[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER]
THANK YOU.AND, UH, GOOD EVENING TO ONE AND ALL TO THE, UH, REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL AND THE PETALUMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSOR AGENCY FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 2025.
IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, PLEASE FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD THERE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND BRING IT TO OUR CLERK IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.
AND, UM, NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE MONICA RICIO AND MARIANA OLA TO, UH, PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN SPANISH TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE THE CLERK TO TAKE ROLL CALL FOR THE EVENING.
BARNACLE PRESENT CATER THOMPSON.
SCH SHRIMPS HERE, MCDONALD HERE.
AND WE HAVE EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT.
UH, LET'S STAND AND SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, REPUBLIC OF RELIGIOUS SPANS, ELIMINATION UNDER IN LIBERTY JUSTICE ALL AND NOW A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT HERE AT THIS POINT THAT, UH, WE'LL BE CLOSING OUR MEETING TONIGHT IN MEMORY OF OUR, UH, FORMER POLICE CHIEF HERE, UH, CHIEF ROBERT MURPHY, WHO SERVED THE CITY FROM 1976 TO 1986, AND ALSO FOR, UM, IN MEMORY OF DAN AGUILAR, WHO WAS, UH, INSTRUMENTAL IN THE MIRACLE LEAGUE BOARD AND HELPED THAT PROJECT, UH, HAPPEN AND ALSO RAN ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUES IN PETALUMA FOR YEARS.
UH, LOSSES OF COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTORS SHOULD BE NOTICED.
[AGENDA CHANGES AND DELETIONS (TO CURRENT AGENDA ONLY)]
SEE IT.TO START THE MEETING, I'D LIKE TO LOOK UP AND DOWN THE DIOCESE AND SEE IF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS, UM, ANY SUGGESTION TO CHANGE TO OUR AGENDA BEFORE WE ADOPT IT.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, DECLARE THAT WE ARE, UM, FOLLOWING OUR AGENDA PER ITS PRINTED FORM, AND, UM, WOULD LIKE TO MOVE US NOW TO, UH, GENERAL
[GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT]
PUBLIC COMMENT.AND, UM, DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO MAKE COMMENT ON ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTERESTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY COUNCIL'S SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, AND THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE LIMITED UP TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON, AND DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TIME WILL BE ALLOCATED IN EQUAL SHARES.
TOTALLY NO MORE THAN 20 MINUTES.
SO I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY CLERK.
HAVE WE RECEIVED INPUT PRIOR TO THE MEETING? WE RECEIVED 58 GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS WEEK.
THOSE ARE ALL POSTED, UH, ON THE AGENDA PACKET ON THE WEBSITE.
UM, AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL START A 32ND CLOCK.
UM, SO THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.
SPEAKERS ARE REMINDED TO BE RESPECTFUL IN THEIR COMMENTS AND THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING TRANSLATED.
PLEASE PAUSE BETWEEN SENTENCES FOR TRANSLATION.
[00:05:17]
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 11, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKER CARDS TURNED IN TONIGHT.AND SO THAT, UH, WILL DIVIDE OUT TO TWO MINUTES A PIECE.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE CLOCK SET AT TWO MINUTES FOR EACH SPEAKER.
THE FIRST SPEAKER TO BE CATHERINE BOBOWSKI, AND THE SECOND SPEAKER WILL BE GREG MITCHELL.
I LIVED AT LITTLE WOODSVILLE MOBILE PARK HARMONY COMMUNITY, UM, HAD ON JANUARY 7TH, ALL MORNING OWL AFTERNOON ILLEGALLY REMOVED MY ORANGE CONE OFF MY DRIVEWAY, PARKED AGAINST, UH, ON MY DRIVEWAY.
AND I ILLEGALLY USING MY POWER.
WHAT I'M PAYING FOR THAT IS ILLEGAL.
AND ALSO TOO, I FOUND EVIDENCE THAT HARMONY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SELLING LEASING, RENTING MOBILE HOMES.
THEY DO NOT OWN AND DO NOT HAVE TITLE TWO.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, THERE HAS BEEN A VEHICLE PARKED ILLEGAL AGAINST MY MOM SINCE JANUARY 7TH, AND STILL AS OF TODAY, JANUARY 27TH, IT'S NOT A LEGAL PARKING AREA.
YOU NEED THE REVOKED HARMONY COMMUNITY'S LICENSE IMMEDIATELY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GREG MITCHELL TO BE FOLLOWED BY JODY JOHNSON.
MR. MAYOR COUNSEL, MY NAME'S GREG MITCHELL.
I'VE BEEN IN PETALUMA FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.
I'M A MASTER SWIMMER AND HAVE BEEN FOR MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE, SWIMMING IN BOTH POOLS AND OPEN WATER.
I'M BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF AQUATICS IN OUR TOWN.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST THREE DECADES, I, ALONG WITH MY FELLOW MASTER SWIMMERS, TOGETHER WITH THE DIFFERENT AGE GROUP TEAMS AND LAPS SWIMMERS IN TOWN, HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR OUR SPORT BEFORE YOU AND BEFORE PARKS AND REC.
I WAS PART OF THE AQUATICS ADVISORY BOARD SEVERAL YEARS AGO UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF SCOTT BRODEN, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC.
AT THE TIME WHEN THE NEW TARGET MALL WAS BEING BUILT, WE FOUGHT TO SAVE OUR SWIM CENTER AND SUCCEEDED AFTER THAT.
WE FOUGHT TO KEEP, TO GET THE SWIM CENTER OPEN YEAR ROUND, AND AGAIN, WE SUCCEEDED.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE SWIM CENTER HAS BEEN MANAGED BY FOREVER AS AQUATICS FROM NOVATO.
AND OVER THAT TIME, THE CONDITION OF THE FACILITY HAS BECOME A DISGRACE.
THE LIFEGUARDS WERE RARELY ON DECK, OFTEN IN THE OFFICE.
THE LOCKER ROOMS WERE DISGUSTING WITH INOPERABLE SHOWERS, COCKROACHES, DIRTY BATHROOMS, AND OVERFLOWING, UH, GARBAGE CANS.
THE CITY WAS ABSENT IN OVERSEEING THAT SITUATION, DESPITE OUR PLEAS FOR INTERVENTION.
NOW THE POOL IS CLOSED FOR REPLASTERING, A PROJECT LONG OVERDUE, BUT ONE WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR.
WE WERE TOLD THE PROJECT WAS TO BEGIN DECEMBER 30TH, BUT AS OF THIS DATE, NOTHING HAS BEGUN.
THE POOL IS STILL FULL THIS MORNING, AND AS SWIMMERS ARE LEFT HIGH AND DRY, I INQUIRED ABOUT THE DELAY OF THE PROJECT AND WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE PROJECT MANAGERS THAT THE CITY IS WAITING FOR THE PERMIT PROCESS TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH REGARDING MATERIALS, ET CETERA.
WE WERE TOLD ALSO THAT THE PROJECT WAS TO GO TO BID IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.
CURIOUS THAT THE PERMIT PROCESS COULDN'T HAVE BECOME OR COULDN'T HAVE BEGUN EARLIER ALSO.
THE THE TWO MINUTES DOES RUN VERY FAST.
SO, AND, AND FOR ANYONE INFORMATION, IF YOU CANNOT COMPLETE YOUR COMMENTS IN THE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS TO THE CLERK WHO CAN POST THEM TO COUNSEL AND POST 'EM ONLINE.
AND THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET STOP.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JODY JOHNSON, TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, DEB VITALE.
WE HAVE TRIED TO WELCOME IN THIS NEW YEAR IN OUR MOBILE PARKS WITH HOPE, RESOLVE, AND PEACE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE SEE DAILY HARASSMENT AND DISREGARD FOR ANY LAW OR ORDINANCE BY BAD ACTOR PARK OWNERS AT YOUNGSTOWN, LITTLE WOODS AND CAPRI.
WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO IMAGINE THESE VERY REAL SCENARIOS IN YOUNGSTOWN, WHEN 90 RESIDENTS STOOD UP TO MANAGEMENT, TRYING TO CREATE A RESOLUTION GROUP WITH A WIFE OF ANOTHER PROPERTY MANAGER, AND THEN ATTEMPTED THE TAKINGS OF
[00:10:01]
RENT STABILIZATION, VACANCY CONTROL, AND MORE FROM RESIDENTS, THE MANAGEMENT NOW TELLS INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS THAT SHE WILL NO LONGER TALK TO THEM BECAUSE THEY SIGNED THAT PETITION AND THE CEASE AND DESIST.IN FACT, ONE RESIDENT SAID THEY WERE CANCELED.
YOU MIGHT ASK, HOW DO YOU GET ALERTED THEN TO EMERGENCIES OR TO RENT ISSUES OR TO ANYTHING IN YOUNGSTOWN? AND THE ANSWER IS, YOU DON'T.
YOUNGSTOWN HAD AN EMERGENCY PG AND E ISSUE.
WE AS RESIDENTS HAD TO GET THE INFORMATION FROM PG AND E THAT WE HAD FAULTY AND OUTDATED POWER LINES, AND THAT SOME WERE SITTING IN A PLYWOOD BOX.
THEN THIS LAST SATURDAY, RESIDENTS RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM MANAGEMENT THAT ELECTRICITY WAS BEING TURNED OFF MANAGEMENT, NEVER STATING WHEN OR HOW LONG, BUT LEADING SENIORS TO BELIEVE IT WAS BEING SHUT OFF.
THEN, AS RESIDENTS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TOLD BY PG AND E THAT THE ELECTRICITY WOULD BE OFF ONLY ON FEBRUARY 1ST FROM 8:30 AM TO NOON, SENIOR CITIZENS WERE FRIGHTENED.
IT'S NOT JUST THE LOSS OF FOOD, BUT SOME RESIDENTS ON LIFE SAVING ELECTRICAL MACHINERY THAT MATTERED.
IF THAT WAS SHUT OFF ONCE AGAIN, IN TALKING TO THE INSPECTORS ON SATURDAY, MANAGEMENT KNEW THERE WOULD BE NO POWER OUTAGE ON SATURDAY, AS THEY WERE ONLY PREPARING THE AREA WITH HEAVY MACHINERY FOR THE FEBRUARY 1ST, SHUTOFF AND REPLACEMENT MANAGEMENT KNEW AND FRIGHTENED THE RESIDENTS ANYWAY.
LATER, MANAGEMENT WOULD CLAIM THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED THE INFORMATION FROM FAKE PG AND E PEOPLE.
THIS IS JUST A SUMMATION OF ONE DAY IN RESIDENCE LIFE AT YOUNGSTOWN NOW.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEB VITALE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY JANICE BARKER.
ANNA, ON A MORE HOPEFUL NOTE, THE RESIDENTS OF YOUNGSTOWN WON THEIR STAY ON THE AWARD INCREASE OF TWO THOU $248 THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING EACH MONTH SINCE OCTOBER, WHICH INCLUDED ATTORNEY FEES UNTIL THE APPEAL WAS HEARD APRIL 4TH.
THIS STAY HEARING TOOK THREE MONTHS LONGER THAN IT SHOULD AND MORE ATTORNEY FEES SINCE THE EXPIRY, UM, EMOTION TO STAY WAS BURIED WHEN THE PARK OWNERS CHOSE TO MERGE CASES AFTER, UH, PREPARATORY, UM, CHALLENGES.
THE AFTERNOON BEFORE OUR HEARING IN DECEMBER, 1500 MORE HARD EARNED MONEY HAD BEEN USED TO REDO THE MOTION AFTER ALREADY PAYING FOR THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
HOPE IS HOWEVER FELT AS A JUDGE STATED THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE APPEAL WARRANT THE STAY.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR NOW, THE RESIDENTS CAN BUY FOOD AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WITHOUT WORRYING THAT THEY WILL LOSE THEIR OWN HOME IF THEY DIDN'T PUT THE MONEY TOWARDS THE INCREASED GROUND RENT.
LITTLE WOOD RESIDENTS, ASIDE FROM HAVING TO PARK AWAY TO RETURN THEIR TO THEIR HOME EACH DAY AND NIGHT, ARE FACED WITH A BAD ACTOR PARK OWNER TAKING PARKING AWAY WHILE THEIR CARS SIT RIGHT AT THE PARKING SPOT.
THEY ARE USING RESIDENCE EXPRESSION
I GUESS I'LL JUST STOP RIGHT THERE.
THANK YOU, JANICE BARKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY TIM PORTUS.
UH, USING RESIDENCE THAT HAVE THREE PARKING SPACES TO BUY MOORE AND TAKE AWAY PARKING FOR RESIDENTS ONLY HAD WHO ONLY HAD THAT SPOT.
MANIPULATION USING RESIDENTS AGAINST RESIDENTS HAS BEEN, THAT HAVE BEEN ATTACKED IN EVERY WAY.
BEING USED TO CONTROL AND TAKE MORE ON A DAILY BASIS IS THEIR TACTIC.
DIVIDE THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE STANDING UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME, THESE LITTLE WOODS RESIDENTS HAVE TO PULL TOGETHER MONEY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT THE FIRST APPEAL, JUST TO MAKE SURE THEIR BEST INTERESTS ARE MONITORED.
