Council rejects $9.2 million price tag for Parking Lot #2

By Nathan R. Huff

Every time the town takes a step toward building downtown parking garages, it seems also to take a half step back.

The Feb. 22 council meeting was no exception. Council members rejected the $9.2 million estimate for the parking garage on Town Lot #2 and suggested the town manager explore a wide variety of options to bring down the numbers, get new bids and review the financing possibilities.

"I want parking as much as anyone," Councilwoman Linda Lubeck said. "But not at that price."

The proposed lot, located behind the Eureka building between Royce Street and Bachman Avenue, includes two levels below ground and one at grade. It also featured a circular ramp, light wells and numerous other amenities designed to make it pedestrian and car friendly.

The meeting discussion followed a study session with the Chong and Associates parking structure consultants, where the latest numbers were presented and the economic potential of paid parking and a proposed assessment district of downtown property owners were discussed.

The one item everyone could agree on is that the town is not going to get what it envisioned at the price it is willing to pay. While Town Manager David Knapp agreed to look at other estimates, he did so with caution.

"I think we're getting pretty close in terms of what the garage you have a picture of would cost," Knapp told the council. "And if you wait six months, it's going to cost substantially more." Knapp later said that staff would do its best to "distill the essence" of council members' suggestions, but would most likely not be able to explore every option suggested.

Changing the council's "picture" may be necessary to put any substantial dent in the parking shortage, according to the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce. While spokespersons for the Chamber said they were not ready to officially comment, they did say that the town would have to go back and reconsider a more "bare bones" structure.

The Chamber has succeeded in drawing preliminary support for an assessment district. However, that support was given with the expectation of 300 new spaces within five years' time--an extremely unlikely scenario at this point. Once a design is approved and funded, it will still have to undergo the rigors of the planning process.

Downtown neighbors have put up with parking inconveniences because of their expectations that the town would make an immediate effort to create new parking and will also play a role in the eventual outcome, according to Knapp.

Ginger Rowe, owner of Time Out Clothing, has been attending parking-related meetings for the Almond Grove and Edelen neighborhoods as a business community representative. She said that while the meetings have not focused on garage cost, most people want a "functional parking lot," not an "award winner."

Parking Commission chairman Rex Morton echoed Rowe, saying the council would need to look at simplifying. "It's all the requirements being placed on this parking structure that are making it cost so doggone much money," Morton said.

Councilwoman Linda Lubeck resisted suggestions that the town was back to square one. She said the council was shifting directions rather than moving backwards. "Now, we can go back to Chong and say, I have 'X' number of dollars to spend; what can you give me," Lubeck later said. She added that she also believed the council majority was in favor of some sort of paid parking--a revenue stream that may likely be necessary.

Councilman Joe Pirzynski presented some preliminary research on what he referred to as a more "progressive" paid parking system for the town to consider. Used in Aspen, Colo., Pirzynski said, the system offered "local privileges" while providing a reliable money stream.

"The impression I got was it allows people to mix and match parking resources to allow for more possibilities," Pirzynski said, stressing that paid parking, like the parking garages, were only pieces of what needs to be a multifaceted solution.

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