Sonoma City Council to discuss new downtown parking plan

Extending the times when three-hour limits are enforced, adding spaces at the Casa Grande lot and providing more bicycle parking are among the actions recommended in a revised report that addresses Sonoma’s downtown parking problems.

The report, “Downtown Parking Management Plan for the City of Sonoma,” was prepared by W-Trans consulting company and dated Aug. 30, 2023. It is a revised version of the plan that was unanimously approved by the Sonoma Planning Commission on Dec. 15, 2022.

The revised plan will be discussed at the Sonoma City Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 18.

It includes two sets of strategies to improve downtown parking availability.

The plan says that Phase 1 strategies should be implemented to improve parking availability downtown. If those measures are not successful, it recommends determining the feasibility of Phase 2 strategies and possibly implementing them.

“This phased process is recommended as a gradual process to increase parking management in the downtown, but strategies can be implemented in a different timeline, based on the City’s assessment of its needs,” the report says.

Phase 1 strategies

In Phase 1, the report recommends enhancing parking enforcement through technological improvements such as Automated License Plate Recognition.

The City is also encouraged to work with the State of California, which owns the Casa Grande parking lot, to develop a mutually beneficial agreement so that it provides more parking spaces. The 7,200-square-foot lot has 140 parking spaces and is heavily used by Sonoma residents and tourists who visit Sonoma State Historic Park and other nearby locations.

The plan also encourages the City of Sonoma to incorporate new wayfinding signage if shared lots become available and consider real-time technology for the Casa Grande lot if an agreement is reached with the State.

Another strategy is to introduce passenger loading zones in the heart of downtown because this could incentivize motorists to not use red zones or other no-stopping areas to pick up or drop off passengers.

“The lack of passenger loading areas impacts the ability of mobility impaired people to access key destinations and in worst-case scenarios, causes safety issues,” the report states.

The plan also suggests identifying shared parking opportunities with private downtown lot owners.

“Some businesses in downtown Sonoma do not operate during the evening or on weekends, when peak parking demand is at its highest, and this presents an opportunity to ‘share’ parking resources,” the report says.

Another suggestion is to evaluate revising on-street parking time restrictions so they are in effect seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and to evaluate downtown “no parking” zones.

Motorists are currently allowed to park in downtown street spaces for three hours on Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no limits in public parking lots.

Extending the period to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. would incentivize employees — particularly those working in the late afternoon or evening — to park off-street, thereby freeing up storefront spaces for patrons, the plan says.

The report also encourages the City to offer more public bicycle parking in convenient downtown locations and to reevaluate the bicycle parking provisions in the municipal code.

“This strategy aims to provide bicycle riders with secure storage in downtown, create a more welcoming environment for potential bicycle riders and encourage bicycle trips as an alternative to automobile trips,” the report states.

Another suggestion is to expand the use of bicycle valet parking during special events. Bicycle valet parking is widely used in Sonoma County during special events such as the Sonoma Tuesday Night Market and Sonoma‘s Hometown Fourth of July celebration.

The Sonoma Valley Bicycle Coalition offers a full-service bicycle valet for special events, ranging from $300 to $1,000 per day. Staff members monitor the bicycles through the event in a secure location.

“It is recommended that the bicycle valet program be expanded to more special events in Sonoma,” the plan says. “If there are a sufficient number of events, it may be more cost effective for the City to operate its own program rather than contracting for it.”

The report also advises the City to improve its quality and distribution of mobility information, resources and incentives.

“Providing more detailed website information on the available mobility options can encourage more people not to drive or park in less congested areas,” the report states. “In addition, providing information before people travel downtown on alternative transportation modes and the location of public parking lots can also be effective.”

In addition, the plan suggests conducting a study to determine if there is sufficient demand and funding available for a downtown circulator — typically a bus or other large vehicle with a fixed route that travels to downtown points to provide more convenient access to them without using a private vehicle.

Downtown circulators are primarily intended for visitors to cities, but are frequently available to residents and employees.

Phase 2 strategies

A Phase 2 strategy is to institute a parking benefit district to manage downtown parking and transportation improvements. These districts are specific geographic areas, typically downtown or along commercial corridors, in which revenues generated from on-street and off-street parking facilities are returned to the district to finance neighborhood improvements.

This model contrasts with the one used in most cities, in which parking revenues become part of the General Fund rather than being used to improve parking or enhance the transportation system.

Another possibility, if needed, is to implement on-street, metered parking and regulate it, based on demand.

“The primary goal of parking pricing is to make it as easy and convenient as possible to find and pay for a parking space,” the report states. “It should not be treated as a means to generate revenue: The goal is to establish prices as low as possible to achieve a desired parking occupancy level.

“By setting specific availability targets and adjusting pricing (up or down), demand can be effectively managed so that when a motorist chooses to park, they can do so without circling the block or searching aimlessly.”

An additional strategy is to create a resident parking meter permit program to prioritize resident needs in Sonoma’s downtown core. These permits are placards or stickers that enable residents within a town, city or other geographic area to park at meters free of charge.

Mill Valley’s Resident Shopper Vehicle Permit allows residents of the city and in surrounding areas to purchase annual permits for $50 to $70 for one or more vehicles. San Clemente, Newport Beach and other tourist destinations have implemented similar programs.

The report also suggests possibly allowing for the creation of residential parking permit (RPP) programs to address potential spillover issues in nearby neighborhoods if parking meters are installed. These programs exempt permitted vehicles from the parking restrictions and time limits for nonmetered, on-street parking within a residential neighborhood and other areas.

“By managing spillover, RPPs can ensure that residential neighborhoods are not overwhelmed by employees or visitors, thereby enabling local residents to park their vehicles on-street,” the plan says.

Another suggestion is to possibly create employee parking permit (EPP) programs and designate certain off-street parking spaces downtown for employees. In this scenario, permit holders would be able to park in designated parking spaces during a specific time period and would be exempt from posted regulations.

“EPP programs offer a convenient parking option, thereby reducing the need for an employee to ‘hunt’ for a parking space, move their vehicle to avoid parking restrictions or occupy ‘prime’ on-street spaces intended for customers,” the plan states.

The report says that all these recommendations were established on the premise that parking and transportation are means to achieve broader community goals, rather than being ends in themselves.

“The selection of strategies reflect those objectives,” the plan states. “These recommendations seek to leverage downtown Sonoma’s existing assets, respond to current challenges and further the overall vision of the area.”

Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at daniel.johnson@sonomanews.com.