WHEN HARMONY, WHEN HARMONY WAS DENIED THE ADDITIONAL $1,530 IN GROUND RENT, THEY WERE DENIED FROM THE ARBITRATOR RESIDENTS AT LITTLE WOODS SEE EVERY DAY, FROM FENCING TO BULLYING TO THE DISREGARD FOR THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH THAT IN PARK OWNERS' MINDS, THERE IS NO REGARD FOR RESIDENTS
[00:15:01]
WHO OWN THEIR MOBILE HOMES A HOME WITH WITHIN THEIR MEANS, BUT INSTEAD TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THEM.IT IS DAUNTING TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY WONDERING WHAT IS NEXT WHEN PARK OWNERS CONTINUE TO BREAK THE LAW AND ORDINANCES.
BUT RESIDENTS MUST OBEY ALL LAWS AND ORDINANCE, EVEN THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS RULES.
THERE'S CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE UNBALANCED DISREGARD FOR RESIDENTS AT CAPRI, IT'S THE SAME AS AT LITTLEWOODS.
THEY FACE CHALLENGES OF PARKING DAILY.
FATHERS WONDERING IF THEIR DAUGHTERS ARE SAFE COMING HOME LATE AND WALKING SUCH A DISTANCE WITH SEVERE ARTHRITIS.
THE DAUNTING RED FIRE LANES THAT IF YOUR CAR STICKS OUT FROM YOUR CARPORT, EVEN AN INCH, YOU WILL BE TOWED, STILL HAVING TO PAY MORE MONEY THAN OWED EACH.
THANK YOU TIM PORTUS TO BE FOLLOWED BY CHRIS PARKER.
COUNSEL EACH THEN OWED EACH MONTH AND STILL WONDERING WHAT IS INDEX FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.
THE DISRUPTION OF EACH OF THESE RESIDENTS LIES HAVE BROUGHT ON DEPRESSION, STRESS, AND OUTRIGHT FEAR.
HERE IS HOWEVER, WHERE HOPE CAN COME IN.
WE, AS A COMMUNITY OF PETALUMA MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS FORMED A SUPER CHAPTER OF G-S-M-O-L AND AT OUR FIRST MEETING, A MEETING SPACE DONATED BY PETALUMA HEALTH CENTER WELCOMED 140 RESIDENTS FOR A NIGHT OF SOLIDARITY INFORMATION AND WELFARE CHECKS.
IT WAS HUMBLING TO SEE THAT THROUGH FEAR, RETALIATION, AND HARM, THAT LOVE, EMPATHY, AND HOPE ARE STILL POWERFUL.
IN ADDITION, WE HAD OUR FIRST ROUND TABLE OF HARMONY OWNED PARK RESIDENTS FROM ALL OVER CALIFORNIA JOINING IN A TELECONFERENCE GATHERING INFORMATION OF ALL THAT WAS HAPPENING IN EACH PARK.
THE LIST WAS ENDLESS OF ODIOUS EGREGIOUS TRAPS ACTS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE VOICES NOW ALL OVER THE STATE.
FROM SAN DIEGO TO WATSONVILLE, TO ALAMEDA COUNTY, TO SAN LUIS OB BIPO ALL FOUND THEIR WAY TO PETALUMA AND HOW PETALUMA CONNECTED EACH OF THEM TO ALL OF US.
WHY DID ANY OF THIS HAPPEN? IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THIS FAMILY OF PETALUMA MOBIL PARK RESIDENTS STOOD UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS, STOOD, STOOD UP AGAINST RETALIATION AND FEAR, NEVER EASY AND CONTINUED TO SEEK THAT, THAT THEY RIGHTFULLY DESERVED.
WE CLOSE WITH A STORY THAT MATTERS ON DECEMBER 18TH, AFTER MONTHS OF LEAVING FOOD ON RESIDENT STEPS IN YOUNGSTOWN, AND KNOWING THIS RESIDENT HAD BEEN GETTING MEALS ON WHEELS FROM INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS AT HER DOOR EVERY DAY, 365 DAYS, A RESIDENT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TALK THIS ISOLATED RESIDENT INTO LETTING HER IN TO BRING FOOD AND WATER AND MORE.
THE RESIDENT MADE TWO PROMISE THAT SHE WOULD NOT LET ANYONE ELSE IN AS THIS RESIDENT IN NEED KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SHE DID.
THIS RESIDENT HAD NEVER LET ANYONE IN FOR YEARS.
THANK YOU CHRIS PARKER, TO BE FOLLOWED BY JOHN O'BRIEN.
ONCE WE GAINED ENTRY, WE KNEW THAT THIS RESIDENT NEEDED MAJOR HELP.
THE RESIDENT'S LIFE WAS SAVED ONLY BECAUSE THIS RESIDENT FINALLY AGREED TO LET US IN.
A VOICEMAIL WAS LEFT FOR REBUILDING TOGETHER AT 1:00 AM IN THE MORNING THAT NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING AS THE HOSPITAL WAS SAVING THIS RESIDENT'S LIFE, REBUILDING TOGETHER BEGAN THE HARDEST WORK I BELIEVE THEY HAVE EVER DONE.
EVERY WORKER, EVERY PERSON AFFILIATED WITH REBUILDING TOGETHER DID WHAT HAD TO BE DONE TO SAVE THIS HOME AND ALLOW A RESIDENT TO COME HOME AND NOT BECOME HOMELESS.
THEY ARE MAKING THIS HOME HABITABLE HEALTHY AND IMPORTANTLY SAFE.
THESE ANGELS ARE THE BEST OF HUMANITY, THE BEST OF PETALUMA AND HUMBLY DO THEIR WORK WITH LITTLE FANFARE.
RESIDENTS IN OUR MOBILE HOMES, ESPECIALLY THE VULNERABLE, ARE SURVIVING AND SOMETIMES EVEN THRIVING BECAUSE OF PETALUMA PEOPLE SERVICES REBUILDING TOGETHER.
AND THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF PETALUMA SEES THAT EVERY RESIDENT SEES EVERY RESIDENT AS EQUAL AND IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY.
IT REMINDS US ALL THAT IF WE SENSE NEED, WE HAVE TO TAKE THE HARD STEPS TO HELP.
NEVER EASY, BUT IT WILL SAVE LIVES.
NO ONE SHOULD BE LIVING LIKE THIS EVER.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT RIGHT WILL SHINE BRIGHTLY.
WE ARE PROUD TO SAY WE ARE ADVOCATES FOR OURSELVES.
[00:20:01]
WE ARE PETALUMA MOBILE RESIDENTS STRONG.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN O'BRIEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY DARREN ZEN.
I'M AN ADVISOR TO RICK HESS, UM, WHO IS A MEMBER OF UM, YOUNGSTOWN.
AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS ON THE STOCK MARKET PROGRAMMING, BUY SELL STOCKS BACK IN NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE.
IF YOU WENT TO YOUR BROKER AND SAID, I WANNA BUY T-BILLS AT FIVE SOME PERCENT, HE'D SAY, WELL, WHERE'S YOUR MONEY? OKAY.
HE SAID, WELL, I WANT TO RUN OUT AND I WANT TO BORROW A BUNCH OF MONEY AT 12% AND BUY THE T-BILLS.
AND I WANT THE LAW AND THE COURT AND ALL THE PEOPLE TO SAY, OH YEAH, WE'RE GONNA ENFORCE YOU TO MAKE 11% ON THE MONEY YOU BORROW.
THAT WOULDN'T FLY IN WALL STREET.
I KNOW ALL THE EXPRESSIONS, NAKED SHORTS AND, UH, A DEAD, EVEN A DEAD CAT BOUNCES.
SO HOW MUCH MONEY IS YOUR MONEY AND HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU RUN OUT AND, AND BORROW AT A BIG FEE AND ADD 'EM TOGETHER AND SAY, I WANT TO MAKE 11% ON MY MONEY, OR I'LL JUST BUY T-BILLS.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.
THEN ANOTHER ISSUE IS I HAVE A WATER WELL, CITY WATER WELL ON MY PROPERTY.
I RAISED THREE CHILDREN AND THEY'RE, I'M A SINGLE PARENT.
I TOLD THEM ALL THAT THEY EACH OWN ONE FOURTH OF THE HOUSE.
SO THEY SAID, DAD, AT AFTER 25 WALK AWAY.
WE DON'T CARE IF WE LOSE THE HOUSE, WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOU.
I SAID, WELL, I ONLY OWN WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THE TWO DOCTORS AND ONE AIRCRAFT, METALS MAKER WHEN I RENTED, I SAID, DON'T WORRY, I'M GONNA BORROW OFF OF YOUR ONE FOURTH OF THE HOUSE TO GET YOU THROUGH COLLEGE.
AND THEY NEVER DOUBLE CHECKED ME ON THAT
ANYWAY, I NEGOTIATED RECENTLY WITH THE EXECUTIVE, UH, CHIEF OF POLLY KLOSS, UH, AGENCY, AND SHE TOLD ME WHAT SHE HAD TO HAVE IN ORDER TO ALLOW ME TO DONATE MY ONE FOURTH OF THE HOUSE.
AND SO SHE SAYS, WELL, WITH THAT KIND OF STUFF, THAT HAS TO BE FIXED AND THEN WE CAN TALK.
SO I'M TALKING WITH A LADY NAMED A RAINEY AND SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF POLLY.
THANK YOU AGAIN, A CASE WHERE THE COMMENTS CAN BE PROVIDED TO OUR CLERK AND SHE WILL DISTRIBUTE THE REST OF THE COMMENT TO US.
UH, DARREN RACK IN TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANGELA CRUZ.
BRIAN O. MAY HAVE SUMMED UP MY COMMENT, UH, WHEN HE WAS WALKING TO SIT DOWN, HE SAID, I THINK YOU'RE GETTING BORED WITHOUT PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO BRING UP.
UH, PLANNING COMMISSION HASN'T HAD A MEETING SINCE OCTOBER, AND I KNOW WE HAVEN'T HAD PROJECTS COME FORWARD.
THE CITY DOESN'T NECESSARILY CONTROL THAT.
SO I WANTED TO PLANT A SEED FOR SOME IDEAS OF TOPICS TO COVER, INCLUDING ONE I'M PARTICULARLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME IDEA ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO START ALMOST KIND OF TRAININGS FOR PLANNING COMMISSIONERS GOING OVER BIG TOPICS LIKE CQA, LIKE SPAR REVIEW.
I THINK WE GOT THROUGH ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS ON CQA AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE POWER WENT OUT.
UH, AND WE NEVER RETURNED TO THE IDEA, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD A LOT OF MERIT, ESPECIALLY AS WE HAVE NEW COMMISSIONERS ON BOARD.
UH, I ALSO THINK THERE COULD BE A LOT OF TOPICS TO COVER WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERAL PLAN AND THOSE VARIOUS UPDATES THAT ARE ONGOING.
YOU KNOW, GPAC IS MEETING, I PERSONALLY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO GPAC MEETINGS, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PLANNING COMMISSIONERS TO BE KIND OF APPRISED OF THE DISCUSSIONS HAPPENING AND STAY ABREAST OF THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE GENERAL PLAN.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE TREE, UH, PRESERVATION ORDINANCE.
UH, SO I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF TREE COMMITTEE AND TREE COMMITTEE GAVE OUR FINAL FEEDBACK ON THAT SOMETIME IN THE EARLY SUMMER.
UH, SO I BELIEVE BACK IN JUNE OR JULY.
AND IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE GOT A RESPONSE FROM OUR, OUR STAFF LIAISON THAT IT'S CURRENTLY WAITING TO COME BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE TPO COME FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME FOR COMMISSIONERS WHO AREN'T, YOU KNOW, TREE PEOPLE TO GET THEIR HEADS WRAPPED AROUND IT A LITTLE BIT, SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'RE TACKLING.
AND I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY BETWEEN THOSE IDEAS, SOMETHING IN THERE FOR A MEETING, ESPECIALLY FOR THAT TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE TO START DEALING WITH SOME OF THOSE BIG TOPICS.
'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S BEEN A COUNCIL PRIORITY IN THE PAST AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ENDLESSLY TOLD OR ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TREE REMOVALS AND I THINK A LOT OF THEM GET ANSWERED BY THE TPO.
SO I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT COME BEFORE PLANNING AND MOVE FORWARD.
ANGELA CRUZ AND THEN SANDRA SHAN.
[00:25:01]
LIVE AT LITTLE WOODS MOBILE HOME PARK WITH A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS HERE, AS WELL AS THE OTHER MOBILE HOME PARKS THAT ARE HERE.UM, I DITTO EVERYTHING THAT THE OTHER RESIDENTS SAID FOR THE LETTER, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE APPEAL AT LITTLE WOODS IS GOING THROUGH.
UM, SO WE HAD OUR FIRST ARBITRATION LAST APRIL.
THAT'S WHAT'S GETTING APPEALED RIGHT NOW.
AND WE RECENTLY JUST HAD A SECOND ARBITRATION FOR THE EXACT SAME THING.
BOTH OF THOSE ARBITRATIONS LED TO A ZERO AWARD, BUT THAT DIDN'T MEAN RIGHT, THAT RESIDENTS DIDN'T HAVE TO GATHER TIME AND RESOURCES, GET AN ATTORNEY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
UM, AND IT'S JUST CONTINUOUS, NONSTOP.
