard, as it blocked the view of oncoming traffic. This was a large motor home with an attached cargo trailer. The vehicle was marked for tow if not moved within 72 hours. This same motor home was given an advisement warning and marked for tow on three additional occasions during the past three weeks. The owner moves the vehicle several feet every 72 hours, which prevents any further enforcement action. The motor home remains parked generally in the same location. The registered owners of the remaining two recreational vehicles complied with the existing statutory requirement when requested to do so by Police Services and moved their vehicles from the area. COPIES TO: Joseph a Pat Banchero for the Willow Creek Residents H/cc-forms/agdastmt. doc In the majority of cases, the "tagging" of a vehicle will gain compliance in moving a vehicle from the roadway. There are those cases in which the owner of the vehicle moves the vehicle from one side of the road or a few feet down the road. This starts the 72-hour clock again and prohibits the enforcement of the ordinance. The current ordinance does nothing to help address the issues of traffic hazards that oversized vehicles cause in residential areas. In 1986, the City of Dublin adopted its current Recreational Vehicle Ordinance, which regulates off-street parking of recreational vehicles. This ordinance was adopted after intense debate over a proposed ordinance that would have restricted the parking of recreational vehicles in driveways and side yards throughout the City of Dublin. The ordinance did not address the issue of the parking of commercial, oversized and non-motorized vehicles on city streets; but it relied on the 72-hour ordinance to address the problem of long-term parking. A review was conducted of several City Ordinances from jurisdictions throughout California who have been successful in adopting specific Oversize Vehicle and Non-Motorized Vehicle Ordinances. The City of Costa Mesa has recently adopted an ordinance that covers the parking of commercial, oversized and non- motorized vehicles on all city streets. Their ordinance was adopted after considerable input from both city staff and the recreational vehicle owners of their city. Costa Mesa's ordinance contains the following: No parking of commercial vehicles over 5 tons over 3 hours except for loading and unloading. No parking of non-motorized and recreational vehicles/campers in residential areas for more than 48 hours. An additional 24 hours is allowed on a permit basis from the police department. No parking of oversized vehicle within forty-five (45) feet of an intersection. Vehicles parked on the street for the 48-72 hour permitted period must then be moved fi.om the City limits for period of at least 48 hours. Adopting a similar ordinance could eliminate owners of oversized and non-motorized vehicles from evading the intent of the current law by moving their vehicle(s) a few feet every couple of days to avoid enforcement efforts. An advisory committee could be created in order to evaluate the feasibility of adopting an oversized vehicle ordinance for the City of Dublin. If approved, the committee should be made up of representatives from Police Services, the Planning Department, the Traffic Safety Committee, and community members. Staff recommends the City Council receive the report and provide direction to Staff regarding additional action or study on this issue. Mayor, City of Dublin Dublin City Council Dublin Blvd. Dublin, CA August 30~, 2002 Dear Mayor and City Council Members: We are residents of the Willow Creek Subdivision and are writing to express our ooncem regarding an increasingly serious problem we are experiencing related to vehicles, including motor homes and boats and commercial vehicles, parked for extended periods of time on the streets of our neighborhood. Of particular concem iS the ama on Shyly Creek across and in front of the Alamo Creek Park. Over the weeks residents have experienced numerous such problems. Recently, for a week or longer, a large motor home and trailer with for sale sign parked there extending into the street. On this date a second motor home was perked on the opposite side of the street in the area. This caused a near collision between and resident driving into the area between the two vehicles and another exiting and approaching the same area from a curve. The on coming vehicle was barely able to stop in time to prevent a collision. We requested an officer to come out and check on the vehicles and were informed that lhe only thing he could do was to mark the tires and, if the vehicle remained in the same spot for 72 hours it could then be towed. However, since some residents called the owner of one of the vehicles to complain, it is now being moved from one side to the street to the other side. Therefore, we feel that the existing City Ordinance needs to be changed. The ordinance need to revised to state that both motor homes and non motorized vehicles such as boats and trailers not be allowed to park on city streets, without permits, between the hours of 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM. There are ordinances in surrounding cities that enable the police to cite and i or tow such vehicles. These ordinances have been effective in deterring residents from storing vehicles on city streets and potentially creating dangerous conditions such as the one described above. Enclosed, for your reference, is a copy of tile pertinent section of an ordinance and waming from the City of San Leandro. As the growth of Dublin continues, this problem will only increase. For example ali types of vehicles ranging from commercial to recreational, are frequently parked on Amador Valley Boulevard. Therefore, we are requesting that such an ordinance be drafted and adopted by the Dublin City Council. Such an ordinance ATTACHMENT # 1 SEP-10-2002 08:09AM TEL)925 422 2430 ID)DUBLIN CITY MGR OFFC PAGE:002 R=99~ ~ UUU will keep our streets an a more safe condition an well help to preserve the attracEve character and aesthetics of our neighborhoods. Your at[l~rltJon to this ilat~r will help the city avoid potential liability for any injuries that could result from accidents likely to occur if these issues are not addressed. More over your assistance with and attention to our concerns shall be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours, Residents of Alamo Creek Subdivis'o SEP-10-2002 OB:09RM TEL)925 422 2430 ID)DUBLIN CITY MGR OFFC PRGE:003 R=99x