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CC RES 2015-035 RESOLUTION NO. 2015-35 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING A COASTAL PERMIT (ZON2015-00169) MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS TO INCREASE THE PARKING LOT FEE AND TO INSTALL AN AUTOMATED PARKING PAY MACHINE AT ABALONE COVE SHORELINE PARK. WHEREAS, Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is a multi-use City park facility that is enjoyed by the public in a number of ways including picnicking, hiking, sight-seeing, and provides public access to natural resources such as the tide pools and beaches. The parking fees currently in place have not increased in over twenty years and are based on the following rates for cars, busses, senior, and disabled parking, and: PARKING. Current Fee ABALONE COVE PARKING — 5 CAR ABALONE COVE PARKING — 15 BUS ABALONE COVE PARKING 5 SUMMER—SENIORS ABALONE COVE PARKING NO CHARGE FALL TO SPRING - SENIORS ABALONE COVE PARKING NO CHARGE DISABLED RATE WHEREAS, Recreation staff conducted a survey of parking rates at other public beaches and nature/marine preserves and tide pools in California and found that the City's parking fees are below the rates charged at other locations in that the average parking fee for a car is $11.00 and the average parking fee for seniors is $10.57. Of the twenty-two surveyed agencies, six offered a reduction for seniors, with an overall average discount of $.39. While disabled fees were slightly lower, the fees followed the same pattern with by either remaining the same or reduced modestly in most instances. Several locations offered larger reductions for disabled visitors and only one location did not charge any fee. The average fee for disabled visitors was $9.02. Nine agencies offered a reduction for disabled visitors with an overall average discount of$2.39. Among agencies that allowed busses or had a separate bus fee, the average fee for large buses was $59.67; and, WHEREAS, the City held a public hearing on April 21, 2015 to consider modifying the parking fees at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park which was continued to May 5, 2015; and, WHEREAS, the City proposes to increase its parking fees at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park as described in the following Table; and, PARKING Current Fees Proposed New Fees ABALONE COVE First 30 minutes free PARKING—CAR $5 $6 30 min-2 hours $12 >2 hours ABALONE COVE $15 $55 PARKING—BUS ABALONE COVE $5 NO CHARGE SENIORS-SUMMER ABALONE COVE NO FALL TO SPRING- CHARGE NO CHARGE SENIORS ABALONE COVE NO NO CHARGE DISABLED RATE CHARGE WHEREAS, in addition to increasing the parking fees, the City will install an automated parking pay station which will enable park Staff to increase their presence around the park grounds particularly by patrolling the natural resources, such as the tide pools and potential poachers, and enforcing park rules; and, WHEREAS, since Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is located within the City's Coastal Zone, approval of a Coastal Permit is required for the proposed fee increase and automated pay station based on Section 17.72.090 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC) for property located in the appealable portion of the Coastal Zone; and, WHEREAS, on April 2 and 9, 2015, pursuant to the City's Municipal Code, a public notice was published in the Peninsula News and on April 2, 2015 a public notice was mailed to property owners within and adjacent to the City's Coastal Zone, and within a 500-foot radius of the project site inviting public comments on the proposed parking fee increase and automated pay parking station; and, WHEREAS, pursuant to the provision of the California Quality Act, Public Resources Code Section 21000 et.seq. ("CEQA"), the State's CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulation, Title 14, Section 15000 et.seq., the City's Local CEQA Guidelines, and Government Code Section 65962.5(F) (Hazardous Waste and Substances Statement), the City Council found no evidence that the parking lot fee increase and automated parking pay station at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park would have a significant effect on the environment, and, therefore, the proposed project has been found to be Categorically Exempt (Class 23, Section 15323) because the project is related to the normal operation of the park grounds and the fees generated for parking will be used to offset costs for maintaining and operating the public park. In addition, the revision to the parking fees at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Sections 21080 et seq.), pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(8)(A); and, WHEREAS, on April 21, 2015, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing to consider, among other things, the required Coastal Permit, which was continued to May 5, 2015; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The project site lies within an appealable portion of Subregion 5 of the City's Coastal Specific Plan and the project site is designated as Recreation - Parkland. Resolution No. 2015-35 Page 2 of 3 According to the Coastal Specific Plan, the property is identified as providing recreational opportunities revolving around the terrestrial and marine environment. The proposed increase to the parking fee and the installation of an automated parking pay station is intended to off-set operational and maintenance costs at Abalone Cove for the public's benefit and enjoyment. The City recently completed specific improvements to approximately 1-acre portion of the park that was partially funded by the State grant awarded to the City through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Specifically, the improvements include new public trails and viewing areas around swathes of land that have been replanted with native plants. These improvements, along with a significant increase in park visitors requires the City to increase the upkeep of the park grounds which results in costs borne by the City. Moreover, the automated parking pay station will allow City Staff to canvas the park grounds rather than serving as a parking attendant providing the public access to City personnel during park hours. Based on the foregoing, the City Council finds that the proposed project is consistent with the City's Coastal Specific Plan in that public access will be maintained for free for the first 30 minutes and a nominal fee for the time thereafter. Section 2. The proposed parking fee increase and automated parking pay station will have no adverse impact to public access and recreational opportunities at Abalone Cove. This is because the proposed fee structure is designed to provide the public with free access to the park for the first 30 minutes (currently a $5 fee is charged), and a parking fee of $6 for the time after the first 30 minutes up to two hours, and a parking fee of$12 for the time spent at the park in excess of two hours to offset City costs for operating and maintaining the park for the public's use. Senior and disabled visitors will receive free admission. Based on the aforementioned, the City Council finds that the proposed project remains consistent with the applicable public access and recreation policies of the Coastal Act. Section 3. The time within which judicial review of the decision reflected in this Resolution, if available, must be sought as governed by Section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedure and other applicable short periods of limitation. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 5th day of May 2015. t ,f/`-' /0 Attest: ir r ri 4.t r ltat 2-1,61-bLetee City Clerk State of California ) County of Los Angeles ) ss City of Rancho Palos Verdes ) I, Carla Morreale, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby certify that the above Resolution No. 2015-35 was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on May 5, 20 5. 2 d 4 e d_A_ City Clerk � Resolution No. 2015-35 Page 3 of 3