 |
|
|
|
|
Council schedules meeting to explore parking
By Nathan R. Huff
With the dust finally clearing, downtown's parking stakeholders are trying to figure out where to go next. The town council has set a study session date of Aug. 28, to discuss what the town is going to do about the impending holiday season parking crunch.
Much of the discussion will likely focus on what the council can salvage from the parking management plan that went down in flames July 17. While the comprehensive paid parking element of the plan was voted down, the future of other aspects of the plan was not decided. New ideas raised at the meeting will also be discussed.
"I'd look for this to be a meeting where we put everything on the table and ask ourselves what our options are," Mayor Steve Blanton said. He added that "everything" could include paid parking on a limited basis, permits and the question of whether the problem even exists, which a number of speakers suggested on July 17.
A task force of business representatives and downtown neighbors had worked with parking consultant Tim Ware and town staff to develop a plan that included paid parking and permits for residents and employees. While the plan had task force and parking commission support, the public came out strongly against the idea of paid parking. The council voted 4-1 against instituting the parking element.
Now, without a plan in place and no apparent revenue stream for a parking garage, the council will have to consider some new alternatives. At the July 17 meeting, town council candidate Sandy Decker and downtown businessman Dave Flick presented a list of potential areas for additional downtown parking.
"[The Chamber] is going to be looking at the new ideas and what we can do for the upcoming holiday season," Chamber of Commerce executive director Sheri Lewis said. Lewis added that, with only two or three council meetings left before the season, immediate action is crucial.
The Chamber will hold a meeting for the business community on Aug. 24, to look at short-term solutions. The time and place has not been determined. The Chamber never fully endorsed the old plan, but it offered support for the concept of paid and permit parking, as long as a number of conditions were met.
Lewis said she hoped the downtown community parking task force would also continue to work toward a solution. No task force meetings are currently scheduled. Tom Boyce, who had taken a leadership role on the task force, did not return phone calls.
Blanton said he also wanted continuing community involvement. As part of that, the town is notifying all those who spoke at the July 17 meeting about the upcoming study session. "I want to have people in the conversation as early as possible," Blanton said. "It would be a shame to lose the energy we have going on this."
Blanton was the sole vote in favor of the proposed plan. The plan had included $1 an hour paid parking on all downtown streets and lots, with resident permit parking in the neighborhoods and employee parking permit areas spread throughout the downtown area. A shuttle system was also part of the defeated plan.
Councilman Jan Hutchins said the response the council received on July 17, showed that residents weren't ready for such an "extreme" plan. "The community was clearly saying we need an incremental approach," Hutchins said. "We need to look at how we might manage the difficult time periods on a daily and annual basis."
Hutchins, a proponent of building a smaller, cheaper downtown parking garage than is currently proposed, said he hoped the size and cost of the structure would also be discussed. The garage currently proposed for the town lot between Bachman Avenue and Royce Street will provide three levels of parking at a cost of approximately $10 million.
The Aug. 28 study session will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the town council chambers.
|
|
|
|
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