IT FEELS LIKE CONTINUOUS, NONSTOP LEGAL, UM, DIFFICULTIES AND TROUBLES AS WELL AS EMOTIONAL AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR PARKS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT RESIDENTS HAVE TO COME UP WITH THIS MONEY AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, BUT IF WE DON'T, WE DON'T GET REPRESENTED.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY HEAVY ON ALL OF US RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THEN SOME OTHER STUFF THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WAS, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THAT PHONE CALL THROUGH G-S-M-O-L WAS ALL THE PASS THROUGHS.
SO FROM EVERYWHERE IN CALIFORNIA WHERE HARMONY HAS PARKS, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY CONTINUOUSLY JUST MAKE PASS THROUGHS AND CONTINUE TO CHARGE THE RESIDENTS FOR THINGS.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD A PASS THROUGH ON MY RENT EVERY MONTH FOR WHAT? I'M NOT SURE, BUT IT'S JUST BEEN THERE.
SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FEE THAT WE JUST HAD TO PAY, NOT KNOWING THAT THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A REASON FOR IT.
UM, AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO TO HELP THE MOBILE HOME PARKS.
IT'S REALLY APPRECIATED AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO I WANTED TO APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
AND, AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS SANDRA SHAN.
I MOVED TO PETALUMA ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRAGIC KIDNAPPING OF POLY CLASS AND WAS ONE OF THOSE PASSING OUT FLYERS.
OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY WAS UNITED IN CONCERN FOR THIS CHILD.
WHAT I DIDN'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT WAS A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE, ANOTHER MURDERED CHILD FROM OUR COMMUNITY, KIDNAPPED AND MURDERED NAMED GEORGIA MOSES, BUT SHE WAS BLACK AND LOW INCOME, AND I HEARD AN AREA WORD.
SO I REALLY WANNA COMMEND YOU FOR THE MEMORIAL TO GEORGIA MOSES OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO THE IDEAL THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN MATTER.
AND GEORGIA MOSES FEELS SPECIAL TO ME BECAUSE I LEARNED NOT LONG AFTER WHEN ONE OF MY LONGTIME STUDENTS VISITED ME FOR AN APPOINTMENT, SHE BROUGHT HER DAUGHTER WITH HER, WHO OFTEN CAME WITH HER.
AND IT TURNS OUT HER DAUGHTER, THAT LITTLE GIRL OFTEN IN MY OFFICE WAS GEORGIA MOSES' BEST FRIEND, AND THE TRAGIC FEELINGS SHE HAD AFTER THAT HAPPENED AS ANOTHER BLACK CHILD.
UM, I WANNA REMIND US THAT THIS IDEAL MEANS THAT A PALESTINIAN CHILD SHOULD MATTER JUST AS MUCH AS A JEWISH CHILD.
AND TO REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK INTEGRITY OF THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION AND REMIND YOU OF WHAT THE CATHOLIC PRIEST SAID IN NAZI GERMANY.
FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE TRADE UNIONISTS, BUT I DIDN'T SPEAK UP.
AND THEN THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS, BUT I DIDN'T SPEAK UP.
AND SOON THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT TO SPEAK UP.
OUR FASCIST GOVERNMENT IS COMING FOR THE IMMIGRANTS, AND LET'S SPEAK UP FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN PETALUMA.
UH, THAT CLOSES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE EVENING AND, UM, LIKE TO BRING IT BACK UP
[COUNCIL COMMENT]
TO COUNCIL FOR COUNCIL COMMENTS FOR THE EVENING.UM, SOMETIMES WE TEND TO BE A LITTLE LONG, UH, IN OUR, UH, COMMENTS.
THE COMMENTS COVER OUR STAFF LIAISON AND OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS WE WISH TO COMMUNICATE TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE PUBLIC.
AND, UH, TONIGHT I'M GONNA ASK THE CLERK TO, UH, HELP KEEP US ON TARGET BY SETTING OUR CLOCK AT THREE MINUTES PER COUNCIL PERSON.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO START WITH OUR VICE MAYOR.
I THINK I CAN MAKE IT EVEN SHORTER.
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED MY FIRST PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING.
ELISE HEMPEL OF THE PETA PEOPLE SERVICE CENTER,
[00:30:01]
PRESENTED AN UPDATE ON OUR CITY SUCCESSFUL SAFE TEAM PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH THE PETA PEOPLE SERVICE, PETALUMA PEOPLE, PETALUMA POLICE DEPARTMENT.OUR CITY AND THE PETA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN MODELS FOR OTHER CITIES AND WAS RECENTLY INTERVIEWED BY THAT LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE SAFE TEAM IS COMING UP ON THE FIFTH YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM THAT BEGAN OUT OF A CRISIS SITUATION IN 2020 IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IS NOW 24 7 IN THE CITY OF PETALUMA EXPANDING TO CATADI RUNNER PARK, SAN RAFAEL AND SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO THE PAST CITY COUNCIL STAFF, PETALUMA POLICE DEPARTMENT, PETALUMA PEOPLE SERVICE CENTER FOR MAKING THE SAFE TEAM AN ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THE CITY ATTORNEY STAFF EXPLAINED AT THE MEETING OUR FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST GUIDELINES.
NEXT MONTH, WE'LL HEAR A DRAFT PRESENTATION OF THE 2024 PETALUMA POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE POLICE CHIEF STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PETA POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A VERY EDUCATIONAL DAY.
I PARTICIPATED IN, AT THE POLICE STATION ON THE CHAMBERS LEADERSHIP DAY.
I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT OUR DEDICATED POLICE FORCE AND THE SUPPORTING STAFF, EVEN GOT SOME GREAT SWAG, SO YOU MIGHT WANNA BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBERS LEADERSHIP CLASS NEXT YEAR.
AND YESTERDAY I WAS HONORED TO READ A PROCLAMATION TO THE ST.
VINCENT'S HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPION FOOTBALL TEAM AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE THAT HONORED THEM AND THE GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL TEAM.
I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL THAT OUR SAFE MODEL IS, UH, NOW, UH, FRANCHISED OUT TO RUNNER PARK AND TO NOVATO.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A GREAT STAGE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY, UM, LIAISON REPORTS.
I WAS UNABLE TO GO TO MY LAST, UM, GSA MEETING AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHRI WAS THERE FOR ME.
UM, BUT I'M GOING TO, UM, A CONFERENCE ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, QUIN AND DI CARLY WE'RE GOING DOWN TO ANAHEIM AND IT'S FOR THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES.
IT'S, UM, PRIMARILY FOR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS JUST TO LEARN THE LAWS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD CONFERENCE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, GET AN UPDATE ON THE POOL BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT, UM, THAT THE WORK HAS NOT STARTED.
SO I'D LIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT IF WE CAN GET THAT.
UM, AND AS FAR AS, UM, I APPRECIATE WHAT, UM, COMMISSIONER KUSON SAID, BUT THERE WAS, UM, A CA WORKSHOP AT SONOMA STATE AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT SHOWED UP.
NO, NO OTHER PLANNING COMMISSIONER SHOWED UP.
AND IT WAS REALLY PRETTY VALUABLE.
AND I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S JOB IS.
AND SO THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA.
IF, IF PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA GO TO THE CONFERENCES, THEN MAYBE WE NEED TO BRING IT IN HOUSE.
UM, AND AS FAR AS THERE WAS AN EVENT ON FENTANYL, THERE WAS ACTUALLY THREE EVENTS, AND I BELIEVE ONE IS COMING UP, BUT IT'S REALLY LEARNING ABOUT FENTANYL, HEARING PARENTS' HEARTBREAK, TRAGEDY OF LOSING THEIR CHILD, UM, AND ALSO THEIR FRIENDS THAT THEY LOST.
UM, AND SO IT WAS PRETTY, PRETTY INFORMATIVE.
AND THERE WAS AN EVENT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS AND I BELIEVE 500 PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
I PLANNED ON GOING, BUT MY HUSBAND HAD THE CREEPY FRONT AND I DIDN'T WANNA GIVE IT TO ANYBODY ELSE.
UM, SO THAT WAS, IT'S PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.
SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE FAIRGROUNDS AND HOW THEY'RE BEING UTILIZED TO DATE, AND IT'S ONLY GONNA GET BETTER.
AND I THINK THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
UM, I ATTENDED, UH, THE CTE, UM, CAREER TECHNICAL EDGE EDUCATION, UH, ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, UH, IT WAS A SORT OF AN AD HOC GROUP PULLED TOGETHER BY, UM, PETALUMA CITY SCHOOLS AND AT THE REBUILDING TOGETHER OFFICE.
SO AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO REBUILDING TOGETHER.
UM, AND WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT CTE PROGRAMS THAT, UM, PETALUMA CITY SCHOOLS IS OFFERING, WHICH IS, THERE ARE NUMEROUS OF THEM.
UM, AND THERE'S A NEW ONE COMING OUT THAT'S GONNA, UM, BE INVOLVING OUR, UM, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, OUR POLICE CHIEF AND DEPUTY CHIEF WERE THERE.
AND, UM, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR, UH, BUSINESSES THAT ARE, UM, INTERESTED IN, UM, PROVIDING INTERNSHIP, UH, INTERNSHIPS TO, UM, IN DIFFERENT, UM, DIFFERENT CAREER TRACKS FROM HOSPITALITY TO, UM, TO HEALTHCARE, TO AI TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
SO, UM, IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, UM, HAS A BUSINESS AND THEY'RE BE INTERESTED IN HOSTING AN INTERN, UM,
[00:35:01]
PLEASE REACH OUT TO PLUMA CITY SCHOOLS CTE PROGRAM.UM, AND THEN I'LL JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UM, THE PETALUMA BLACKS FAIR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR LIKE 47 YEARS, AND EVERY YEAR THEY DO A KILLER JOB OF, UM, HOSTING A BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAM FOR OUR CITY.
UM, THIS COUPLE OF KEY DATES, UH, FEBRUARY 7TH, UM, AT THE POLY CLASS THEATER.
ACROSS THE STREET HERE IS THE OPENING CONCERT.
UM, AND THEN THE, UM, MAIN EXHIBIT OPENS ON FEBRUARY 13TH AT THE PETALUMA HISTORIC MUSEUM AND LIBRARY.
SO I HAVE, UH, NO LIAISON REPORTS TONIGHT.
UM, PROBABLY HAVE SOME OF THOSE SOON.
BUT, UM, KINDA LIKE, UH, SIMILAR QUESTIONS TO WHAT JANICE SAID.
I GUESS WE'RE ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH TONIGHT, BUT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION AS TO WHY THE POOL REMODEL IS, IS NOT UNDERWAY AND, AND WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE PROCESS WITH THAT.
UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO ADDRESS, UH, COMMISSIONER RAKUTEN'S COMMENT.
UM, IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS NOW, ROUGHLY SINCE WE'VE HAD A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.
I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NOT MUCH TO TALK ABOUT OR DISCUSS OR TO DO.
AND, AND I THINK THAT, UM, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY THAT A PLANNING COMMISSIONER HAS TO COME UP AND BEG FOR WORK WHEN USUALLY THEY'RE LIKE, PLEASE NO MORE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE GREAT TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, AS KAREN SAID, THE ST.
VINCENT MUSTANGS, THEY WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THEIR DIVISION.
UH, AND THAT'S A REALLY HUGE THING FOR SUCH A SMALL SCHOOL AND, AND A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I WENT TO THAT TOO AND ATTENDED.
THEY HAD A VERY NICE PARADE AND, UM, THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR HELP PAYING FOR THE, UM, POLICE SERVICES TO HELP GUIDE THAT PARADE AND MAKE SURE NOTHING HAPPENED.
AND THEN, UM, AND THEN AS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN CATER SAID, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER QUINT, HER AND I WILL BE GOING TO THE MAYORS AND COUNCIL ACADEMY THIS WEEK, AND I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF GREAT STUFF TO TALK ABOUT NEXT WEEK.
OH, AND, UH, APPARENTLY TOO, THE ST.
VINCENT CHEER SQUAD ALSO WON THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP.
SO, VOLLEYBALL, WAS IT VOLLEYBALL OR, THAT WAS CHEER SQUAD.
AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER QUINN.
UH, ON THE 21ST, I, UH, I ATTENDED OUR TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, WHERE WE SAW A PRESENTATION ON THE BLUEPRINT FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND HOW IT OVERLAY, HOW IT OVERLAPS WITH TRANSIT.
WE ALSO HAD A PRESENTATION ON THE SYSTEM THAT THE CITY USES, UH, TO KEEP TRACK AND MAINTAIN THE CITY'S VAST ARRAY OF BUS STOPS.
SO THAT'S VERY, UH, FOR, UH, FOR A TRANSIT GUY LIKE ME.
I WAS KIND OF NERDED OUT ON THAT.
UM, WE ALSO HAD THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OFFICERS.
AND, UM, AGAIN, JUST SOME INTERESTING STATS FOR LUMA GO.
AS OF DECEMBER, UH, LUMA GO HAS COMPLETED 5,349, UH, RIDES.
