Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Subject: Adoption of Parking Policy at County Health Facilities
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) The adoption of a County Health Facilities Parking Policy, effective February 1, 2019; and
B) The Chief of County Health, or her designee, to issue administrative penalties and/or citations for violations of the County Health Facilities Parking Policy; and
C) The Chief of County Health to make administrative and non-substantive changes to the County Health Facilities Parking Policy or updates for compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
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BACKGROUND:
The County Health Campus located in the City of San Mateo, on the block bordered by 37th Avenue, Edison Street, 39th Avenue, and Hacienda Street, contains over 800 parking stalls. Based on a 2014 transportation demand study, these stalls are 90-100% occupied for most of the day due to the high volume of employee, patients, and customers coming to the campus. At peak times, parking exceeds 100% occupancy, as cars are often found parked illegally in fire lanes, crosswalks, loading zones, or areas that are not designated as stalls.
This illegal parking poses a safety risk to other drivers and pedestrians who must maneuver around these vehicles that block access or visibility. Additionally, such vehicles could impede the ability of first responders to drive into the County Health campus in case of emergency. The illegal parking problem is expected to temporarily increase over the span of the next 3-5 years due to the rebuild of the San Mateo Medical Center, as construction activity will further limit the number of parking stalls available on campus.
State law and local ordinances, including Sections 21113 et.al. and 22651.3 of the California Vehicle Code, and Chapters 7.28, 7.32, and 1.08 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, provide that local authorities may prohibit or restrict the stopping, parking, or standing of vehicles in parking facilities controlled by the County and cite vehicles that are in violation of the County’s parking restrictions.
On September 12, 2017, your Board approved a Resolution for a new County Parking Policy (Policy); the County Health Campus was named as one of the County sites covered under this Policy. Given the specific issues unique to the parking facilities located at the County Health Campus, a separate County Health Facilities Parking Policy is necessary.
DISCUSSION:
Currently, Campus Security - under the direction of the Sheriff’s Office - puts warning cards on cars that are found to be illegally parked, or if a car is found to belong to an employee, County Health management contacts that employee and requests that their car be moved. This is a highly inefficient and resource-intensive process, with inconsistent results (e.g. behavior change). Instead, following similar actions taken by other County parking facilities, County Health would like to commence citation and towing for its campus, as set forth in the proposed County Health Facilities Parking Policy. County Health has created this new policy in order to identify unique aspects of its parking issues (e.g. parking reserved for patients and visitors) and propose mitigating action (including citation).
Following adoption by your Board, the Chief of County Health or her designee - in consultation with the Department of Public Works and the Sheriff’s Office - shall begin enforcing parking regulations and citing vehicles (and/or towing if a vehicle is deemed to be dangerously blocking access). County Health staff will continue to provide outreach and communication about these changes in enforcement practice to employees, patients, customers, and neighbors of the campus.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.
Approval of this Resolution contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Collaborative Community by ensuring a safe County Health Campus for employees, patients, and County customers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
All associated costs are included in the FY 2017-18 County Health Adopted Budget. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments: County Health Facilities Parking Policy