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Home My WebLink About2013/05/21 Item 05CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT ~~~ CITY OF ---~- CHULAVISiA 5/21/13, Item S ITEM TITLE: ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA RENAMING AND AMENDING CHAPTER 10.68 OF THE CHULA VISTA MUNICIPAL CODE TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH A CAR SHARING PROGRAM AND TO ISSUE CAR SHARING PROGRAM PARKING PERMITS SUBMITTED BY: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ~-Ti' _/nom ADMINISTRATIVE VICES MAN GER Y~',Q REVIEWED BY: CITY MANAGER ASSISTANT CITY ANAGER 4/STHS VOTE: YES ~ NO ~X SUMMARY Caz sharing is a newer car rental model, in which customers rent cars for short periods of time, often by the hour. Caz sharing services typically offer aneasily-accessible, affordable alternative transportation option for residents and visitors without or with limited access to a personal vehicle. In addition, caz sharing has environmental benefits such as reducing traffic congestion and improving local air quality, especially when car sharing fleets utilize alternative fuel vehicles. As such, the City seeks to amend Chapter 10 (Vehicles & Traffic) of the Chula Vista Municipal Code to establish a car shazing permit program to facilitate and provide guidelines for car sharing services operating within the jurisdiction. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity qualifies for a Class 8 categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15308 [Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment] of the State CEQA Guidelines, because the proposed actions will result in the implementation of car sharing services, which help to reduce traffic congestion and improve local air quality. Thus, no further environmental review is required. RECOMMENDATION City Council place ordinance on first reading. 5-1 5/21/13, Item `~ Page 2 of 3 BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION At their May 13a' meeting, the Resource Conservation Commission unanimously recommended that City Council adopt the proposed ordinance. DISCUSSION Caz sharing is a newer caz rental model, in which customers rent cars for short periods of time, often by the hour. Caz sharing services typically offer aneasily-accessible, affordable alternative transportation option for residents and visitors without or with limited access to a personal vehicle. Although caz sharing services have been azound since the 1970s, their popularity has increased in recent yeazs, especially in urban areas. Caz sharing programs are currently operating in numerous cities in the United States including San Diego, Seattle, Berkeley, Austin, Ann Arbor, Madison (Wisconsin), and Washington DC. As of December 2012, there were an estimated 800,000 caz- sharing members in the United States according to the Transportation Sustainability Reseazch Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Caz sharing has been shown to provide environmental benefits for communities in which they aze operating. First, it reduces the need for residents to own a vehicle or a second household vehicle. It also helps "fill the gap" in public transit networks allowing car sharing users to more easily link trips using buses, trolleys, bicycles, and walking. Overall, these benefits help communities reduce traffic congestion and improve local air quality, especially when caz sharing fleets utilize alternative fuel vehicles. As such, the City seeks to amend Chapter 10 (Vehicles & Traffic) of the Chula Vista Municipal Code to establish a car sharing permit program in order to provide guidelines for caz sharing services operating within the jurisdiction. Specifically, the new caz shazing pemut will outline rules and regulations for pazking meter fee payments, indemnification and insurance, and conditions for permit termination. The proposed ordinance will also authorize the City Manager to issue caz sharing pemuts according to the new Chula Vista Municipal Code guidelines. Before the ordinance sunsets in two years, staff will evaluate the results of the car sharing parking permit program and seek City Council approval for continuing it, if warranted. Staff has already begun to discuss with Car2Go, which operates anall-electric car sharing fleet in the City of San Diego, about potentially expanding into Chula Vista if the ordinance is adopted by City Council. DECISION MAKER CONFLICT Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to this decision. Staff is not independently aware, nor has staff been informed by any City Councilmember, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter. CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT The car sharing permit will not have a negative fiscal impact in the current year. The City may experience slight increases in pazking meter revenue due to increased use of metered pazking stalls by car sharing vehicles. 5-2 5/21/13, Item S Page 3 of 3 ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT It is anticipated that the project will not have a negative fiscal impact in future yeazs as well. ATTACHMENTS None. Prepared 6y: Brendan Reed, Environmental Resource Manager, Public Workr-Conservation Section H:\PUBLIC WORKS- ENGWGENDA\CAS2013\OS-21-13\FINAL\Car Sharing Pertnit_CAS_FINAL.doc 5-3 ORDINANCE N0. ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA RENAMING AND AMENDING CHAPTER 10.68 OF THE CHULA VISTA MUNICIPAL CODE TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH A CAR SHARING PROGRAM AND TO ISSUE CAR SHARING PROGRAM PARKING PERMITS WHEREAS, caz sharing has been shown to mitigate environmental and transportation issues commonly affecting urban communities, including increased traffic congestion and limited infrastructure capabilities; and WHEREAS, the City seeks to encourage participation in car sharing programs because .such programs offer economic environmental, and community benefits to City residents, employers, and visitors; and WHEREAS, car shazing supports the City's efforts to reduce greenhouse ga$ emissions and promotes sustainability, provides City residents, employers, and visitors with affordable transportation options, and is compatible with the City's existing infrastructure; and WHEREAS, car sharing serves to reduce residents' reliance on individually owned automobiles, thereby reducing pressure on already scarce on-street parking spaces and offers a supplement to the limited public transportation options available to City residents; and WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code Section 22507.1 authorizes cities to issue permits to facilitate car sharing programs. NOW THEREFORE the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does ordain as follows: Section I. Chapter 10.68 is renamed and amended to read as follows: Chapter 10.68 CAR SHARING PROGRAM AND PERMIT Sections: 1p.68.100 Car Sharing Program 10.68.200 Car Sharing Program Parking Permit 10.68.300 Car Sharing Exclusions 10.68.400 Car Sharing Administrative Fee 10.68.500 Sunset Clause 10.68.100 Car Sharing Program. The City Manager may establish a car sharing program. The car sharing program shall include, but is not limited to, the following criteria: 5-4 Ordinance Page 2 1. The caz sharing service offered must be member-based service, where such service is available to subscribed members only. Demonstration of membership may include daily, monthly, or annual membership fees, or issuance of membership cards to each member. 2. The car sharing service vehicles must be accessible to members at all times, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, on a self service basis. 3. The car sharing service must provide insurance, fuel, and vehicle maintenance as part of the organization's standard usage fees. 4. Car sharing vehicles must consist of all-electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or alternate fuels vehicles. 5. The car sharing service provider must agree to and execute anon-exclusive licensing agreement, which may also serve as a permit pursuant to this chapter, under terms and conditions required by and acceptable to the City Manager and City Attorney. 10.68.200 Car Sharing Program Parking Permit. Notwithstanding the provisions of Title 10, the City Manager may issue permits to vehicles participating in a car sharing program authorized pursuant to section 10.68.100: (1) allowing car sharing vehicles to park, in areas designated by the City Manager, without regard to time restrictions in metered parking spaces, permitted on-street parking, and City-owned public lots; and (2) to permit payment of parking fees pursuant to an agreement with the participating car sharing organization rather than at the time of parking. 10.68.300 Car Sharing Exclusions. The following restrictions additionally apply to car sharing parking permits: 1. Car sharing vehicles shall comply with all other signs or markings posted, authorized or designated by the City of Chula Vista.restricting the parking, standing, stopping or leaving of vehicles. 2. This chapter is not applicable to sections of Title 10 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code involving street sweeping. 3. This chapter is not applicable to parking, standing, stopping, or leaving of vehicles in private parking spaces or private parking lots, parking spaces or any other parking spaces or lots not under the jurisdiction of the City of Chula Vista. 10.68.400 Car Sharing Program Administrative Fee The City may charge an administrative fee for costs of the implementation and administration of the Car Shazing Program. 10.68.500 Sunset Clause This chapter shall be repealed two years from its effective date, unless the City acts to repeal the instant sunset clause. 5-5 Ordinance Page 3 Section II. Severability If any portion of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid, unenforceable or unconstitutional, by a court of competent jurisdiction, that portion shall be deemed severable, and such invalidity, unenforceability or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining portions of the Ordinance, or its application to any other person or circumstance. The City Council of the City of Chula Vista hereby declares that it would have adopted each section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, sentences, clauses or phrases of the Ordinance be declazed invalid, unenforceable or unconstitutional. Section III. Construction The City Council of the City of Chula Vista intends this Ordinance to supplement, not to duplicate or contradict, applicable state and federal law and this Ordinance shall be construed in light of that intent. Section IV. Effective Date This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force on the thirtieth day after its final passage. Section V. Publication The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published or posted according to law. Presented By: Ap//p~~roved as to form by: 1NnAN0~~ Richard A. Hopkins Gl~~gins Director of Public Works City Attorney J:\Attorney\FINAL RESOS\2013\OS 21 13\DSD-C2G Ord SS3 BR 5-13-13 Final.doc 5/14/2013 11:28 AM 5-6