M 11-19-85TOWN OF LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA
TOWN COUNCIL/PARKING AUTHORITY AGENDA
NOVEMBER 19, 1985
TOWN COUNCIL
The Town Council met in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. in
regular session.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:Joanne Benjamin, Thomas J. Ferrito, Brent N. Ventura, and
Mayor Terrence J. Daily.
ABSENT:Eric D. Carlson.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Given by all in attendance.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REPORT
Town Attorney, Mary Jo Levinger, reported that after the Council meeting of
November 18, 1985 the Council met in executive session and discussed a
personnel matter. No action was taken.
ROUTE 85
Mayor Daily stated this was the time and place duly published for public hearing
on the Route 85 Corridor. Acting Town Manager explained that there are two
review processes going on right now. One is the comment on the draft
Environmental Impact statement and the final date CalTrans will take comments
from the Town, is December 6th, 1985. The second process is the preferred
alternative and the Policy Advisory Board will only take comments from the
Town, until January 22, 1986. Acting Town Manager, Nadine Levin also
informed Council that representatives from CalTrans and the County Traffic
Authority re present tonight and will answer any questions but are not giving a
formal presentation.
Mr. Ventura stated, the issue the Town has to comment on is which of the eight
alternatives the Town wishes to endorse and/or take a position.
Speaking from the audience were Joel Kast, 227 Jones Road, Administrator of
Community Hospital, stated he is interested in how 85 will effect the area and
environment around the hospital and concerned about vehicular emergency
traffic, medical personnel, patients, visitors, employees and public transportation
as they would pertain to interchange configuration as it pertains to the hospital.
He asks to reserve the right of review of final interchange configuration so as to
enhance or work with the planners of this proposed corridor.
Max Segal, 220 Danville Drive. His concerns are noise and air pollution. He
made a presentation, to the Council, with a tape of traffic noise done by Nasa
taped along Hwy 280 on October 24th 1985 (day of CalTrans public hearing)
between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m. which gave DB reading at various locations along
route 280. In all location on the tape the DB level exceeded those predicted on
page 37 of Chapter of the CalTrans D.E.I.S. He request Council rescind the
freeway agreement that now exists. It is too old and no longer valid.
Richard Gaines, 340 Johnson Avenue, spoke on his statement of the inadequacy
of the 85 Corridor D.E.I.S. He request Council resist the stampede to build a
highway in the 85 Corridor. Mr. Gaines made the following requests:
1."The preparation of a specific plan for the Route 85 Corridor should be
given very high priority and should be completed before the Council considers ny
type of transportation project in the corridor. It is essential that we decide our
own land use and not delegate these decisions to neighboring cities and
CalTrans.
2.The Council should rescind any existing agreement with the State to build
a highway in the 85 Corridor. Our agreements were based on conditions which
no longer exist and re therefore without validity.
3.The Council should carefully examine all of the possible transportation
alternatives. Not just those contained in the D.E.I.S. For example, it might make
considerable more sense to build a light rail system in the existing SP rail corridor
to which streets have already been closed and to use the land in the 85 Corridor
for housing that would be closer to places of work than the Coyote Valley.
4.The Council should place a referendum on the June 1986 ballot asking
Los Gatans whether they would rather have a freeway or housing in the 85
Corridor".
Arlie Gilmore, 14685 Oka Road, representing 67 residents in the Bonnie View
Mobile Home park, stated the freeway will be at the backdoor of the mobile home
park. He makes the following suggestions:
1.Widen Bascom to full width from Good Samaritan Drive to Lark Avenue.
2.Widen Lark Avenue Bridge over Hwy 17 to 5 lanes (two each way and left
turn onto the freeway).
3.Make Camden avenue no parking from Hwy 17 to Hillsdale during rush
hours.
4.Make Hwy 17 an 8 lane traffic and use shoulder during rush hour for off
and on access. Like Hwy 280 in Cupertino between Lawrence and Route 85.
5. Make Hwy 280 eight lanes.
6.Complete Guadalupe freeway and LRT, but don't come west with the
freeway. If a corridor is needed in that area to reduce some traffic problems,
either widen existing roads, like Branham or short segments that need to by-pass
congested areas like around Good Samaritan Hospital area, from Lark to
Camden as an expressway.
