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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/05/2010 07 Yakima Valley Conference of Governments 2009 Outstanding Service Award Y V COG YAKIMA VALLEY .7 ... CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTS --'' 311 North 4th Street, Suite 202 • Yakima, Washington 98901 1 509-574-1550 • FAX 574-1551 website: www.yvcog.org C' 1' December 10, 2009 Dick Zais, City Manager OFFICE 0; Cii` City of Yakima 129 North 2nd Street Yakima, WA 98901 SUBJECT: 2009 YVCOG Outstanding Service Award Dear Mr. Zais: Thank you for your welcoming remarks at last night's YVCOG General Membership meeting. I enjoyed hearing you share the story about how the Harman Center was conceived, funded, and ultimately realized to be the marvelous facility that it is today. We appreciate the City of Yakima hosting our meeting at this wonderful venue. After dinner, I was pleased to present the 2009 Outstanding Service Award to the Yakima Valley MPO/RTPO Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for their collaborative efforts to identify and prioritize transportation projects for federal ARRA funds last February. Brett Sheffield, City Engineer, has been a valuable member and participant in the TAC for many years. His contributions to the difficult ARRA process we were tasked with to select and prioritize local projects from the Yakima Valley region were key to the successful outcomes. Nearly $8 million in federal ARRA funds was awarded to 13 local projects in this region thanks to the professionalism and regional perspective that all of the TAC members have. On behalf of YVCOG Executive Committee and our General Membership, please present the enclosed certificate to Brett with our sincere gratitude. Si -41y, e iivr, E .x13-. Scott enc c: Dave Edler, Mayor MEMBER JURISDICTIONS Grandview • Granger • Harrah • Mabton • Moxee • Naches • Selah --I Sunnyside • Tieton • Toppenish • Union Gap • Wapato • Yakima • Yakima County • Zillah • FOR COUNCIL INFO ONLY C CCC ES • COUNCIL INFORMATION REPORT December 30, 2009 To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council Dick Zais, City Manager From: Joe Rosenlund, RE. Streets & Traffic Operations Manager Re: Library Handicap Parking The Yakima City Council received a citizen request for additional handicap parking at the Downtown Branch of the Regional Library during the December 1, 2009 Council Meeting. A site review was completed and the following findings are presented. Existing Parking Conditions The library has 4 parking spaces off street and on-site off the alley behind the building reserved for staff and two off-street parking spaces designated in the city hall parking lot. The city hall spaces are likely more used by visitors to city hall than to the library. On-street parking adjacent to the parking consists of 6 spaces along A Street of which the one nearest the alley is reserved for handicap parking and 13 Spaces along 3 Street. There are an additional 52 on-street spaces within 300 feet of the library of which 4 are handicap spaces. On-street parking is limited to one-hour; it is unclear if the handicap spaces fall under the time limit restriction. Legal is reviewing the State ADA/Handicap parking statutes and will clarify this uncertainty in the near future. This is also important to clarify downtown public lot enforcement activities. The attached sketch shows the approximate number and location of the spaces described above. The blue squares are existing handicap spaces. The red X's are potential locations for additional handicap parking. Potential Locations There are two locations where a parking space may be converted to handicap parking relatively easily. The first is on r Street at the corner with A Street. Because of the angled parking this space provides ample space on the driver side of the vehicle and is in close proximity the existing pedestrian ramp at the intersection. Often the person with limited mobility is a passenger in the vehicle so access to the ramp is indirect and inadequate space for a wheelchair between the handicap stall and the adjacent stall. Cost for this option is about $300 for signs and markings. The other location is to the north at the other end of the same parking row. The angled parking allows for space on the passenger side of the vehicle that would allow wheelchair access. The space is adjacent to a low volume driveway which could act as a wheelchair ramp. The drawbacks to this location are the shared car/pedestrian use of the driveway and the space is about 100 feet from the entrance. Cost for this option is •about $300 for signs and markings. Another option is place one or two handicap spaces at the library entrance on 3 Street. This would require constructing a pedestrian ramp and reconfiguring the parking along the library frontage to provide the required space. This option would cost about $3000 and cause the loss of at least one parking space. There is no funding in the 2010 Streets budget for sidewalk improvements or repair. Funding for a new pedestrian ramp will need to come from another source. Recommendations Because this is a public facility that would likely have a number of people requiring handicap parking on a regular basis it would be prudent to have one or more additional handicap spaces available. The apparent lack of time limits on handicap parking creates a greater demand because many handicap spaces are occupied all day by downtown workers. The first two options detailed above provide essentially the same level of service for the same cost. The third option provides a higher a level of service but at a much higher cost. This is an on-street parking issue within the central business district. Staff .0 recommends that the matter of converting existing parking spaces to handicap spaces be referred to the City's Parking Commission for further consideration before any action is taken by the City Council. It is unclear if existing ordinances provide for time restrictions on handicap parking. Some limitations should be considered, if possible under State law, in order to provide for turnover of these spaces for downtown visitors.