Note: Article 17, added by Ordinance No. 2546 c.s., amended in its entirety by Ordinance 2696 c.s., effective August 5, 1993.
(a) 
The City Council may designate, by resolution, certain residential streets or any portion thereof as preferential parking zones for the benefit of residents adjacent thereto, in which zone vehicles displaying a permit may be exempt from parking prohibitions or restrictions otherwise posted, marked or noticed. Each preferential parking zone shall be designated only upon findings that such zone is required to enhance or protect that quality of life in the area of the proposed zone threatened by noise, traffic hazards, or environmental pollution resulting from commuter vehicular traffic, that such zone is necessary to provide reasonably available and convenient parking for the benefit of the adjacent residents, and that the proposed zone is desirable to encourage the use of car pooling and mass transit.
(b) 
The City Council may by resolution revise:
(1) 
The zone boundaries;
(2) 
Time of day; and/or
(3) 
The day(s) of the week of an established preferential parking zone under the designation process set forth in Section 3-7.1703.
(c) 
No resolution designating a preferential parking zone shall be enforceable until signs or markings giving adequate notice thereof have been placed.
(§ 1, Ord. 2696 c.s., eff. August 5, 1993)
The findings set forth in Section 3-7.1701 shall be based upon the following criteria, established to the satisfaction of the City Engineer:
(a) 
Commuter vehicles, defined as those vehicles operated by persons whose destinations are to nonresidential areas, do or may substantially and regularly interfere with the use of the majority of available public street parking spaces by adjacent residents;
(b) 
The interference by commuter vehicles referred to in subsection (a) of this section occurs at regular and significant daily or weekly intervals;
(c) 
Commuter vehicles being driven or parked in the area of the proposed zone cause or are the source of unreasonable noise, traffic hazards and/or environmental pollution in the area of the proposed zone;
(d) 
A shortage of reasonably available and convenient residential-related parking spaces exists in the area of the proposed zone;
(e) 
No unreasonable displacement of non-resident vehicles will result into surrounding areas; and
(f) 
No alternative solution is feasible or practical.
(§ 1, Ord. 2696 c.s., eff. August 5, 1993)
(a) 
Upon receipt and verification of a petition supplied by the City Engineer, signed by residents of 2/3 of the occupants of the dwelling units comprising not less than 50% of the developed frontage of the area proposed for designation or revision to an established preferential parking zone, the City Engineer shall determine whether an area should be designated as a preferential parking zone pursuant to process described in subsections (b) through (f) or the City Manager or designee shall determine whether an area should be designated as a preferential parking zone pursuant to the process described in subsection (g). The petition shall state the fee charged for a preferential parking permit and the schedule of fines pertaining to violations of the preferential parking zone restrictions or the City Manager or designee shall waive the fee charged for a preferential parking permit.
(b) 
The City Engineer shall conduct a parking survey to determine if the street parking is excessively impacted by parking of commuter vehicles on residential streets. Street parking is excessively impacted by commuter vehicles when:
(1) 
More than 75% of the legal on-street parking spaces are occupied by resident and nonresident vehicles; and
(2) 
More than 25% of the legal on-street parking spaces are occupied by nonresident motor vehicles.
(c) 
The City Engineer shall consider other factors which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) 
The size and configuration of the area as it relates to the problems of enforcement of parking and traffic regulations, and the potential impact of parking and traffic congestion on this and adjacent areas as a result of the establishment of such a district; and
(2) 
Whether other measures would better solve the problem, e.g., additional parking restrictions, or strict enforcement of existing or additional restrictions which would not result in the establishment of permit parking.
(d) 
If the City Engineer determines that a proposed area should be so designated, or revised, the City Engineer shall so recommend to the Traffic and Transportation Commission.
(e) 
Upon such a recommendation of the City Engineer, the Traffic and Transportation Commission shall conduct a public hearing thereon, for the purpose of determining whether a proper basis exists for making the findings required by Section 3-7.1701. Notice of such public hearing shall be given at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication in a newspaper of general circulation and by mailing to the property owners as shown on the last equalized assessment roll, and to the occupants, of each parcel in the area proposed for designation as a preferential parking zone.
(f) 
The Traffic and Transportation Commission, in the event of a recommendation approving or revising a preferential parking zone, will submit a resolution to the City Council for the City Council's approval or rejection. In the event the Traffic and Transportation Commission recommends against the implementation of the Preferential Parking District, the recommendation may within 30 days be appealed to the City Council.
(g) 
If the City Manager or a designee determines that a proper basis exists to make a finding that the area is within 500 feet of a nuisance, the City Manager or designee will designate the area as a Preferential Parking District for a period of one calendar year. After one calendar year, the residents may request the City Council to extend the fee waiver for a subsequent period of one calendar year. In the event that the residents request such an extension from the City Council, the City Council must make a finding that the nuisance still exists to extend the fee waiver another calendar year. In the event the City Manager or designee recommends against the implementation of the Preferential Parking District, the recommendation may within 30 days be appealed to the City Council.
(§ 1, Ord. 2696 c.s., eff. August 5, 1993; as amended by § 1, Ord. 3208 c.s., eff. December 17, 2020)
(a) 
Permits. The Police Department shall issue permits, in a form to be determined by the Police Department and consistent with the provisions of this article, for preferential parking to qualified applicants who have completed an application form supplied by the Police Department. Applicants for such permits shall present such proof as may be required by the Police Department of residence adjacent to the area designated as a preferential parking zone. Each qualified applicant shall be entitled to a permit for each noncommercial vehicle registered to their residence.