UH, 85% OF THE RIDE REQUESTS ARE, ARE MET WITH THE PROPOSAL.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY AVERAGING 3.9 PASSENGERS PER HOUR, AND THEY'RE ACHIEVING A 4.9 RATING AVERAGE.
UH, ON THE FIXED ROUTE SIDE, THE CITY HAS HAS SEEN, UH, GREAT, A GREAT INCREASE, UM, UH, IN RIDERSHIP.
UH, CURRENTLY FISCAL YEAR 2024 IS 22% ABOVE, UH, THE PRIOR YEAR.
UM, SO 2024 GOES THROUGH TO THE NEXT SUMMER.
AND, UH, UH, THEY'RE CURRENTLY AT 90% OF PRE COVID RIDERS AND EXPECT TO REACH, UH, UM, THAT SAME LEVEL, UH, PRE COVID RIDERSHIP.
BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, UH, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ADULT RIDERSHIP.
SINCE THE ELIMINATION OF FAIRES ON THE, UH, REDWOOD BIKE SHARE PROGRAM HAS GOTTEN OFF TO A GREAT START.
UH, SAN RAFAEL AND PETALUMA ARE THE MOST ACTIVE CITIES WITH PETALUMA SHOWING THE HIGHEST USAGE.
UH, CURRENTLY PETALUMA HAS 40 BIKES.
UH, THERE'S BEEN OVER 400 TRIPS TOTALING 151 HOURS.
UM, ON THE 17TH, I TOURED THE PETALUMA AIRPORT TO BETTER FAMILIARIZE MYSELF AT THE AIRPORT OPERATIONS ON THE 13TH AND 14TH, UH, MR. DI CARLY AND I, UH, WERE HERE FOR TWO FULL HALF DAYS, MEETING WITH THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY'S NEW COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP ACADEMY.
AND ON THE FOURTH, I TOURED LAFFERTY PARK WITH, UH, MEMBERS FROM THE FRIENDS OF LAFFERTY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS, UH, GEM OF AN OPEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE.
AND IT IS A GEM COUNCIL MEMBER, SCH SHRIMPS.
UM, THAT RECEIVED A LETTER, UH, OF CONCERN ABOUT THE, UH, UH, ROUNDABOUTS, UH, AROUND FIFTH STREET.
AND I WENT IN AND OBSERVED, UM, TOOK A HALF HOUR AND SAT DOWN, TOOK PICTURES, OBSERVED THINGS GOING ON, AND, UM, DEFINITELY THERE'S THE ROUNDABOUTS.
I'M A BELIEVER IN ROUNDABOUTS WITH BICYCLING AND CARS.
THE ONLY CONCERN THAT WAS, IS THAT THE FOLKS
[00:40:01]
ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROUNDABOUTS WAY TOO FAST, IS WHAT I'VE NOTICED, ESPECIALLY ON I STREET FOLKS ARE TRAVELING THROUGH AT 25, 30 MILES AN HOUR.AND ROUNDABOUTS ARE ONLY SUPPOSED TO GET 15 MILES AN HOUR MAX.
SO THIS IS A REMINDER, IF YOU'RE TRAVELING I STREET, PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS.
UM, AND FOR YOURSELVES, UH, PLEASE GO SLOW THROUGH THE ROUNDABOUTS.
YOU'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO GO 15 MILES AN HOUR, NOT THE 20, 30 MILES AN HOUR THAT I'VE OBSERVED OUT THERE.
UM, THEN THE, UH, UH, THEN THERE WAS A LITTLE DISCUSSION, AUS CAFE ON, UH, RANKED VOTING.
AND, UH, UH, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
WE NEED TO MAYBE INVESTIGATE THAT.
A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE THERE, PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS, AND IT'S, UH, UH, RATHER THAN JUST STRAIGHT, UH, ONE ON VOTING, BUT THAT MAY TAKE A, A CHANGE IN, IN, IN, UH, UM, IN SOME, SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER DOWN THE ROAD HERE.
UM, I, I WENT HEAD TO THE, UH, GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY MEETING.
UM, UM, AND SO THAT WAS ALL THEY'RE DOING REALLY WELL, ACTUALLY, AS FAR AS, UH, THEIR PROCESSES, WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEIR PLANS, UH, GOING FORTH, WORKING WITH THE OTHER, UH, VALLEYS.
WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS AN OUTREACH TO ALL THE FOLKS OUT THERE.
UH, THEY HAVE A FREE METERS BEING OFFERED, EVEN INSTALLATION, WHICH IS LIKE $4,000 PER METER TO BE INSTALLED IN THE GROUNDWATER.
AND SO THEY'RE OFFERING A FEW, A FEW OF THOSE.
UH, AND THEY'RE GETTING THEM PLACED AROUND SO THAT WE DO A BETTER JOB OF, OF MONITORING WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR GROUNDWATER.
REALLY CRITICAL FOR, UM, OUR WATER SOURCE IN THE FUTURE.
SO ANYWAY, BUT THAT'S GOING REALLY WELL.
THERE'S A HUGE OUTREACH PROGRAM GOING NOW, UH, AT THE NORTH BAY WATERSHED ASSOCIATION.
I PARTICIPATED IN THE SMALL GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE, AND ALSO THAT CAME UP FOR MAJOR DISCUSSION.
UM, SO THERE'S GONNA BE A BE ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR SMALL GRANTS AND EVEN FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR, UM, UH, STUDENTS, UH, GOING TO SCHOOL, UM, WHETHER EVEN MOVING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE OR IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE, OR JUST, UH, WORKERS GETTING TRAINING.
SO THAT'S A PROGRAM HOPEFULLY GONNA BE AVAILABLE HOPEFULLY BY JUNE IN THE CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE.
UM, WE'RE WORKING ON IMPLEMENTATION.
UH, SO WE'RE HAVE AD HOC COMMITTEES THAT ARE MEETING TOGETHER AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST AND MOST ADVANTAGEOUS, BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK IMPLEMENTATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WE CAN TAKE ACTION THIS YEAR.
SO, UM, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.
THERE'S SEVERAL, THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES OF, UH, TRYING TO GENERATE THOSE IDEAS.
PETALUMA, UH, IS HAS A NEW THING COMING UP, WHICH IS THEIR BOOK CLUB.
AND SO THEY'RE GET, THEY'VE, UH, GRABBED THE BOOK CALLED WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT, WAS IF WE DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS, WHICH IS A LOT ABOUT, UM, A VISION ABOUT, UM, OUR CLIMATE FUTURE AND ABOUT BEHAVIOR CHANGES AND THE WAY WE, OUR WHOLE CULTURE HAS TO CHANGE AND SHIFT.
BUT ANYWAY, THERE'S GONNA BE FOUR SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS BROKEN OUT ON THAT.
UH, JUST A POINT OF CLARITY THAT GROUNDWATER WAS, UH, METERS FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMIT, RIGHT.
UH, THERE WERE, THERE WAS ONE OR TWO ALREADY DONE IN THE CITY.
UM, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ONES DOWN SOUTH, UH, UH, DOWN, DOWN RIVER AND, AND TO, TO BE PICKED UP.
SO THAT'S WHERE THERE'S NEEDED, THEY NEED EIGHT, ABOUT EIGHT FROM THAT LOCATION OUT THERE TO DO A BETTER JOB.
UM, AND FOR, FOR MY PART, I DID WANT TO, UM, RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE MOBILE HOME, UH, PARK SPEAKERS WHO ARE HERE AND REMIND YOU THAT THE CITY IS STILL DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO SUPPORT, UH, YOU AND, AND IN, IN THIS TIME OF, UH, NEED.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, ALL THE TRAGIC FIRES IN LA.
I MEAN, CERTAINLY WE CAN RELATE TO, UH, WHAT WAS GOING ON DOWN THERE AND, AND TAKE LESSONS EVEN FROM THAT EXPERIENCE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS AN APPRECIATION FOR OUR CITY FIREFIGHTERS WHO WERE ASSIGNED TO DOWN THERE AND SHIPPED AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES TO WORK IN THAT, UH, DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT.
AND, UM, PIVOTING, UM, THE SMART STATION HAS OPENED AT CORONA ROAD.
PERHAPS MANY OF YOU WERE THERE.
AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING FOR OUR CITY.
UH, NOT ONLY FOR ITS TRANSIT CAPACITY, BUT ALSO IT'S HELPING UNLOCK AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT AT THAT AREA.
AND, AND I THINK WE'RE MOVING REALLY WELL ON, ON THAT PIECE CALLED THE MERIDIAN.
AND, UM, WE, WE HAVE RECENTLY HAD SONOMA COUNTY MAYORS AND COUNCILS ALL GET TOGETHER AND, UH, TALK ABOUT CERTAIN IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL ISSUES.
AND RIGHT NOW, THE SENSE IS THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL ISSUES IS, UM, OUR IMMIGRATION CHALLENGES, UH, DEPORTATION, ET CETERA.
AND, UM, I THINK WE'LL BE SEEING A LOT MORE OF THAT COME FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL.
UH, PERHAPS EVEN TAKING A STAND SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO WHAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF, UH, SUPERVISORS HAS RECENTLY DONE, OR WHAT OUR, UH, COUNTYWIDE POLICE CHIEFS HAVE DONE AS A STATEMENT, UH, UM, OF WHERE WE ALL STAND ON ON THAT ISSUE.
UM, UH, TO, I WANNA APPRECIATE THE FENTANYL PRESENTATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, THE, UH, IT'S A, A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THING AND I'M, I'M GLAD
[00:45:01]
THAT ATTENTION IS BEING BROUGHT TO IT AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO WERE THERE AND, UM, SPEAKING IN A SPEAKING CAPACITY.AND IN THOSE WHO SHOWED US, UM, NARCAN AS, AS A, A, UH, ADDRESS OF FINDING SOMEONE IN OVERDOSE AND ARE DISTRIBUTING NARCAN SO THAT IF YOU COME ACROSS SOMEONE NEEDING IT, YOU HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR CAN HELP SOMEONE WHO DOES HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THERE.
SO, UH, CRITICAL INFORMATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND, UH, THERE WERE SEVERAL SPONSORS, A A UW, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN, UH, THE LIBRARY, UH, THE DEVIL GREGORY, UH, IS A NONPROFIT HERE IN TOWN AS WELL AS THE, UH, SACHS RESTAURANT.
I WANNA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO SACS.
UM, AND I'M GONNA RUN OUTTA TIME.
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, OUR HOMELESSNESS COALITION HAS MET SEVERAL TIMES IS MAKING PROGRESS IN OUR EFFORTS.
BUT I DID WANNA SHOUT OUT THAT, UM, THIS SITUATION AT SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY IS RIPPLING INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S, UH, DI REALLY A CHALLENGE FOR WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
AND I THINK THAT I HAVE RECEIVED MORE EMAILS ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION AND, UH, REQUESTING US TO INTERVENE AND HELP THAN I HAVE FOR ANY OTHER ISSUE I'VE EVER SEEN ON COUNCIL.
SO THAT MEANS THEY HAVE A GOOD MOBILIZED GROUP, WHICH IS HOW CHANGE OCCURS.
UM, AND, AND, UH, THAT WOULD BE MY REPORT FOR THE EVENING, AND I'D LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
[CITY MANAGER COMMENT]
THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY.UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW OUR FIRE CHIEF, JUST LET ME KNOW.
THERE WAS NINE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE, UM, ASSISTED IN SOCAL AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL, UM, FOR, UM, THEIR, THEIR, UH, DEDICATION AND FOR CITY SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT.
SO, UM, TURNING BASIN DOCKS ARE CLOSED FROM JANUARY 27TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 7TH.
AND THAT IS, UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE CLOSED FOR UTILITY INSTALLATION DURING THAT TIME.
AND THEN ONCE INSTALLATIONS COMPLETE, THE DOCS WILL REOPEN TO PEDESTRIANS AND NON-MOTORIZED WATERCRAFT WITH MOTORIZED BOAT ACCESS EXPECTED SOMETIME THIS SUMMER.
UM, AND, UM, IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION TO GO TO OUR CITY WEBSITE AS CITY OF PETALUMA.ORG/TURNING BASIN, AND YOU'LL GET AN UPDATED SCHEDULE ON THAT.
ALSO, WE HAVE PLEASE JOIN US FOR LUON THIS SATURDAY FROM 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM AT THE PETALUMA COMMUNITY CENTER.
IT IS OUR COMMUNITY'S ANNUAL COMIC ART CONVENTION ORGANIZED BY A NETWORK OF LOCAL LIBRARY PROVIDERS AND HAS BEEN STEADILY GROWING IN POPULARITY SINCE 2015.
UM, IT'LL FEATURE, UH, COSTUME CONTESTS, ARTISTS, WORKSHOPS, LIVE ACTION, ROLE PLAYING EXHIBITORS.
SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME OUT, UM, TO MR. UH, COMMISSIONER REIN'S COMMENT.
YES, WE ARE VERY, UM, WE ARE PLANNING FOR A REALLY BUSY PLANNING COMMISSION YEAR.
LAST YEAR WAS FILLED AND I'M SURE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER OR VICE MAYOR CATER THOMPSON CAN ATTEST TO ALL THE SPECIAL MEETINGS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, UM, BECAUSE IT WAS A BUSY GENERAL PLAN YEAR.
