7A, Floral Park No Parking Discussion

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in 1994. One concern that has been noted by park staff has been that pedestrians and bicyclists utilizing the park walk down the hill and steps to leave the park. If vehicles park on the north side of the road, pedestrians would walk between parked cars to leave the park, causing visibility issues. Staff brought this item to the Parks Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC) for discussion at their September 20,2011 meeting. Mr. Morphew attended that meeting to present his concerns. Draft minutes of the September PTRC meeting are included for Council review (Attachment D). After discussing this item, the PTRC made a motion to recommend to the City Council that the parking for Floral Park on Royal Lane and Floral Drive be changed from the south side to the north side (park frontage) of the road and to provide "no parking"for a reasonable pick-up/drop- off distance at the advisement of the Public Works Director/City Engineer. The Public Works Director and Parks and Recreation Manager met on site and identified an approximate seventy (70) foot area directly in front of the park entry for the drop off/pick up zone and also identified a small ten (10) foot area directly in front of the walking trail to be identified as "no parking" for access purposes. The PTRC felt this drop off and pick up area would minimize pedestrians from walking down the hill between parked cars. Staff has included a map of the proposed changes to the parking restrictions(Attachment E). Staff reviewed the recommendation and feels some additional changes will be needed to allow parking on the north side of the road. There is a perennial garden on the hill along the park frontage that covers approximately 85 feet. This area has a relatively steep slope extending to the curb. Photos of the hill area are included for Council review (Attachment F). If parking is allowed along the north side, passengers exit their vehicles directly into the garden and into the steep hill. Staff recommends that if parking is allowed on the north side of the road, that the garden (or a portion of the garden) is removed and in addition, a retaining wall be considered for a portion of the hill along the park frontage, depending on degree of slope in order to create an area sufficient for unloading and parking. In addition, the yellow paint along the curb will need to be removed. The Public Works staff recommends sand blasting. This is not a method our crew has the capability of completing and therefore, would need to be contracted to an outside vendor. Requested Action Motion to support or deny the PTRC recommendation to change the parking restrictions (No parking) on Floral Drive and Royal Lane from the north side (park frontage) to the south side of the road, with the exception of an approximate seventy (70) foot area directly in front of the park entry and a small ten (10) foot area directly in front of the walking trail. If Council supports the parking change, staff will begin working on a plan to change the drop off area to support unloading and parking. 10102011 Floral No Parking Request Discussion.doc