7.Complete work on Hwy 101.
Mike Bullock, 21831 Hermosa Avenue, near Cupertino. He was a Senior
research Engineer. He states the D.E.I.S. is incorrect because, it utilizes only a
no build trip table for all alternatives. The freeway in the D.E.I.S. is shown to
reduce some congestion but doesn't say where the reduction will be. It may
reduce congestion nowhere. The only benefit for Los Gatos would be if other
roads would have less traffic if the freeway was built as compared with not
building the freeway. He sent a letter to the Policy Advisory Board dated May 7,
1984 and explained why the modeling was incorrect. The Board then requested
that CalTrans respond in writing. His letters to the Policy Advisory Board has
shown specifically why the modeling is incorrect and so the situation is now as it
has been for over a year as follows: Either he must be shown to be incorrect or
the modeling must be drawn correctly or if the Policy Advisory Board would
knowingly select an alternative based on modeling shown to be incorrect in a
method which totally obscures all of the undesirable effect that building would
have on travel patterns. Primary negative impact on building a freeway, can not
construct a freeway and reduce travel times over accumulation of time and not
cause more long distance trip commuting.
Peter Giles representing Santa Clara County Manufacturing Group. The Group
represents the companies that employee many of the people in the valley. He
believes the answer is a mixture of transit and would like to see transit improved
but, it is not going to happen without working to complete and improve transit
along with completing the road network in the valley. The Group's suggestion is:
Six mixed flow freeway lanes, plus an additional commute lane in each
direction restricted to vehicles with two or more passengers. The 46'
median would be landscaped and available for future installation of light
rail transit line. Elements of the Transportation System Management
alternative park and ride lots in particular should be combined with the six
mixed plus two commute lanes alternative. The commute lanes should
meet request safety and enforcement conditions without infringing on the
median.
Mr. Ferrito suggests that if the Santa Clara County Manufacturing Group could
get 25% of the employees to go on freeways other than during commute time we
wouldn't be extending the commute period from an hour to an hour and a half to
two hours. That's what happening almost everybody needs to get to work at 8:00
o'clock in the manufacturing facilities and so everybody has to leave earlier nd
earlier and get home later and later to accommodate the increase number of
jobs.
Les Kishler, Bonnie Lane, is against another freeway in Los Gatos. Reason for
saying no is the noise and excessive amount of land that will be needed. He
suggests rapid transit be brought to the freeway 17 corridor. With a light rail line
on the eastern half of 85 Corridor or a more convenient bus system along
Blossom Hill Road connecting to the corridor. The Town Council should
consider:
1.Actively support the Transportation 2000 program decision to make mass
transit in the freeway 17/Vasona Corridor a high priority.
2.Rescind the 30 year old and outdated decision to bring another freeway
into Los Gatos.
Shelly Williams, 11951 Brookridge Drive, Saratoga and member of the Multi-
Modal Task Force. The 85 Task Force has stopped recommending a multi-
modal task force because the County transit system serves 120,000 people a
day (less than 2% of the daily trips). He feels an 8 lane freeway is needed for the
following reasons:
1.It will accommodate 90% of the traffic demand in 1990 and it would be
cost effective.
2.It will provide 46' median which can be developed as a light rail transit.
3.It provides the lowest annual cost per passenger mile at 5.3 cents per
passenger mile.
Joan Hershkowitz, Shubert Court, Saratoga and co-chairperson of Protect Our
Environment. The Organization represents a large number of Saratogans and
after many studies they feel there is no acceptable way to build a road. The
lifestyle of the area can not survive the effects of another freeway. Urges Council
to join the City of Saratoga in a joint study session to find a way to save both
cities.
Peter Siemens, 69 Ellenwood Avenue, representing the Home Owners
Association, stated the association feels if a roadway is to be built it should be
depressed with soundwalls installed. Mr. Siemens does not feel a freeway
should be built in 85 Corridor because Los Gatos would be bisected by noise and
air pollution Light rail type transit facility would satisfy future needs with no
pollution. Suggested actions for the Council:
1.Cancel existing CalTrans contract.