UH, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE OUR TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE OR ZONING CODE PROJECT ON PBN RIVER PARK, THE HOTEL.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS COMING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO, UM, WE'VE GOT A BUSY YEAR AHEAD AND, UH, FOR OUR SWIMMING POOL.
I WAS JUST TOLD BY DIRECTOR HALTER THAT, UM, WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON OTHER PERMITTING AGENCIES TO GIVE US THE GO AHEAD.
WE ARE HOPING TO PROVIDE A NOTICE TO PROCEED THIS WEEK TO THE CONTRACTOR AND HOPEFULLY WORK WILL START WITHIN A WEEK.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH PETALUMA HIGH SCHOOL TO, UH, TALK TO THEM ABOUT UTILIZING THEIR, THEIR SWIMMING POOL AND FOR SOME LAPS SWIMS. SO FINGERS CROSSED THAT THAT WILL WORK OUT.
'CAUSE THE POOL WILL BE CLOSED FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.
SO FINGERS CROSSED THAT, UM, NOTHING ELSE INTERFERES WITH THAT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT, UM, PETALUMA HIGH SCHOOL CAN HOPEFULLY ASSIST.
UH, NOW THAT MOVES US TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR FOR THE EVENING.
AND I'M LOOKING AND, UH, I'M LOOKING AND I'M WAVING GOODBYE.
AND, UM, NOW LOOKING UP AND DOWN THE
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
DAAS TO SEE[00:50:01]
WHETHER, UM, ANYONE ON THE DAAS WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY OF THE ITEMS OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR INDEPENDENT DISCUSSION.I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE IT TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CLERK FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
UH, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY, UH, COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, BUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.
SPEAKERS ARE REMINDED TO BE RESPECTFUL IN THEIR COMMENTS AND THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING TRANSLATED.
PLEASE PAUSE BETWEEN SENTENCES FOR TRANSLATION.
AND NOT SEEING ANYBODY RUSHING UP WITH A PAPER.
UM, I'M ASSUMING THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE, UM, CONSENT CALENDAR TONIGHT.
AND I'M BRINGING BACK TO COUNSEL FOR, UH, A MOTION.
I DIDN'T SEE WHO, WHO, WHO WAS THAT THAT MADE THE MOTION? IT'S, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON.
AND THE SECOND WAS FROM BARNACLE.
AND, UM, AND I HAVE A COMMENT I HAVE FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER REBS.
JUST A QUICK COMMENT JUST ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
UM, WE'RE GONNA GET BASICALLY A FREE FIRE ENGINE FROM MARIN COUNTY.
I JUST THOUGHT I'D MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.
UH, WHICH THESE THINGS COST ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS NEW, AND WE'RE GONNA GET, THEY'RE GONNA DONATE IT TO US FOR FREE AND HAVE IT WORKED UP.
SO, UH, YOU GIVE US A LITTLE EXTRA FIRE PROTECTION AND IT'S THE TYPE THAT ACTUALLY GOES UP INTO THE HILLS THAT DOES THE WILD LANDS.
SO IT'S A LITTLE MORE, A LITTLE SMALLER HIGH TRACTION CAN GET UP IN THE HILLS.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA GET THE BENEFIT, UH, UH, WHICH IS A REALLY NICE THING.
SO I THOUGHT I'D POINT THAT OUT.
UH, THAT THE COUNTIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAXIMIZE FIRE PROTECTION HERE.
THAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN FIRE AGENCIES CAN'T BE OVERSTATED AND, UH, WITH NO OTHER COMMENTS AND A MOTION AND A SECOND MAY HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.
[WORKSHOP]
US TO OUR WORKSHOP, UH, PERIOD FOR THE EVENING.AND, UM, THE WORKSHOP TONIGHT IS, UH, RECEIVING DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS ON THE DOWNTOWN PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN AND PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON POTENTIAL PARKING AND CURB MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR COMING FORWARD AT THIS TIME WITH THIS.
YOU MIGHT NOTE IT'S ONE OF COUNCIL'S TOP PRIORITIES OVER THE PAST YEAR.
AND, UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF SAYING WHAT A PRIORITY IS, STAFF HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND BURDEN OF, UM, DELIVERING, UM, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE ALL CAN, UH, UH, CHEW ON AND GET TO THE NEXT STAGE.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, I'D, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, BJORN GRUENBERG, OUR TRANSPORTATION PLANNER TO, UH, TAKE IT OVER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT INTRODUCTION AND GOOD EVENING.
EXCUSE ME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LIKE MANY, I'M BATTLING A SLIGHT COLD HERE.
UM, I AM JOINED TONIGHT ONLINE BY FRANNY RICHIE, WHO IS AN ASSOCIATE AND SYDNEY MAS, A SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNER FROM TY LYNN GROUP, A GLOBAL ENGINEERING AND ADVISORY FIRM THAT PLANS AND DESIGNS INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS TO CONNECT AND ELEVATE COMMUNITIES.
AND, UH, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT EXPERTISE IN, UH, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND IN PARKING.
SO TONIGHT WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON OUR DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT, AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON POTENTIAL PARKING AND CURB MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND NEXT STEPS.
AND I WILL NOTE BEFORE, UH, WE GET INTO THIS TONIGHT, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW VERY MINOR ADDITIONS AND CHANGES TO THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS PUBLISHED, UM, IN THE MIDDLE, MIDDLE OF LAST WEEK.
AND WE WILL BE SURE TO GET THE UPDATED VERSION OF THIS, OF THIS POWERPOINT, UM, POSTED TO THE CITY'S MEETINGS PAGE FOLLOWING THE MEETING.
SO I THINK IT WILL COME AS NO SURPRISE.
UH, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED THAT DOWNTOWN PARKING AND EASE OF ACCESS FREQUENTLY CL FREQUENTLY COME UP AS TOP PRIORITIES, ESPECIALLY AS THE CITY REVIEWS, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS AND WAYS THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.
IN 2023, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY GROUP OF CITY STAFF FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPEN GOVERNMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS BEGAN BRAINSTORMING A SCOPE OF WORK FOR OUR FIRST PARKING COUNT, ESSENTIALLY, UH, AND, AND STUDY.
[00:55:01]
THOUSANDS, OUR TEAM SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED FOR A A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FROM THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION COMMISSION, WHICH HIRED T ISLAND TO ASSIST US.WE KICKED THAT STUDY OFF IN EARNEST LAST MAY WHEN WE HOSTED FRANNIE AND SYDNEY FOR A KICKOFF MEETING AND HELD A DOWNTOWN WALKING TOUR TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT, UM, CURRENT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
SO OUR SCOPE OF WORK WITH TY LYNN FOR THIS PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN IS TO REALLY TO PRODUCE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW PARKING AND CURB SPACE ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED.
UM, AND WE ALSO WANT TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, ENGAGE OUR BUSINESSES, DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS AND DOWNTOWN VISITORS, AND THEN ULTIMATELY IDENTIFY STRATEGIES TO OPTIMIZE PARKING AND CURB UTILIZATION IN SUPPORT OF A THRIVING DOWNTOWN.
SO AT A HIGH LEVEL, WE'RE WORKING TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY BY PROVIDING A VIBRANT AND SAFE DOWNTOWN THAT IS ACCOMMODATING TO VISITORS, RESIDENTS, EMPLOYEES AND BUSINESSES.
BUT IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EASING DOWNTOWN CONGESTION AND THE PAIN POINTS WE HEAR ABOUT WITH REGARD TO PARKING, LOADING, DELIVERIES AND DOWNTOWN ACCESS.
GENERALLY, WE EXPECT THIS PLAN WILL HELP GUIDE NEAR AND LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS AND ANY REGULATORY CHANGES THAT WE IDENTIFY THROUGH THIS PROCESS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
THIS EFFORT IS CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH SEVERAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND GOALS FOUND IN OUR CURRENT GENERAL PLAN, AS WELL AS THOSE UNDER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE, UH, POLICY FRAMEWORKS, SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT RELATE TO THE TRANSPORTATION FRAMEWORK, WHICH CHAMPIONS SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ARTS CULTURE AND CREATIVITY FRAMEWORKS, WHICH EMPHASIZE WALKABILITY, ACTIVATION AND VIBRANCY IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND THE LAND USE FRAMEWORK WORK, WHICH SEEKS TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH PRACTICES THROUGH INFILL RATHER THAN SPRAWLING DEVELOPMENT.
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR, UH, TO GET TO THIS POINT, OUR CROSS DEPAR DEPARTMENTAL TEAM HAS MET MONTHLY SINCE MAY, 2024 TO DISCUSS KNOWN OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.
AND STARTING IN JUNE, OUR CONSULTANTS KICKED OFF THEIR DATA COLLECTION EFFORT, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT, UM, AT GREAT LENGTH TONIGHT, FOLLOWED THIS PAST FALL WITH FOCUS GROUPS AND, UH, VISITOR AND EMPLOYEE SURVEYS.
AND YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT ALL THOSE FINDINGS THIS EVENING.
FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S WORKSHOP, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING WITH DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO FURTHER DEVELOP AND REFINE OUR RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES BEFORE RETURNING TO CITY COUNCIL WITH A DRAFT PLAN FOR YOUR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION LATER THIS YEAR.
WE ALSO WANNA STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF ONGOING EVALUATION AND REGULAR UPDATES TO CITY COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF ANY CHANGES THAT WE MAKE THAT COME OUT OF THIS PLAN TONIGHT.
WE REALLY VIEW THIS AS, UH, THE START OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH THIS CITY COUNCIL ABOUT DOWNTOWN PARKING AND ACCESS.
AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THESE EFFORTS, UH, HELP CREATE A SHARED UNDERSTANDING UPON WHICH WE CAN HAVE A DATA-DRIVEN CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PARKING RELATED CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, WE WELCOME COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK TO ELEVATE, ELEVATE ANYTHING WE DID OR DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT, UH, HIGHLIGHT ANY FEEDBACK ON, UM, OR, OR COLLECT FEEDBACK ON OUR FIRST PASS AT SOME POTENTIAL STRATEGIES AND ALSO GET FEEDBACK ON OUR NEXT STEPS.
SO TONIGHT YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS WITHIN THE STUDY AREA IDEN, UH, OUTLINED ON THIS SLIDE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS STUDY AREA COVERS A ROUGHLY QUARTER MILE AREA OR CO QUARTER MILE RADIUS, I SHOULD SAY, FROM THE INTERSECTION.
LET ME GET MY CURSOR OVER HERE.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE THAT FROM THE INTERSECTION OF WESTERN AVENUE AND PELOMA BOULEVARD NORTH WITH SMALL ADDITIONS, UH, ON ADDED ONTO THAT QUARTER MILE AREA THAT WERE ADDED TO CAPTURE THE PARKING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY HALL LOTS IN THIS AREA.
CAPTURING, UM, PARKING DATA IN THE POST STREET NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SPILLOVER PARKING RELATED TO CROOKED OAK, CROOKED GOAT BREWERY AND ACME BURGER.
AND THEN ALSO WE WANTED TO CAPTURE THIS AREA UP ON THE, THE NORTH WATER STREET AREA, UM, TO CAPTURE INCREASES IN ACTIVITY IN THAT AREA ASSOCIATED WITH RECENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND, UM, AND WITH, WITH THE BREWSTERS CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE BREWSTERS BEER GARDEN.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS GRAPHIC,
[01:00:02]
THE MAJORITY OF OUR DOWNTOWN AREA CAN BE COVERED IN A FIVE MINUTE WALK FROM THE CENTRAL POINT.AND YOU CAN WALK MOST OF DOWNTOWN FROM END TO END WITHIN A, WITHIN ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE HANDING THINGS OFF TO FRANNIE AND SYDNEY TO COVER OUR DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS.
UH, JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY TOUCH ON EXISTING PARKING AND CURB REGULATIONS.
SO AS I'M SURE EVERYONE HERE KNOWS, WE HAVE A TWO HOUR LIMIT TIME LIMIT ON OUR DOWNTOWN STREETS AND IN THE FOURTH AND A STREET LOT, WHICH IS CITY OWNED BETWEEN, AND THOSE ARE ENFORCED BETWEEN 8:00 AM AND 6:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
WE HAVE A FOUR TO 10 HOUR LIMIT IN THE KELLER STREET GARAGE, SO THAT CATERS TO A SLIGHTLY LONGER TERM, UH, VISITOR.
AND WE ALSO OBSERVED IN OUR, IN OUR DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS, UM, TYL INVENTORIED EVERY CURB USE IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
AND THEY OBSERVED 23 DIFFERENT SIGNS WITH VARYING DESIGNATIONS RANGING FROM SHORT-TERM PARKING TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOADING ZONES.
UM, SO WE'LL, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT MORE OF THAT SHORTLY.
I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT OUR TIME LIMITS AND THOSE VARIOUS CURB DESIGNATIONS ARE CURRENTLY ENFORCED BY TWO OF OUR OUTSTANDING PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
AND, UH, THEY, WE REACHED OUT TO THEM.
THEY, THEY ISSUED 3,600 TICKETS, UH, FOR VARIOUS VIOLATIONS, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH THESE TIME LIMITS IN CURB DESIGNATIONS IN 2024.
