TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer - Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Syed Ahsan Kazmi, P. E., Senior Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT: Resolution Establishing No Parking - Tow Away Restrictions on Conn Valley Road between the Moore Creek Park Entrance and the City of Napa’s “Picnic Area”
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Public Works requests adoption of a Resolution establishing No Parking -Tow Away zones on both sides of Conn Valley Road between the Moore Creek Park Entrance and the City of Napa’s “Picnic Area.”
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Works (DPW) has received a letter from Mr. Chris Cahill, Manager, Napa County Regional Park & Open Space District (NCRPOSD), dated May 9, 2022 concerning vehicles parking on both sides of Conn Valley Road between the Moore Creek Park Entrance and the City of Napa’s “Picnic Area” (± 1000’). This condition is causing potentially hazardous road conditions by limiting access for emergency vehicles. Conn Valley Road is a narrow, winding local residential roadway with minimal shoulders. For further details see attached Exhibit A “NCRPOSD Letter”.
The County Traffic Engineer conducted traffic-engineering assessments of the concerned area and has identified that the subject area is appropriate for designation of No Parking - Tow Away restrictions. The No Parking Zones designation of the area will improve public safety, improve fire and paramedic response time and improve the efficiency of traffic operations. The proposed No Parking - Tow Away Zones are shown in red on the attached Exhibit B “AREA MAP”.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Public Works/Roads Division |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Prohibition of parking on Conn Valley Road will improve traffic flow and visibility of passing motorists, and will reduce trespassing issues that have been an ongoing problem for some time. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
None |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The timely response of Fire Department and Paramedics may be impacted. Existing conditions of roadway blockage for emergency response vehicles will continue. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Healthy, Safe, and Welcoming Place to Live, Work, and Visit |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: Consideration and possible adoption of a Categorical Exemption Class 1: It has been determined that this type of project does not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. [See Class 1 (“Existing Facilities”) which may be found in the guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act at 14 CCR §15301; see also Napa County’s Local Procedures for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act, Appendix B.]
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
DPW in consultation with CHP and NCRPOSD are proposing to establish permanent “No Parking - Tow Away” Zones on both sides of Conn Valley Road between the Moore Creek Park Entrance and the City of Napa’s “Picnic Area”.
DPW received many requests from local residents to restrict parking in this area. CHP and NCRPOSD stated that cars parked on Conn Valley Road by visitors accessing Moore Creek Park created an unsafe condition for emergency vehicles trying to respond to calls at the end of Conn Valley Road. While residents have not objected to a few cars parked in the limited subject area, more than 35 vehicle parked were noted on weekends and holidays on both sides of Conn Valley Road between the Moore Creek Park Entrance and the City of Napa’s “Picnic Area”. Emergency response vehicles such as fire engines and ambulances and in some cases CHP and local traffic were all effected due to road blockages. The number of requests to establish No Parking zones increased after the Glass Fire in 2020.
To solicit public input, DPW sent out over 30 community notification letters on May 31, 2022 to the surrounding area residents located along Conn Valley Road to seek input on the Proposed No Parking - Tow Away Zones on both sides of Conn Valley Road between the Moore Creek Park Entrance and the City of Napa’s “Picnic Area”. A copy of this community notification letter is attached as Exhibit C “Public Notice”. Four (4) responses from the community were received, and the responses are summarized in the attached Exhibit D “Comment Summary”.
The County Traffic Engineer along with CHP and NCRPOSD have determined that traffic operations would benefit and safety conditions would improve by eliminating parking on both sides of Conn Valley Road between the Moore Creek Park Entrance and the City of Napa’s “Picnic Area” (as depicted on attached Exhibit B).