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Attachment 5
R. Henry Richards,M.D. Jean R. Richards 118 Alpine Avenue Los Gatos, CA 95030 March 31, 2017 Jackie Rose, Community Outreach Coordinator Town of Los Gatos RE: Restricted Permit Parking on Alpine Avenue Dear Ms. Rose, I have been a resident of 118 Alpine Avenue since 2000 and I have been impacted by the crowded on -street parking by students at Los Gatos High School for the last few years. After a long a tedious process, the neighborhood was granted a 6 month pilot program of restricted parking on our street in March, 2016 and I was very pleased by the dramatic improvement. Not too long ago I responded to a town survey regarding the program that I was very satisfied and was happy that the restricted parking would be permanent. I was therefore completely surprised when in the late afternoon of March 21 st my neighbor came to my door to encourage me to attend the city council meeting at 7 p.m. since the parking program was being discontinued immediately. I hastily downloaded as much information that was available on the town website including Council Policy Committee meetings, reports, debate, and public input regarding parking on Alpine Avenue. I was dismayed to discover that on February 28th a NEW area -wide parking plan had been proposed by town manager Laurel Prevetti as recommended by the Council Policy Committee. The plan encompassed neighborhoods within a newly created "High School Zone" and recommended absorption of "the current preferential parking pilots along Alpine Avenue," Notably the proposal provided a review of the following background information: • March, 2016 council granted a restricted parking pilot for Alpine Avenue. • November 15, 2016 council directed staff to "report the results of the Alpine Avenue pilot.": December 15, 2016 Policy Committee directed staff to "inform neighborhoods with current preferential parking pilots that those projects would be extended." February 28, 2017 "The Policy Committee was interested in outreach and communication to the new High School Zone. Staff intends to communicate the program to property owners and occupants via Nextdoor and direct mailing." I respectfully submit that in my instance and at least one other neighbor did NOT receive any information, communication, notification or any other contact from the Town of Los Gatos. I am appalled to discover that the City Council intends to institute an area -wide parking plan which nullifies the restricted parking program on Alpine Avenue which should have been permanent after the 6 month pilot period in December, 2016. This executive action seems to have flagrantly disregarded due process and contradicts established policy for the "neighborhood parking plan" program. Furthermore, all of this was done without courtesy of consultation, advice, consent and review of comment from citizens directly affected by that action. I am pleased to learn that the entire matter of the restricted parking on Alpine Avenue as it is permitted today, will be on the agenda of the City Council meeting in April. It is my hope that council will review the matter carefully and determine that the residents of Alpine Avenue have complied with all of the requirements of the previously prescripted Neighborhood Parking Plan Process AND that having fulfilled the conditions of the 6 month pilot program and the satisfaction and desires of the residents, the restricted parking program will be deemed permanent. Respectfully yours, R. Henry Richards, M.D. PS- Today (March 31st) I received a notice postmarked March 30th from the Los Gatos Police Department titled "Council to Discuss Permit Parking for the Residential Area near the High School" which references the April 4th Town Council meeting and summarizes the "High School Zone" parking program. "Neighborhoods eligible for residential permit parking or expansion of its current residential permit parking program: Johnson Avenue, Los Gatos Blvd, Loma Alta Avenue, Stacia Street, Wheeler Avenue, Charles Street, Bella Vista Avenue, Simons Way, and Pleasant Street." For reasons not given Alpine Avenue is NOT on this list despite the fact that, according to protocol, the pilot program should have transitioned to permanent status 3 months ago. From: James Lyon [maiIto jim lyonfamilyr,ty] Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2017 5:28 PM To: Jackie Rose Subject: April 4, 2017 Council Meeting - Parking Dear Ms. Rose and Town Council Thank you for the outreach regarding permit parking surrounding the High School and on Johnson Avenue. As you know, there is permit parking at the lower end of Johnson. This has just pushed the high school parking issue up the street block by block. While I would support further permit restrictions as a short-term alternative, a longer -term solution is needed. The long-term solutions need to address the fundamental issue of increased auto utilization by the high school population. This needs to be balanced with the needs of the town and surrounding neighbors. Here are some ideas: 1. Engage the LGHS administration and the Town parking engineers to review and maximize on -school parking configurations. 2. Work with the surrounding churches and businesses (Los Gatos Hotel) that have onsite parking to develop a program for high school day time parking via a specific permit. 3. Develop a longer term joint investment in a multi -story parking structure on the lower high school parking lot funded and used by the Town to alleviate the parking challenges in the downtown (a comprehensive approach with shuttles, etc.) 4. Develop remote parking and shuttle system (park and ride) in conjunction with the High School to leverage regional transportation hubs. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the April 4th meeting to further articulate my ideas, but please add them to the Staff report for consideration. Regards, Jim Lyon 239 Johnson Ave 408 399 9192 From: Jane Peattie[mailto:janepeattie©mindspring.com] Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2017 3:07 PM To: Jackie Rose Subject: Pleasant Street Parking Hi, I'm a resident on Pleasant Street and have been following the developments with great interest. I must tell you though, l'rn not at all clear on exactly what is being proposed. The March 7th staff report makes no mention of Pleasant Street being considered for restricted parking, yet the subsequent communications seem to include us. We do not currently have any restrictions on parking and there is a plan to discontinue the NPPP. Where does that leave us? What to do? If we do get pennit parking here, yet no one has to display their permit, how in the world are they going to enforce it? I'll be at the meeting on the 4tli and hope to get some answers. Thanks, Jane Peattie 40 Pleasant Street