SO AS WITH ANY BUSTLING DOWNTOWN AREA, THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT NEEDS COMPETING FOR VERY LIMITED CURB SPACE.
AND THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES A SAMPLING OF THOSE USES.
WE'VE GOT PARKING, AGAIN, OF VERY VARYING TIME, TIME LIMITS, UH, PARKING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, COMMERCIAL DELIVERY AREAS, PASSENGER LOADING, TAXI STAND, TAXI STANDS, AREAS FOR TAXI DRIVERS OR RIDE HAILING RIDE HAIL DRIVERS TO WAIT FOR, UH, IN BETWEEN, IN BETWEEN RIDES, I SHOULD SAY FOOD PICKUP AREAS, UH, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE ANY DESIGNATED.
THOSE GENERALLY WOULD FALL UNDER, UM, UH, LOADING ZONES.
BUT, BUT IT IS A, CERTAINLY A NEED THAT WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT BUS STOPS, OUTDOOR DINING AND SEATING.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I BELIEVE IT WAS SEVEN SEVEN PARKLETS IN OUR DOWNTOWN OCCUPYING ABOUT 20 PARKING SPACES.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE RED CURB AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER FIRE ACCESS TO ADJACENT STRUCTURES OR, UH, DAYLIGHTING, UM, WHICH IS A, A NEW STATE REQUIREMENT THAT, UM, OR THERE'S A NEW STATE LAW, I SHOULD SAY, ASSEMBLY BILL FOUR 13, WHICH REQUIRES 2015 TO 20 FEET OF RED CURB WITHIN MARKED AND UNMARKED CROSSWALKS AT INTERSECTIONS.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, INSTANCES WHERE WE MAY HAVE BIKE LANES RUNNING ALONG CURBS OR, UM, AS WE INSTALLED SEVERAL THIS SUMMER, UH, ON STREET BY CORRALS, WHICH WE USED EXISTING RED CURB AREAS NEAR INTERSECTIONS FOR SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, UM, PRIOR TO, UH, LAUNCHING THIS STUDY ASSOCIATED WITH CURB USE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE LOTS OF CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH DELIVERY AND LOADING ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, UM, THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ONLINE RETAIL FOOD DELIVERY AND RIDE HAILING APPS SUCH AS LYFT AND UBER.
AND THEN WE'VE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THE STRIPED MEDIAN ON MABLE BOULEVARD BETWEEN WESTERN AVENUE AND WASHINGTON STREET, WHICH IS USED LARGELY AS A DEFACTO DELIVERY AND LOADING ZONE.
SO WITH THAT, I'M PLEASED TO HAND THIS OVER TO FRAN AND SYDNEY TO TALK THROUGH OUR ROBUST DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS AND FINDINGS.
UM, IN THIS SECTION I'LL BE PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE PARKING INVENTORY UTILIZATION ANALYSIS AND DWELL TIME ANALYSIS THAT WAS PERFORMED FOR THIS STUDY.
INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES INDICATE THAT 85% OCCUPANCY IS THE IDEAL TARGET OCCUPANCY FOR ON STREET PARKING.
THIS MEANS THAT THREE IN EVERY 20 SPACES ARE AVAILABLE OR ROUGHLY ONE SPACE ON EVERY BLOCK.
THIS 85% UTILIZATION RATE DEMONSTRATES ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WHILE ENSURING THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF SPACES ARE AVAILABLE TO MINI MINIMIZE CIRCLING FOR PARKING OFF STREET FACILITIES SUCH AS GARAGES AND PARKING LOTS AND SIDE STREETS OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN CORE CAN ALSO BE USED FOR OVERFLOW DURING EVENTS OR PEAK PERIODS.
A DESIRED TURNOVER FOR THE DOWNTOWN CORE CAN ALSO BE ACHIEVED BY SETTING REASONABLE PARKING TIME LIMITS OR IMPLEMENTING PRICING STRATEGIES.
EACH ROUND OF DATA COLLECTION QUANTIFIED THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES AND THE NUMBER OF SPACES OCCUPIED OR UTILIZED IN THE STUDY AREA, WHICH
[01:05:01]
IS SHOWN HERE, UM, BY THE RED DASH LINE.THE TEAM ALSO IDENTIFIED A CORE AREA WHERE HIGHER PARKING DEMAND WAS OBSERVED ACROSS ALL COUNTS.
UH, THIS CORE AREA INCLUDES THEATER SQUARE, THE PETALUMA MILL, PETALUMA BOULEVARD BETWEEN D STREET AND PROSPECT STREET B STREET BETWEEN SECOND STREET AND FOURTH STREET, FOURTH STREET, OR KENTUCKY STREET BETWEEN B STREET AND MARY STREET AND WATER STREET BETWEEN MARTHA AND WESTERN AVENUE.
ON THE SUBSEQUENT SLIDES, WE'LL SHOWCASE THE FINDINGS FROM THE DATA COLLECTION OR TEAM CONDUCTED IN ALL WE CONDUCTED.
SORRY, BJORN, COULD YOU GO BACK ONE SLIDE? THANK YOU.
UM, IN ALL, WE COLLECTED DATA DURING SIX TIME PERIODS AND BELIEVE THESE TIMES REPRESENT THE TYPICAL UTILIZATION RATE AS WELL AS WEEKEND PEAK UTILIZATION.
WE COLLECTED PARKING COUNTS DURING FOUR INITIAL TIME PERIODS ON A FRIDAY AND A SATURDAY IN JUNE, 2024, AND SUPPLEMENTED THAT WITH ADDITIONAL COUNTS ON A WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOON IN OCTOBER, UM, FOLLOWING A FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION WITH BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES AND PROPERTY MANAGERS.
SO BEFORE GOING INTO THE FINDINGS OF THESE MAPS.
UH, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE A BRIEF ORIENTATION TO HELP FOLKS DIGEST THE CONTENT OF THE MAPS.
EACH MAP SO SHOWS THE AVERAGE UTILIZATION RATE OR THE PERCENT OF SPACES OCCUPIED FOR EACH OF THE SIX DATA COLLECTION PERIODS.
THE GREEN, YELLOW, ORANGE, RED, AND PURPLE COLORS ALONG INDIVIDUAL STREET BLOCKS.
AND ON THE OFF STREET FACILITIES, WHICH ARE THE LITTLE POLYGONS ON THE MAP, UH, INDICATE HOW UTILIZED A STREET BLOCK OR AN OFF STREET FACILITY IS.
FOR EXAMPLE, A STREET BLOCK SHOWN IN RED HAS A UTILIZATION RATE BETWEEN 80 AND A HUNDRED PERCENT.
IF IT'S PURPLE, IT MEANS IT'S OVER 100% UTILIZED, AND THAT'S LIKELY BECAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL IS PARKED ON A RED CURB.
IF A STREET BLOCK IS DARK GREEN, IT MEANS NOT MANY CARS WERE PARKED THERE DURING THE STUDY PERIOD, AND THE UTILIZATION RATE IS BETWEEN ZERO AND 20%.
AND THE SAME LOGIC APPLIES TO THE OFF STREET FACILITIES, UM, AS WELL.
LASTLY, THE SMALL GRAY AND BLACK NUMBERS ALONG THE BLOCK FACES AND, UH, IN THE OFF STREET FACILITIES SHOWS THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES IN TOTAL ON THAT BLOCK STREET OR IN THAT OFF STREET FACILITY.
SO LOOKING AT THIS, UH, UH, MAP FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FROM 11:00 AM TO 4:00 PM IN OCTOBER, THE ON STREET UTILIZATION WAS 64%.
THE OFF STREET FACILITIES WERE 54% UTILIZED.
AND THE CORE AREA THAT WE SHOWED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, UH, WAS 79% UTILIZED.
SORRY, SYDNEY, CAN I INTERRUPT ONE REALLY QUICKLY? I JUST WANNA ALSO ADD THAT FOR THE OFF STREETT FACILITIES WE HAVE HERE, UM, I'LL HIGHLIGHT WITH MY CURSOR.
WE'VE GOT, EXCUSE ME, IN EACH OF THESE SLIDES, WE'VE GOT THE THEATER SQUARE GARAGE, AND THIS IS JUST THE NUMBER OF SPACES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THERE ARE SEVERAL, UM, RESERVED SPACES IN THAT GARAGE, SO WE'RE NOT INCLUDING THAT IN THIS INVENTORY.
UM, WE'VE ALSO GOT THE FOURTH AND A STREET LOT, WHICH, UH, IS ALSO PARTIALLY PUBLIC, PARTIALLY PRIVATE, SO WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING PUBLIC SPACES THERE.
WE'VE GOT THE KELLER STREET GARAGE HERE, THE CITY HALL LOTS HERE, AND THIS IS THE BANK OF AMERICA LOT, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY PRIVATELY OWNED, BUT THEY HAVE MADE THEIR LOT OPEN TO PAID PUBLIC PARKING.
SO WE ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HERE.
SO ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON FROM 11:00 AM TO 4:00 PM IN OCTOBER, THE ON STREET UTILIZATION WAS 61%.
THE OFF STREET FACILITIES WERE 57% UTILIZED, AND THE CORE AREA WAS 70% UTILIZED.
AND I'LL JUST PAUSE HERE, WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE IN A SECOND.
I'LL JUST ADD, IT'S A LOT TO DISCUSS.
THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME WE OBSERVED, UH, EITHER OF THE GARAGES.
OVER 80% OCCUPANCY WAS IN THIS COUNT WITH THE KELLER STREET GARAGE EXCEEDING THAT 80% OCCUPANCY.
NEXT SLIDE, ON A FRIDAY MORNING FROM 7:00 AM TO 10:00 AM IN JUNE, THE ON STREET UTILIZATION WAS 60%.
THE OFF STREET FACILITIES WERE 52% UTILIZED, AND THE CORE AREA WAS 72% UTILIZED.
DURING THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON COUNT FROM SIX TO OR THREE TO 6:00 PM IN JUNE, THE ON STREET UTILIZATION WAS 62%.
THE OFF STREET FACILITIES WERE 60% UTILIZED, AND THE CORE AREA WAS 82% UTILIZED.
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ON A FRIDAY NIGHT FROM SIX TO 9:00 PM IN JUNE, THE ON STREET UTILIZATION WAS 68%.THE OFF STREET FACILITIES WERE 42% UTILIZED, AND THE CORE AREA WAS 81% UTILIZED.
FOR THE LAST DATA COLLECTION PERIOD ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON FROM ONE TO 4:00 PM IN JUNE, THE ON STREET UTILIZATION WAS 69%.
THE OFF STREET FACILITIES WERE 38% UTILIZED, AND THE CORE AREA WAS 92% UTILIZED.
SO IN SUMMARY, THE ON STREET UTILIZATION IN THE HIGHLIGHTED DOWNTOWN CORE AREA WAS OBSERVED ABOVE 80% AND THREE OUT OF THE SIX DATED COLLECTION PERIODS.
WHILE THE DOWNTOWN CORE IS HOVERING NEAR OR SLIGHTLY OVER THE IDEAL 85% UTILIZATION RATE, UM, AS SHOWN IN THE MIDDLE NUMERIC COLUMN ON THE SLIDE HERE, THERE IS AVAILABLE PARKING A BLOCK OR TWO AWAY FROM THE CORE AREA AS YOU MOVE TO THE STUDY AREA PERIPHERY THROUGH THIS ANALYSIS, WE ALSO FIND THAT THE PUBLIC OFF STREET FACILITIES, WHICH MAKE UP ROUGHLY A THIRD OF ALL PARKING IN THE STUDY AREA, GENERALLY HAVE AVAILABLE CAPACITY EVEN WHEN THE NEARBY ON STREET, UH, PARKING IS IN HIGH DEMAND.
UM, TO GET AN IDEA OF THE UTILIZATION OF SIZABLE PRIVATE OFF STREET LOTS WITHIN THE STUDY AREA, THE PROJECT TEAM USED, UM, AERIAL IMAGERY.
SO WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS MAY NOT BE A TOTALLY COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY OF ALL PRIVATE PARKING LOTS, UM, THAT MAKE, UH, UH, AND WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE LIKE A WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE WITH PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, THESE, THESE PARKING FACILITIES REPRESENT A TO A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE PARKING SUPPLY, UH, DURING CERTAIN HOURS OF THE DAY.
SO, LOOKING AT THESE, UH, PARKING FACILITIES SHOWN IN THE COLORFUL POLYGONS ON THE SLIDE, UH, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF A THOUSAND PARKING SPACES AND SATELLITE IMAGERY FROM 1:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26TH, SHOW A UTILIZATION RATE OF 60%.
WE ALSO HAD ACCESS TO A SECOND SET OF AERIAL IMAGERY, UM, WHICH IS PARTLY FROM THE 4TH OF JULY DATE, AS WELL AS, UM, SATURDAY JULY 8TH, AND THAT UTILIZATION RATE WAS, UH, 26%.
UM, A TURNOVER OR DWELL TIME ANALYSIS WAS ALSO PERFORMED TO MEASURE, UM, HOW LONG DIFFERENT USER GROUPS SPENT ALONG THE CURB.