(b) 
Duration of permit. Permits issued pursuant to this section, including visitor permits, shall remain effective for a period of one calendar year or fraction thereof, or as long as the applicant continues to reside in a qualified dwelling unit for such permit, or until the preferential parking zone for which such permit was issued is eliminated, whichever period is less. Permits issued pursuant to this section shall be renewed upon application by the residents to the Police Department.
(c) 
Visitor permit. Any resident eligible for a preferential parking permit may also apply to the Police Department for a visitor preferential parking permit for the use of visitors to the home of the applicant. Such permits shall be in the form of a plastic or laminated card. No more than two visitor preferential parking permits shall be issued for any one dwelling.
(d) 
One-day visitor permits. One-day only visitor permits may be issued only to residents without limitations as to number.
(e) 
Other permits.
(1) 
Real estate agents conducting open houses within a preferential parking district may be issued not more than five one-day dated visitor permits for their use and the use of persons viewing the open house. The permit(s) may be obtained from the Police Department upon the applicant showing proof of current licensing by the California Real Estate Commission and providing a current listing and address of the property to be shown.
(2) 
Off-site (i.e., absentee landlord) property owners may obtain one guest permit annually for the property owner's personal use.
(f) 
Placement. Permits shall be placed upon the left rear bumper of each vehicle to be accorded preferential parking privileges, except that visitor permits shall be suspended facing towards the rear from the rear view mirror of such vehicles.
(g) 
Conditions of permit. Each permit shall be subject to all conditions and restrictions set forth in this section and of the preferential parking zone for which it is issued. The issuance of such a permit shall not be construed to be a permit for, or approval of, any violation of any provision of this Code or any other laws or regulations, e.g., street sweeping restrictions. All rules and regulations of the California Vehicle Code still apply.
(h) 
Establishment of fee. The fee for a preferential parking permit and visitor parking permit shall be based upon the costs incurred by the City except when the City Manager or a designee or City Council made a finding of a nuisance and waives the fee for a period of one calendar year.
(i) 
This section shall apply to any preferential parking zone created prior to and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this article.
(§ 1, Ord. 2696 c.s., eff. August 5, 1993; as amended by § 1, Ord. 3208 c.s., eff. December 17, 2020)
(a) 
No vehicle shall be parked or stopped adjacent to any curb in a preferential parking zone in violation of any posted or noticed prohibition or restriction unless such vehicle shall have prominently displayed upon the left rear bumper thereof an unexpired permit indicating the exemption from such restriction or prohibition or an unexpired visitor permit suspended from the rear view mirror, facing towards the rear, except that the following vehicles shall be exempted from this prohibition:
(1) 
A motor vehicle identified, in a manner prescribed by the City Engineer, as owned by or operated under contract to a utility, whether privately, municipally or publicly owned, when used in the construction, operation, removal, or repair of utility property or facilities or engaged in authorized work in the designated preferential parking zone;
(2) 
A motor vehicle identified, in a manner prescribed by the City Engineer, as owned by or operated under contract to a governmental agency, when used in the course of official government business;
(3) 
A commercial vehicle or trailer engaged in loading or unloading property, or parked in connection with or in aid of the performance of a service to or on a property located in the block in which such vehicle is parked;
(4) 
Emergency vehicles, health and life support delivery vehicles, vehicles displaying disabled licenses or placards, refuse vehicles, and postal/package delivery vehicles;
(5) 
Car share vehicles properly permitted pursuant to Section 3-7.2202 of this Code displaying an unexpired car share vehicle permit.
(b) 
It is unlawful for any person to sell, rent or lease, or cause to be sold, rented or leased, for any value or consideration, any preferential parking permit. Upon conviction of a violation of this section, all preferential parking permits issued to, or for the benefit of, the dwelling unit to which the sold, rented or leased permit is authorized shall be void.
(c) 
It is unlawful for any person to buy or otherwise acquire for value or use any preferential parking permit, except as provided for in this section.
(d) 
No permanent permits shall be placed on vehicles registered out-of-state, except those vehicles belonging to active duty military personnel.
(e) 
A violation of any section of this article shall be an infraction punishable as provided by the provisions of Chapter 2, Title 1, of this Code.
(f) 
This section shall apply to any preferential parking zone created prior to and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this article.
(§ 1, Ord. 2696 c.s., eff. August 5, 1993, as amended by § 1, Ord. 3122 c.s., eff. May 22, 2014)
(a) 
Upon receipt and verification of a petition supplied by the City Engineer, signed by residents living in 2/3 of the dwelling units comprising not less than 50% of the developed frontage of an area designated as a preferential parking zone, the City Engineer may recommend to the Traffic and Transportation Commission, the termination of the entire preferential parking zone.
(b) 
The City Engineer and/or the City Council may recommend the removal of a preferential parking zone after determining one or more of the findings, as per Section 3-7.1702, no longer exists. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Traffic and Transportation Commission.
(c) 
Upon such a recommendation by the City Engineer, the Traffic and Transportation Commission shall conduct a public hearing thereon, for the purpose of determining whether a proper basis exists for terminating such preferential parking zone. Notice of such public hearing shall be given at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication in a newspaper of general circulation and by mailing to the property owners as shown on the last equalized assessment roll, and to the occupants, of each parcel within the preferential parking zone.
(d) 
Such a determination shall be based upon a finding that the conditions set forth in Section 3-7.1701 no longer exist or have diminished in degree to such an extent as to make unnecessary the continuation of the zone.
(e) 
This section shall apply to any preferential parking zone created prior to and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this article.
(f) 
The Traffic and Transportation Commission, in the event of approving the removal of a preferential parking zone, will submit a resolution authorizing the removal of the preferential parking zone to the City Council.
(§ 1, Ord. 2696 c.s., eff. August 5, 1993)