TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Bob Moehling, Public Works Director
PREPARED BY: James Ozouf, Senior Civil Engineer, CIP
SUBJECT:
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Installation of Parking Restriction Signs on Summer Creek Lane and Dove Creek Court
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 24-4736 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California Approving the Installation of Parking Restriction Signs on Summer Creek Lane and Dove Creek Court.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
None.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Foster and promote an engaged, connected and caring community.
BACKGROUND
In 2019, City staff received a request from the Gallery Estates Homeowners Association (HOA) to place parking restriction signs to prohibit parking during school hours along their neighborhood streets, specifically along Summer Creek Lane and Dove Creek Court. This community is adjacent to Murrieta Valley High School (Attachment 2). The HOA expressed potential safety concerns due to students parking along those streets.
This topic was brought to the Traffic Commission meeting in November 2019, for discussion purposes. No one from Gallery Estates attended the meeting to provide input and share their concerns. In December 2019, Gallery Estates notified the City that the HOA unanimously voted against installing signage as it would be detrimental to the neighborhood.
In the latter part of 2021, Gallery Estates contacted the City with these same concerns and asked for the issue to be brought to the Traffic Commission again.
These concerns were presented to the Traffic Commission on February 16, 2022. City staff did not recommend installing these signs, stating the following reasons:
• Based on field observations, traffic issues were not observed by staff, including the Police Department;
• The streets in this neighborhood are dedicated public streets. Parking is allowed on either side of the street, and emergency vehicles are still able to access the street;
• Parking limitations would apply to everyone, including residents, contractors, landscapers, deliveries, etc;
• Installation of parking restrictions would create an enforcement strain; and
• Concern for a potential ripple effect at other neighborhoods, setting precedence for other neighborhoods to request similar signs.
After hearing staff and residents’ concerns, the Traffic Commission recommended the installation of “No Parking” signs between the hours of 7 A.M and 9 A.M on school days along Dove Creek Court and Summer Creek Lane (Vote: 3-1-1).
Ballots were mailed to the eleven property owners in February 2022 to receive input from all eleven residents who take access to their homes along Dove Creek Court and Summer Creek Lane regarding these signs. The City Clerk received a total of ten returned ballots. Nine residents voted “yes,” one voted “no,” and one did not respond. Per the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP), the installation of the signs requires one hundred percent (100%) approval as the parking restrictions affect all residents in the community. The City informed Gallery Estates that the vote did not pass, and installation of the signs would not take place at that time.
In January 2024, Gallery Estates contacted the City, for a third time, with these same concerns and asked that a new vote take place and requested that the parking limitations be revised to 7 A.M. and 10 A.M. on school days only, as shown in Attachments 3 and 4. Ballots were mailed to the eleven property owners again in February 2024. The City Clerk received a total of eleven (11) returned ballots. All eleven residents voted “yes” to these parking restrictions.
Per Murrieta Municipal Code section 10.32.030, no stopping zones and no parking zones shall be established by resolution of the City Council. Staff is recommending the installation of the signs, as Gallery Estates has met the requirements of the NTMP and has one hundred percent (100%) approval from all residents. The signs will be installed and maintained by the Public Works Department.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed installation of these signs will cost approximately $3,500, including labor and materials. Funding is available in the Capital Improvement Plan Budget, CIP 8430 Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed Resolution is exempt pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines, specifically Section 15060(c)(2), because the proposed resolution will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment; and Section 15061(b)(3), because the Resolution is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 24-4736
2. Vicinity Map
3. Sign Survey (2024)
4. Parking Restriction Sign