City Council - February 3, 2025

Council advances interim parking rules near transit

The City Council unanimously directed staff to return with an ordinance tying required accessible and electric-vehicle charging spaces to the amount of on-site parking a developer voluntarily provides in areas covered by state law AB 2097. The ordinance is expected to return for a first reading on the consent calendar.

AB 2097 generally bars local parking minimums for many non-hotel developments within one-half mile of a major transit stop. The interim approach, described as option one, differs from option two, which would calculate accessible and EV spaces from parking requirements that existed before AB 2097 even when standard parking is no longer required.

The discussion highlighted competing concerns about accessibility, EV infrastructure and development feasibility. Commenters warned that on-site requirements could constrain housing and commercial projects on small parcels, while council members expressed differing views on retaining accessible-parking requirements and addressing EV charging through private development or public infrastructure.

For a longer-term policy, the Council asked the Planning and Transportation Commission, in consultation with the Downtown Housing Committee, to develop recommendations on an option-two framework and possible incentives under option one. Alternatives such as shared or off-site parking, in-lieu fees and public EV infrastructure remain under consideration.

California Avenue construction set to begin as long-term design remains open

Near-term improvements to car-free California Avenue are scheduled to begin Feb. 18 and take about six weeks, but the Council has not yet approved permanent closure of the street. Planned work includes paving, bollards, planted barriers, signage, wayfinding and defined street-use areas.

The Planning and Transportation Commission is expected to consider a Comprehensive Plan amendment Feb. 12. Staff said a future CEQA-related Council action is required before the closure can be made permanent, with Council consideration anticipated in March.

Council members generally supported moving ahead with near-term work while continuing to evaluate two longer-term concepts. An Adaptive Street approach would largely retain existing curbs while adding resurfacing, bicycle lanes, planters and flexible public space. A more extensive Reimagined Street would create a continuous pedestrian surface with more trees, green stormwater features, bicycle facilities and a central multiuse area.

Members asked staff to explore whether adaptive improvements could later become part of a reimagined design without avoidable reconstruction. They also raised bicycle and pedestrian safety, merchant loading, accessibility, outdoor dining, landscaping, signage and the need for broader community engagement. Staff plans merchant and community outreach in March and expects to return to the Council with further-developed alternatives in the second quarter of 2025.

Staff plans outreach over Boulware Park turf concerns

Ventura neighborhood residents urged the city to remove or replace artificial turf installed at John Boulware Park, citing health, heat, environmental and community-notice concerns. Staff said it was preparing a response and would conduct outreach with immediate neighbors.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting agenda