To cope with the last holiday season, the town posted time limits in downtown lots. For many, it was the last straw.
Council facing one of its most controversial political decision
Paid parking, some permits are in plan coming to a vote
Will Aspen plan work here?
By Nathan R. Huff
While the bulk of the community may not be in full support, the downtown community parking task force reached a consensus to forward the final draft of the downtown parking plan to the town council on July 17.
The plan, compiled by Aspen parking consultant Tim Ware, the task force and town staff, features a $1 an hour pay-and-display metering system on all downtown commercial streets and public lots. It includes an extensive residential and employee permit component, as well as a host of other details.
The council invited Ware to participate at the task force's request, following one of the worst holiday seasons for parking in memory. Three-hour limits in downtown lots sent many employees into the Almond Grove neighborhoods, which sent many hooting and hollering Almond Grove residents to the town council chambers.
The plan is intended to provide a parking management solution while the town undertakes the construction of two downtown parking structures. Designs for a garage on the town lot between Bachman and Royce streets have been approved, though how the town will come up with the $10 million needed is still unclear.
While the revenue generated by the plan will most likely fund the new parking garages, creating a funding plan for new construction was not part of Ware's charge from the council.
Police Chief Larry Todd: 'I don't think anyone has everything they want in this plan.'
Police Chief Larry Todd, who chairs the meetings and is preparing a staff report to accompany the parking plan, said the plan's intent was to better manage existing parking. "Hopefully, the strain on our limited resources will be less of a strain," he said.
Three drafts of the plan preceded the final version, which will be sent to the council on July 17 along with the staff report. The council members then will have to make what one staff member called, "the most controversial political decision they've made in years."
Each draft has undergone extensive task-force review, and a number of public meetings have been held to solicit comments on the plan. However, some community members have complained the process has moved too quickly; the public has not been adequately informed, and many of the comments that have not been incorporated.
Defenders of the plan, from Chamber of Commerce representatives to task force members, say that, while the plan is not perfect, everyone has been heard, and many suggestions have been included in the latest draft.
Chamber Exec Sheri Lewis: 'There are still some things we may not be satisfied with, but the basic issues have been dealt with.'
"As the groups have worked together a lot of the suggestions have been incorporated into the plan," Sheri Lewis, executive director of the Chamber, said. "We really think everyone that's been involved in the process is to be commended."
Among the major changes in the most recent round of meetings was eliminating parking fees on Sundays; making parking in the Miles Avenue lot free; and making a compromise between some of the downtown churches, the town and residents. The town council will make a final decision on all aspects of the plan. It could accept the plan in toto, modify elements or discard it entirely.
The pay-and-display part of the plan--which will likely be of most public concern at the council meeting--uses pay stations situated on a block basis rather than next to each parking space. The machines could accept coins, tokens, credit cards or prepaid cards. Methods of merchant validation also have been discussed.
In-car meters could also be used. The meters would be used by downtown regulars, who prepay for parking, turn the meter on when they park on a downtown street or lot and turn it off when they leave. The advantage of this method is customers pay only for the time they use. The disadvantage is the high set-up cost for the town.
Overall, the plan's start-up costs would total close to $1 million, with annual operating costs of approximately $500,000. Ware estimates annual revenues of $2.4 million, based on a 50 percent occupancy rate. That number does not take into account money made from permits and tickets, but does include charging for parking on Sundays, which has now been eliminated. Any profit would most likely be deposited directly into a parking improvement fund, which could be used to construct new garages.
Ware and town staff have also continued meetings with St. Mary's and its neighbors, other downtown churches, restaurateurs, the downtown theater owners and private parking lot owners. St. Mary's representatives and their neighbors appeared close to a settlement on June 7, while meetings with the theater continued.
Los Gatos Cinema co-owner Jim Zuur: 'If this thing is going to go through, we need a free validation system like we have in San Jose to survive.'
Jim Zuur, president of the Los Gatos Cinema, said the theater would most likely perish if it had to subsidize customer parking. He cited San Jose and Monterey as cities that recognize the value of a downtown cinema and provide free validation programs.
"The theater is unique--it's one-of-a-kind," Zuur said. "Monterey and San Jose have taken the lead and acknowledged that."
Todd said he would try to gain support for the plan from the parking commission, the Chamber, churches and the task force before submitting his staff report to the council. Without the unanimous support of the major groups involved, most participants believe the plan has little chance for council approval.
"I don't think anyone has everything they want in this plan," Todd said at a July 6 parking commission meeting. "We will never have total agreement."
Lewis said the Chamber was "facing the plan in a positive and supportive light," but could not take an official stance until its members had been polled. She added that the plan incorporated a number of the group's major priorities, including the primary ones of increased parking spaces and better use of existing resources.
"There still are some things we may not be satisfied with, but the basic issues have been dealt with," Lewis said. "We're relying on the ability to change the plan as we go--it's very flexible."
Major aspects of the plan are described below. The plan, as well as maps showing the different "parking zones" are available for review at the town clerk's office, the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce inside the Bank of America building downtown and the library.
* Commercial Streets: All downtown commercial streets between Highway 9 and the southern entrance to town from Highway 17 will be metered at $1 an hour. Enforcement hours will run from 10 a.m. to midnight, six days a week, with a two-hour maximum until 6 p.m. No residential or employee permits would be valid on the streets. Some residential blocks immediately adjacent to N. Santa Cruz Avenue would also be metered.
* Town Lots: Metering at the same $1 an hour rate, from 10 a.m. to midnight, with no time limits. Designated lots--currently town lot #4, 7 and the park and ride lot--could be used by employees with a parking permit.
* Residential Zones: Parking in the Almond Grove and Edelen residential areas will be converted to permit only, with the exception of mixed commercial/residential streets in Almond Grove. Yearly permits are proposed at a cost of $50 per vehicle, with each resident receiving two guest passes. Permits for residential parking for business owners and employees would be sold on a limited, block-by-block basis for $50 a month or $500 a year.
* Employee permits: Employees and business owners will be eligible to purchase a permit that would be valid in designated lots, which currently include the lower level of town lot 4, lot 7, the park and ride lot. There also has been discussion of including street spots on E. Main Street east of the Highway 17 bridge. The proposed cost for the permits is $30 a month or $300 a year for most spots, and $50 a month or $500 a year for lower lot 4 and residential zones. The Miles Avenue lot would remain free.
* Shuttle System: A shuttle system to ferry employees and customers to and from outlying areas will be detailed in the final draft of the plan.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
