Sausalito will explore upgrading its Caledonia Street crosswalks to avoid losing parking in the business district under a new state law.

With few exceptions, Assembly Bill 413 bars parking within 20 feet of a corner or crosswalk to improve pedestrian and traffic safety.

Sausalito stands to lose 57 spaces overall, and the Caledonia Street corridor alone could lose two dozen, Kevin McGowan, the city’s public works director, told the City Council on Tuesday.

“There are some key areas that we definitely need to study and that’s on Caledonia,” he said. “The impact on Caledonia is pretty substantial.”

McGowan said the city’s traffic engineer could return with some options, such as making Caledonia Street one way. Mayor Joan Cox said the city needs to act decisively and probed what options exist under the law.

City Attorney Sergio Rudin said the city would have to update its parking ordinance and make substantial safety improvements beyond traffic calming measures like lower speed limits. Cox asked if adding lighted crosswalks, more signage or other measures could extend parking closer to corners.

During public comments, nearby residents were divided on the law’s goals and the city response.

Vicky Nichols, who lived on Caledonia Street for 42 years until recently, said the city needs to preserve street parking for residents. “I don’t think you realize how many residents are in the strip on Caledonia Street from Pine down to Napa.”

“AB 413 is a law that was paved in blood,” said Kieran Culligan. “This exists for safety, and to hear us trying to get around safety improvements to protect parking — it hurts.”

Councilmember Ian Sobieski suggested convening a committee of residents to review options. He also said that making Caledonia Street one way and replacing its parallel parking with aisle parking could satisfy the state law and help residents and businesses.

“It’s a radical notion to have one-way traffic on Caledonia,” he said. “You can actually increase the amount of parking while opening up the sight lines on corridors.”

“Engaging the community in a thoughtful discussion could lead to something we haven’t yet thought of,” said Vice Mayor Stephen Woodside.

The council instructed the public works staff to get community comments and identify improvements, such as lighted crosswalks, that could satisfy the law’s exemptions and preserve as many parking spaces as possible.

“I do endorse the councilmembers’ recommendation that we engage the community,” said Cox. “But I don’t want to further delay this, since it was supposed to go into effect in January.”