[OldNorth] Memo to City Council prior to Public Hearing on Oct 17 re N Parking

[Valerie Vann]

We need someone from the Board to 
attend the hearing and present the Old North
position in addition to a letter.

On the letter:
I would like to see it pointed out that there is 
only one N reserved space painted in front of each
parcel (or two for parcels with more than one address).

This means that any parcel or address that is issued
a second permit will mean the 2nd permit will be used
in a space in front of someone else's address, 
potentially using the space designed for someone else
who also has a permit, who will then have to go
park in front of some else's home, and so on. 
This is the expected source for friction between 
neighbors.

If multiple permits are issued to businesses,
or if more permits are issued for a block than
there are "N" spaces on that block, the whole
purpose of the district, that is, to provide
residents - particularly stay-at-home parents,
seniors, home workers, part time workers, etc.
a place to park when they leave home temporarily
during the day and return from a trip to the
store, for day care drop off, school trips, 
medical appointments, etc. 

I also think Sheryl should sign herself as
President.

Valerie Vann
valerie at vanngroup.com
===================

sheryl lynn gerety wrote:
> 
> Sometime tomorrow, I should send the Council members a memo stating our
> position.  I am circulating the memo for comment before sending it on.
> I need board members to contact council members; I will need to speak
> to Don Saylor, Sue Greenwald will have to recuse herself (rental on C
> Street), and that leaves Stephen Souza, Lamar Heystek, Ruth Asmundson,
> important to swinging this in the direction of cautionary
> implementation of public policy.  We need to set up a meeting with each
> on Monday or Tuesday, so assess your availibility and let me know?
> 
> ******
>         As was mandated by Council a year ago, a review of the relative
> success of the Old North (N) Parking District was undertaken by Public
> Works.   Empty parking spaces in Old North were counted and a survey
> was sent to residents.   Summary information from the various parties
> will be in your packet.  Recommendations have come from  the Board of
> the Old North Davis Neighborhood Association  (ONDNA) and from the
> Safety Advisory Commission.  Public Works  apparently will submit a
> resolution to City Council asking that the city issue up to two permits
> per resident/business address in the N District.
> 
>         ON proposed to Public Works that the current system is effective but
> might be improved by one change.  We propose that the current permit
> system remain in effect for the first two months of the annual permit
> cycle.  After that an ON household/business residential address could
> purchase an additional permit subject to the following conditions:
> 
> (a) no residence or business could purchase more than two permits total;
> 
> (b) extra permits would be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis up
> to a quota of 85% of the reserved spaces (that is, up to a total of 145
> of the 171 permitted spaces, reserving the balance as open space or for
> late purchase of an initial permit).
> 
> This modification would, we believe, address the concerns of the
> several residential and the one business survey respondent(s) who
> wished for additional permits, while protecting the essential functions
> of the present district.  These are:
> 
> 1.  Provide an available parking space to residents during the time of
> highest use -- weekdays 8 AM to 5PM.  Inevitably, some reserved spaces
> will be empty, and for good reason:  they are available for service
> calls, for visitors, for midday deliveries, trips to medical or school
> appointments, etc., etc. for residents who otherwise have no parking.
> 
> 2.  Leave available approximately 280 spaces (more than 60% of the curb
> space) for residents additional vehicles, clients of business on G
> Street, students, staff and faculty of UC Davis, downtown employees and
> shoppers, and weekday worshippers at the three churches located in or
> bordering our neighborhood, weekday visitors to the Farmer’s Market.
> 
> 3.  Gently encourage use of foot, bicycle and mass transit when
> possible.
> 
> ONDNA is concerned that permitting up to two vehicles per
> residence/business will send a signal that there are now two reserved
> parking places per residence/business, and that is not the case.  We
> believe neighborly relationships around the parking of cars would be
> tested when those possessing more than one vehicle begin to take
> advantage of spaces customarily used by other households.  We feel our
> suggestion, while a bit more complicated than the suggestion of giving
> everyone two or more permits, would better address the most critical
> parking needs of our neighborhood.
> 
> Should council decide to adopt any modification of the N District, we
> ask that it be construed as a continuing experiment  which could be
> reviewed again at the end of its second year.
> 
> Sheryl Gerety
> For Old North Davis Neighborhood Association