2.Advisory on June allot relating to alternatives.
3.Cooperate with Saratoga to arrive at a joint supportive position.
4.Council to demand answer to key questions and have answers to be
included in the D.E.I.S.
5.Ask CalTrans about comments on the D.E.I.S.
6.What is capacity of what we are trying to build.
7.Traffic projection for parallel streets.
8.Noise data, average and peak.
9.Air quality data.
The following were opposed to the 85 Corridor and in support of a light rail
system or other public transportation. Frank Barnes, 207 Tait Avenue; Aurora
Sallitto, 16790 Frank Avenue; Don Cordero, 123 Calle Margarita; Mary Wax,
15315 Winchester Boulevard, Monte Sereno; Debra Mills, 322 University
Avenue; Margaret Radman, 210 Elm Wood Court' Robert Petyrokas, 1485 Las
Flores Lane; nd Jeannette Stone, 14275 Mulberry Drive.
Mrs. Alexander lives on Ravine Road between Saratoga and Los Gatos. She
feels the basic questions have to do with population, population growth, and
begin to think whether or not this is going to continue in the future.
Marion Elmore, 167 Lu Ray, opposes the freeway and supports other in favor of
opposing the freeway. Concerned for the bicycle trails being closed while
construction of freeway.
Sherry Waldrop, Los Gatos Boulevard, is opposed to the freeway. She
commutes from Los Gatos to Palo Alto by bicycle everyday.
J.D. Vanderlaan, 17830 Bruce Avenue and Everett Eiselen, 101 Milmar Way
spoke in support of the 85 Corridor and general supporters of mass transit.
Mr. Ventura stated further testimony should be taken at a later date and moved
to continue the public hearing to January 13, 1986. Mrs. Benjamin seconded.
Carried by a vote of four ayes. Mr. Carlson was absent. By consensus motion
Mr. Ventura moved Council should rescind "the freeway agreement that was
executed in 1957 with CalTrans. The basis is, the agreement is over 30 years
old; the town has grown up without a freeway and any new freeway would have
significant impacts that were not considered or contemplated when the
agreement was signed. Another difference is the town is paying for the freeway
and if the town is paying for it and if it is going to be built, the town should have a
lot more say in terms of design and layout of the freeway". Mayor Daily feels "it
is important that there is a full Council to make any decision and keep an open
mind until all the public input and testimony is in". Mr. Ferrito supports Mr.
Ventura's position and second the motion. Mr. Ferrito quoted the San Jose
Mercury Editorial regarding growth in the communities. Mr. Ferrito moved to
"rescind the agreement with CalTrans by consensus motion. Then start talking
from a position of the 1985 perspective rather than the 1955 or 57 perspective.
Also put a measure on the ballot or conduct a formal poll of residents to find out if
really, in fact, they want an eight lane freeway or any type of freeway or one that
is depressed or support mass transit. Instruct staff to be raising questions about
the D.E.I.S." Mayor Daily stated Mr. Ferrito is making a second to Mr. Ventura's
consensus motion. Mayor Daily feels it is not on the merits of the motion but the
timing of the motion that is important. He feels the most critical problem is the
traffic problem and a clear message has to be sent. Mrs. Benjamin feels the
question is what alternative is the Council going to choose to solve the traffic
problem and preserve the environment in the valley. She supports the motion
about the agreement in the valley. She supports the motion about the agreement
because one of the things in the process is too look at 1985 and if we were going
on an old agreement why have the public hearing. Therefore she supports the
motion. Mr. Ventura moved for the consensus motion. Mr. Ferrito seconded.
Carried by a vote of four ayes. Mr. Carlson was absent. Mrs. Benjamin
suggested that they give staff their note on the questions Council has heard for
an answer. Mayor Daily suggested the tapes should be reviewed. Stating, "they
are the true indicator of what was said and also review the documents. Staff will
review the documents and come back with what staff feels were issues for the
Council to review before they are submitted. Also review the D.E.I.S. for any
questions".
Mayor Daily stated the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m. to an Executive
Session and a Study Session on Monday November 25th.
ATTEST:
Rose E.Aldag
Town Clerk