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FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -5- June 11, 2003 Request to Allow Permit Parking on Garden Avenue Administrator Worthington said that in March, 2003, a resident on Garden Avenue submitted a petition for permit parking on Garden Avenue. This plan was reviewed by staff, and forwarded to the Planning Commission for their consideration at the May 27th meeting. Staff monitored on-street parking in that area during the months of April and May. At various times, staff observed between two and nine vehicles parked in that area. The day on which nine vehicles were observed, two of them belonged to contractors doing work on a house in the area. Subsequently, staff recommended denial of the request, due to relatively little on-street parking, and the difficulty in enforcing permit parking in other areas of the city. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend denial of the request to the City Council, with the direction that staff look for alternative ways to address the concerns of the residents. Parking in the radius curve is problematic for garbage trucks and emergency vehicles. Public Works is studying signage limiting parking on one side in the radius area. Mayor Gehrz, for the benefit of the cable television audience, explained the petition process that is followed for requests of this nature. A petition with a sufficient number of resident signatures . is submitted, along with a $100 fee. Staff study the request and bring a recommendation before the Planning Commission and City Council. If permit parking is approved for a particular area, residents then have to buy permits from the City every year in order to park their own cars on the street. In response to a question from Council member Lamb, Council member Lindstrom said that half the people in attendance at the Planning Commission meeting were in favor of permit parking, half opposed. Council member Lamb asked if, as part of the study, staff looked at the availability of off-street parking for the residents. Administrator Worthington said that each house in that area has about four off-street parking spots, in addition to two spots in each garage. Mayor Gehrz said that she was pleased the Planning Commission recommended denial. She lives in a neighborhood that has permit parking and it is not gone-sided wonderful thing. The idea of looking carefully at other options makes a lot of sense. She thought the Planning Commission made a good call. Council member Lindstrom said that staff should definitely look at the corner of Garden to make sure fire and emergency vehicles can get through there. Mayor Gehrz said there is a clearly inviting pathway there. The Council might want to revisit the original purpose of that pathway and look at it as an access for fire trucks. Administrator Worthington said there is a big cul-de-sac at the end of that portion of Prior. The path was put in to accommodate the residents from the Falcon Woods area.