THIS TURNOVER ANALYSIS WAS COLLECTED ON KENTUCKY AVENUE BETWEEN WESTERN AVE, UH, AND WASHINGTON STREET ON THREE SEPARATE DATES IN JUNE AND OCTOBER, 2024.
FROM THIS ANALYSIS, WE FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE PRIVATE VEHICLE SPENDS AN HOUR AND FOUR MINUTES PARKED ON THE CURB.
UM, DIVING INTO THE TURNOVER ANALYSIS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, WHEN LOOKING AT HOW LONG INDIVIDUALS IN ALL VEHICLE TYPES SPEND ON THE CURB FOR A, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, INCLUDING, UH, PICKING UP AND DROPPING OFF GOODS, MAKING COMMERCIAL DELIVERIES, ET CETERA, UM, 40% OF PEOPLE ARE SPENDING LESS THAN 30 MINUTES ALONG THE CURB WHILE ONLY 8% ARE USING THE CURB SPACE FOR OVER TWO HOURS.
AND THEN LOOKING, UM, ONLY AT PARKED PRIVATE VEHICLES, WE SEE A SIMILAR TREND LINE WITH 35% OF PRIVATE AUTOS PARCH FOR LESS THAN 30 MINUTES, 64% P FOR LESS THAN AN HOUR, AND ONLY 8% PARCH FOR OVER TWO HOURS.
ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, UH, FRANNIE AND I WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE KEY FINDINGS FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS SO FAR.
SO, AS BJORN MENTIONED, A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE HELD A FOCUS GROUP WITH THE PETALUMA DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP, BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES, AND PROPERTY MANAGERS TO SHARE OUR FINDINGS TO DATE.
UM, SOME OF THE KEY FINDINGS ARE HERE ON THE SLIDE, WHICH INCLUDE FREE PARKING AND HIGH TURNOVER RATES, MAKE IT EASIER FOR PATRONS TO VISIT DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.
INTEREST IN HOW, UH, THERE'S ALSO INTEREST IN HOW LUMA GO, WHICH IS PETALUMA'S FREE ON DEMAND RIDE HAILING SERVICE CAN HELP ALLEVIATE DOWN, UH, DOWNTOWN PARKING DEMAND, ESPECIALLY FOR EMPLOYEES.
WE ALSO FOUND THAT THE TWO HOUR PARKING RESTRICTION IS CHALLENGING FOR EMPLOYEES, AND OFTENTIMES THEY'RE HAVING TO REPARK THEIR CARS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SHIFT.
AND THEN LOADING ZONES ARE INEFFICIENT FOR TODAY'S DEMAND.
THERE'S ALSO A NEED FOR MORE SHORT-TERM PARKING, AND THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO THE RISE OF, UM, ONLINE RETAIL,
[01:15:01]
UH, FOOD DELIVERY AND RIDE HAILING.A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO CAME OUT OF THIS, UH, THIS WORKSHOP, WHICH INCLUDE USING PRIVATE LAWS TO INCREASE PARKING CAPACITY, IMPROVING SECURITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE OFF STREET FACILITIES, AND ENCOURAGING LUMA GO USE.
UM, WE ALSO JUST RECENTLY FINISHED A VISITOR SURVEY THAT WAS OPEN FROM ROUGHLY NOVEMBER TO EARLY JANUARY, UM, AND IT RECEIVED OVER 600 RESPONSES.
WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED A FEW OF THEM ON THE SLIDE HERE, UM, BUT WE WERE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT MOST RESPONDENTS TO THE SURVEY DO NOT TRAVEL DOWNTOWN REGULARLY, BUT THEY'RE VISITING DOWNTOWN FOR SHOPPING, DINING, OR BUSINESS PURPOSES.
UM, 60% OF RESPONDENTS USE STREET PARKING WHILE 15% USE THE KELLER STREET GARAGE, AND 9% USE THEATER SQUARE GARAGE.
MOST PEOPLE USING THE THESE GARAGES DROVE ALONE AND ARE VISITING DOWNTOWN FOR EITHER SHOPPING OR, UH, DINING.
70% OF RESPONDENTS FIND IT MODERATELY TO VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND PARKING.
AND 62% OF RESPONDENTS SAY SAFETY CONCERNS ARE SOMEWHAT TO VERY CHALLENGING IN THE PARKING GARAGES.
OTHER PRIMARY CHALLENGES OR BARRIERS TO TRAVELING DOWNTOWN MORE GENERALLY INCLUDE TRAFFIC CONGESTION WITH 33% OF RESPONDENTS LISTING THIS FOLLOWED BY LIMITED PARKING AVAILABILITY WITH 27% OF RESPONDENTS LISTING THIS.
AND I'LL NOW PASS IT OFF TO MY COLLEAGUE FRANNY.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME OKAY? YEP.
SO WE HAD ABOUT 70 EMPLOYEES FILL OUT THE EMPLOYEE SURVEY, WHICH WAS OPEN FROM A SIMILAR TIME WINDOW TO THE VISITOR SURVEY.
BUT NOT EVERY EMPLOYEE, NOT EVERY SURVEY RESPONDENT FILLED OUT EVERY QUESTION.
SO WHEN YOU'RE SEEING PERCENTAGES, IT'S PLUS OR MINUS A COUPLE PEOPLE FOR EACH OF THE QUESTIONS.
UM, UNSURPRISINGLY TO US, THE VAST MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES STATED THAT THEY DROVE TO WORK, UM, AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARRIVED IN THE MORNING AND LEFT BEFORE 8:00 PM SO THE RES THE POOL OF RESPONDENTS IS A TYPICAL KIND OF DOWNTOWN DAYTIME POPULATION.
SO WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY RECEIVE RESPONSES FROM THE FULL SCOPE OF DOWNTOWN WORKER BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN THE EVENING AT BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND, AND OTHER SORT OF EVENING EMPLOYMENT.
UM, BUT THIS IS A VERY IN-PERSON POPULATION THAT WE HEARD FROM BECAUSE 70% OF RESIDENTS ARE DOWNTOWN FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
SOMETHING THAT SURPRISED ME IS THAT 80% OF RESPONDENTS CAN PARK WITHIN A FOUR MINUTE WALK TO THEIR WORKPLACE.
UM, AND EVEN MORE SPECIFICALLY, ABOUT HALF OF THOSE PEOPLE, HALF THE TOTAL RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY'RE WITHIN A TWO MINUTE WALK.
UM, HOWEVER, SYDNEY MENTIONED THIS ALREADY, BUT IT BEARS REPEATING 'CAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING WE HEARD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE COURSE OF THE OUTREACH IS THAT 40% OF THE RESPONDENTS NOTE THAT THEY PARK IN TWO HOUR ZONES AND THEY MOVE THEIR CAR DURING THEIR SHIFT.
YOU KNOW, AND BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO HOUR PARKING, MANY OF THEM ARE MOVING THEIR PARKING THEIR CARS OVER AND OVER AGAIN OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR SHIFT.
UM, HOWEVER, THEY ALSO NOTE THAT PARKING AS CLOSE TO THEIR WORKPLACE, UM, AS POSSIBLE, IS VERY IMPORTANT OR SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF GEOMETRY GEOMETRICAL CHALLENGES.
UM, ONE THING THAT THAT DID INTEREST US IS THAT WHILE THE MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES DID STATE THAT THEY DROVE TO WORK, UM, 58% ARE INTERESTED IN OTHER MODES.
WE ASKED IF YOU CURRENTLY DRIVE ALONE, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WALKING, CYCLING, TAKING TRANSIT, CARPOOLING, ET CETERA.
AND IN PARTICULAR, 38% HIGHLIGHTED THAT THERE BE, THEY ARE TRANSIT CURIOUS.
AND THE NEXT LARGEST GROUP WAS PEOPLE WHO WERE INTERESTED IN BICYCLING TO WORK.
UM, SO WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT POTENTIAL STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS NEXT, NEXT SLIDE.
AND I'M GOING TO ZOOM IN, UM, TO EACH OF THESE IN, IN PRETTY SPECIFIC DETAIL.
BUT I WANTED TO START BY SAYING THERE ARE KIND OF FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES FOR HOW WE CAN THINK ABOUT IMPROVING PARKING.
ONE IS IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, UM, WHICH THE CITY HAS ALREADY DONE, YOU HEARD FROM CITY COUNSELORS EARLIER ABOUT HOW THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
UM, TWO IS CREATE MORE FREQUENT TURNOVER, SO JUST GET PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH PARKING MORE QUICKLY.
UM, ANOTHER IS TO PROMOTE OR INCENTIVIZE LONG-TERM PARKING OPTIONS.
IN THIS CASE, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE FOR LONG-TERM PARKING.
SO WE, WE'D BE LOOKING AT EMPLOYEES, UM, A THIRD, EXCUSE ME, A FOURTH CURBSIDE STRATEGY IS TO IMPROVE LOADING ACCESS AND SAFETY.
SO THEY'RE KIND OF TWO DIFFERENT BUCKETS.
THERE'S PARKING AND PARKING DEMAND, AND THEN THERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ALL THE STUFF THAT ISN'T PARKING, INCLUDING LOADING.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY EXPAND PARKING SUPPLY.
AND I'M, I'M GONNA DO A LITTLE BIT OF A DEEP DIVE INTO EACH OF THEM, BUT I, I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO GO PRETTY QUICKLY.
UM, SO AS BJORN SAID, WE KICKED OFF THIS PROJECT
[01:20:01]
IN MAY.SO WE'VE BEEN, UM, PRETTY INVESTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN PETALUMA FOR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS NOW.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE WHAT'S HAPPENED JUST IN THE COURSE OF OUR, OUR ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE CITY.
UM, LUGO DIDN'T, LUGO WAS JUST ON THE HORIZON WHEN WE STARTED, AND BIKESHARE HAD JUST STARTED.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN A NEW BIKE LANE AND NEW BIKE PARKING JUST IN THE TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE STUDY.
SO I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT DOWNTOWN PETALUMA IS A REALLY DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT.
UM, AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON WITH REGARD TO PARKING CURVE MANAGEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION ALL THE TIME.
WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO, ALL OF THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE THE UNIVERSE OF OPTIONS.
UM, AND SO THE GOAL HERE IS TO HEAR WHAT THE COUNCIL IS MOST EXCITED ABOUT, UM, AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT REALLY DEVELOPING AND DEEP DIVING IN SUBSEQUENT TO THIS CONVERSATION.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING, UM, TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, THAT'S, UH, IN RECOGNIZANCE OF ALL THAT THE CITY IS ALREADY DOING, WE CAN LOOK AT INCREASING TRANSIT SERVICE TO CONNECT DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEES TO, AND VISITORS WITH SATELLITE PARKING AND TRANSIT HUBS.
AS YOU SAW ON THE MAP, THERE IS A VERY DENSE, VERY HIGH DEMAND AREA, BUT PARKING DEMAND THINS OUT PRETTY QUICKLY AS YOU MOVE AWAY FROM THE, THE REAL CORE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE TO AND THROUGH DOWNTOWN.
AND THEN SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA THINK ABOUT TOO IS IMPLEMENTING OR ENCOURAGING OCCASIONAL CAR-FREE EVENTS, UM, JUST TO GET KIND OF A, A TASTER OF WHAT A CAR-FREE OR CAR LIGHT DOWNTOWN MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
ANOTHER STRATEGY IS TO CREATE MORE FREQUENT TURNOVER.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW IS THAT, OR ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE FOCUS GROUP IS THAT ENCOURAGING HIGH TURNOVER IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM.
AND THAT, IN PARTICULAR, LOOKING AT MORE VERY SHORT TERM PARKING ALONG THE LINES OF LIKE 15 OR 30 MINUTES WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND SO WE WOULD WANNA BE LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING MORE SHORT-TERM PARKING IN RESPONSE TO THAT FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE COULD LOOK AT IS, IS CONSIDER ENFORCING TIME LIMITS ON SUNDAYS.
UM, SUNDAYS ARE KIND OF THE WILD WEST OF PARKING MANAGEMENT.
MOST CITIES HAVE NOT HISTORICALLY MANAGED THEIR PARKING ON SUNDAY.
SO WE DON'T HAVE GREAT CASE STUDY DATA, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT IT'S A VERY BUSY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY DAY FOR THE CITY.
AND WE CAN START TO LOOK AT MANAGING, UM, PARKING MORE PROACTIVELY, UH, ALL SEVEN DAYS OF THE WEEK.
UH, ANOTHER OPTION IS TO PROMOTE LONG-TERM PARKING OPTIONS.
SO THAT COULD MEAN REDISTRIBUTING DEMAND AND REDUCING CONGESTION BY COMING UP WITH STRATEGIES TO MOVE PEOPLE.
UM, AND IN THIS CASE, WE MIGHT BE TALKING MOSTLY ABOUT EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO, TO SPEND A WHOLE DAY OUT IN THE DOWNTOWN.
UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT REALLY HIGH DEMAND CORE AREA AND WAYS THAT WE MIGHT LOOK AT DOING THAT INCLUDE IMPROVING LIGHTING AND SECURITY IN THE KELLER STREET GARAGE, BECAUSE PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE WORKING LATE IN THE EVENING, UM, OR FOR ANYONE WHO IS THERE AFTER DARK PERSONAL SECURITY IN GARAGES WRIT LARGE ON KELLER STREET PARTICULARLY, WAS A CONCERN, UM, IMPROVING WAYFINDING TO GARAGES AND LOTS, INCLUDING THROUGH REALTIME SIGNAGE, UM, IN MY COMMUNITY.
AND IN A PICTURE YOU'LL SEE LATER, THERE ARE SYSTEMS WHERE YOU CAN BE DIRECTED TO SPACES AVAILABLE AS YOU ENTER THE DOWNTOWN.
SO BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY KIND OF PATH, ANY DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH GARAGE YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU CAN SEE, UH, LOT A HAS 30 SPACES, LOT B HAS 50 SPACES, LOT C IS COMPLETELY FULL, RIGHT? AND THEN YOU DON'T WASTE ANY TIME CIRCLING LOT C UM, WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT IMPLEMENTING AN EMPLOYEE PERMIT SYSTEM WITH PERMIT AREAS LOCATED IN GARAGES OR A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OUTSIDE THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
THERE HAVE BEEN PERMIT SYSTEMS TRIALED IN THE PAST, AND SO WE'D WANNA BE REALLY MINDFUL ABOUT HOW WE'RE DESIGNING AN EMPLOYEE PERMIT SYSTEM, AND WE'D WANNA DO THAT REALLY THOUGHTFULLY IN CONVERSATION WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
UM, AS A COROLLARY TO THAT, WE MIGHT WANNA LOOK AT INCREASING OR REMOVING TIME LIMITS ON STREETS WITH LOWER UTILIZATION.
SO RIGHT NOW, ALMOST ALL OF THE STREETS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE IN THE LARGER QUARTER MILE RADIUS MAP THAT YOU SAW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION HAVE TWO HOUR TIME LIMITS, AND THEN THE GARAGES HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY, BUT PEOPLE LOVE PARKING IN ON STREET.
IT'S A, IT'S A MARKET PREFERENCE, NOT JUST IN PETALUMA, BUT IN GENERAL.
AND SO WE WOULD WANNA LOOK AT SEEING IF THERE ARE PLACES WHERE MAYBE IT MAKES SENSE TO LOOK AT A FOUR HOUR LIMIT OR A SIX HOUR LIMIT, OR MAYBE NO LIMIT AT ALL.
AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE IF WE'RE TIGHTENING UP THE WAY THAT, UM, THE CITY IS, IS LOOKING AT THE DOWNTOWN CORE AREA.
AND THEN FINALLY POTENTIALLY CREATING SATELLITE PARKING AREAS LINKED TO DOWNTOWN BY TRANSIT OR MICRO TRANSIT.
UM, AND SO THE POINT IS NOT JUST MAKE, NOT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN PARK IMMEDIATELY APPROXIMATE TO THEIR BUSINESS, BUT THAT THEY HAVE A SAFE, CONVENIENT, PLEASANT WAY TO GET TO THEIR CAR AT THE END OF THEIR SHIFT.
UM, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
UM, IMPROVING LOADING ACCESS AND SAFETY, AGAIN, IS NOT EXACTLY
[01:25:01]
A PARKING STRATEGY, IT'S MORE OF A CURBSIDE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, BUT IT'S BEEN A BIG PRIORITY THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS PROJECT.UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE CURRENTLY CONFLICTS AND THERE'S, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH LOADING, AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE CENTER RUNNING LINE ON PETALUMA BOULEVARD, WHICH SERVES AS A DEFACTO LOADING AREA FOR, EXCUSE ME, FOR, UM, INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE VEHICLES AND ALSO FOR LARGER TRUCKS AND DELIVERY VEHICLES.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT CONSIDER INCLUDE IMPLEMENTING TIME OF DAY RESTRICTIONS FOR VEHICLES ABOVE A CERTAIN SIZE.
UM, NOT EVERY DELIVERY SERVICE IS WILLING TO BE SCHEDULED.
AND SO WE WOULD AGAIN, WANNA BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE ARE PROPOSING THE RULES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS.
UM, WE ALSO WOULD WANT TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF LOADING ZONES, AND THAT COULD INCLUDE LOADING IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE DROPPING OFF FOOD OR SOMEONE DROPPING OFF SOMETHING KIND OF AT SCALE, BUT THAT COULD ALSO MEAN FOOD DELIVERY AND, UM, UBER, LYFT RIDE HAIL VEHICLES AS WELL.
AND THEN, THEN FINALLY CONSIDERED DESIGNATED PICKUP OR WAITING AREAS.
UM, OTHER CITIES AND EVENTS VENUES HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS WITH SUCCESS WITH GEOFENCING, WHICH MEANS THERE ARE ONLY SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE UBER AND LYFT CAN ACCESS.
AND SO ALL OF THE PASSENGER PICKUP HAPPENS AT A SPECIFIC LOCATION.
UM, YOU MIGHT BE THINKING OF AN AIRPORT, THAT'S KIND OF AN EXTREME EXAMPLE.
UM, BUT THERE ARE PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, EVENTS, VENUES THAT HAVE SEEN THIS DEPLOYED PRETTY SUCCESSFULLY.
AND THEN THE FINAL STRATEGY, AND THE ONE THAT WE TEND TO HEAR ABOUT A LOT IS EXPANDING PARKING SUPPLY.
UM, SO THAT COULD MEAN RECONFIGURING EXISTING STREETS OR NEW OFF STREET PARKING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE SLIDE HERE, WE ARE EXPLICITLY NOT CONSIDERING NEW PARKING CONSTRUCTION.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS IT'S PHENOMENALLY EXPENSIVE.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, IN THE CITY LIKE PETALUMA, IT, IT'S FULL.
THERE'S NO OBVIOUS PLACE TO PUT A NEW PARKING LOT OR A NEW PARKING GARAGE.
UM, BUT EVEN IF THERE WAS, THE COST OF A NEW PARKING LOT IS ABOUT $3,000 PER SPACE.
UM, AND THE COST OF A NEW GARAGE IS ABOUT $35,000 PER SPACE.
I DID TRY TO DO SOME COSTS INCLUSIVE OF LAND USE FOR PETALUMA SPECIFICALLY.
IT DIDN'T TURN OUT TO BE FEASIBLE.
UM, BUT THOSE ARE EXCLUSIVE OF LAND COSTS AND ALSO EXCLUSIVE OF THINGS LIKE ELEVATORS, LANDSCAPING, UM, ANY BELLS AND MISSILES, THAT'S JUST THE CONCRETE ITSELF.
AND ALSO EXCLUDES ANNUALIZED MAINTENANCE.
SO IT'S NOT THE BEST WAY FOR PETALUMA TO EXPAND PARKING SUPPLY.
INSTEAD, WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE PROMOTING SHARED PARKING OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN PRIVATE PROPERTIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
AND YOU SAW EARLIER THAT THERE DOES APPEAR TO BE SOME CAPACITY IN DOWNTOWN PETALUMA, PRIVATELY OWNED LOTS.
UM, THE BEST CASE STUDY THAT WE FOUND FOR THIS IS SACRAMENTO.
SO THERE IS A RELATIVELY NEARBY EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP PARKING AGREEMENT THAT COULD SERVE AS A TEMPLATE.
UM, LIKEWISE, WE COULD EMPLOY LEASING, PRIVATE PARKING FOR PUBLIC USE.
AND THEN THE FINAL, UM, OPPORTUNITY IS JUST RECONSIDER THE ROAD GEOMETRY AND CONSIDER WHETHER THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADD ANGLED PARKING.
UM, BECAUSE YOU GET, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT PARKING LIKE THIS VERSUS THIS, YOU GET MORE
APOLOGIES FOR MY, UM, CRUDE DIAGRAMMING THERE.
YOU GET MORE PARKING ON ANGLED IN PARKING THAN YOU DO WITH TRADITIONAL CURBSIDE, UM, STRAIGHT IN FACT IN PARKING.
ALL RIGHT, YOUR HONOR, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THIS, TAKE IT BACK FOR A MINUTE, RIGHT? YEAH, JUST BRIEFLY.
SO WE ALSO WANTED TO LOOK AT PAID PARKING DOWNTOWN.
NOT ONLY, UM, LOOKING AT THE EXISTING FEES THAT WE CURRENTLY, UH, CHARGE, BUT ALSO, UM, OPEN UP AND INVITE A DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF SOME POTENTIAL PAID PARKING, UM, STRUCTURES FOR THE COMMUNITIES AND COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION TODAY, WE WERE ASKED BY SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PAID PARKING IN PETALUMA.
AND TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, UM, PARKING METERS ACTUALLY DID EXIST DOWNTOWN.
YOU SEE IN THIS PHOTO FROM ON PETALUMA BOULEVARD DATING BACK TO 1950, YOU CAN SEE PARKING METERS IN THIS PHOTO.
UM, AND LOOKING BACK AT, AT OLD, UH, ORDINANCES FROM THE 1950S, UM, WE, YOU KNOW, WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT THEY, THEY USED THIS PARKING METER REVENUE TO FUND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS PRIMARILY IN, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
UM, AND IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY BACK THEN.
WE FOUND RECORDS FROM 1976 AND 1984, UH, THAT REFERENCED THAT SUSPENDED METER COLLECTION IN 1976, JUST FOR ONE DAY.
AND IN 1984 FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
UM, BUT WE ACTUALLY DID, DIDN'T LOCATE ANY, ANY RECORDS THAT EXPLICITLY DIRECTED, UH, THEIR REMOVAL.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IN, IN THE LATE EIGHTIES.
[01:30:01]
THEN WE, WE NOTICED THAT, OR WE NOTED THAT THIS WAS LAST DISCUSSED BY CITY COUNCIL IN 2005, AND IT WAS A DISCUSSION OF, UM, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON DIFFERENT FUNDING AVENUES TO IMPROVE AND, UH, THE KELLER STREET GARAGE AND PROVIDE FOR ONGOING SECURITY THERE.SO WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT BACK TO SYDNEY, JUST TO, TO WALK US THROUGH SYDNEY AND FRANNIE, JUST TO WALK US THROUGH, UM, SOME OF THE, THE PAID PARKING, THE, THE EXISTING FEES, AND, UM, SOME, SOME POTENTIAL OPTIONS.
SO PETALUMA WAS ACTUALLY AN EARLY ADOPTER BECAUSE PARKING METERS WERE ONLY INVENTED IN THE LATE 1930S, AND THEY WERE INSPIRED BY, UM, A DESIRE TO GET EMPLOYEES TO STOP PARKING IN PRIME SPOTS.
UM, SO THIS IS REALLY KIND OF A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.
THE GOAL OF IMPLEMENTING PAID PARKING IS TO USE, UM, PAYMENT AS A TOOL TO INCENTIVIZE CAR FREE TRAVEL PARKING, UM, AND, AND ALSO TO CREATE MORE TURNOVER AND MAKE SURE THAT THE PRIME SPACES IN FRONT OF BUSINESSES REMAIN AVAILABLE TO, UM, PATRONS VERSUS BEING OCCUPIED ALL DAY.
SO THE THING WITH THE PARKING SPACE IS THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE PARKS THERE, THEY'RE PARKING THERE FOR EIGHT HOURS, END OF STORY.
WHEREAS IF IT'S AVAILABLE FOR PATRONS, AS WE'VE SEEN, TYPICALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 30 TO 60 MINUTE OCCUPANCY.
AND SO THAT'S SIX OR EIGHT, OR MAYBE EVEN IN, IN A REALLY BUSY TIME, 16 OCCUPANTS OVER THE COURSE OF A DAY.
THE CITY, AS YOU KNOW, DOESN'T HAVE A METERING PROGRAM, BUT THERE IS CHARGING HAPPENING.
UM, THERE'S RESIDENTIAL PERMITS, THERE ARE CHARGES FOR FOURTH AND A STREET LOT RESERVED PERMITS, AND THERE'S ALSO AN AGREEMENT WITH HOTEL PETALUMA FOR THE CLER STREET GARAGE.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STAFF, UM, BROUGHT TO US AS THE CONSULTANT TEAM WHEN THIS PROJECT FIRST STARTED IS THAT WHATEVER COMES OUT OF IT, THEY WANT A MORE RATIONALIZED, COHERENT PARKING, UM, PAID, PAID PARKING STRATEGY VERSUS THIS IS THE DEAL THAT WAS SET UP IN 2017, OR THIS IS JUST HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.
SO WHATEVER COMES OUT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE THERE'S, UM, THAT THE PARKING RIGHTS ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER AND THAT THEY'RE SYNCHRONIZED AND, AND MAKE SENSE RELATIVE TO THE UNIVERSE OF PARKING DOWNTOWN.
UM, AND FINALLY, AS BJORN MENTIONED ALREADY, THE BANK OF AMERICA HAS AN, A SITUATION WHERE IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED, BUT PUBLIC, BUT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC PARKING.
SO THERE IS A VARIETY OF DOWNTOWN PAID PARKING SITUATIONS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS PARKING IN OTHER NORTH PAID PARKING, EXCUSE ME, ANOTHER NORTH BAY CITIES, UM, RANGING BETWEEN $2 AND 50 CENTS AND $50 AN HOUR, DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S ON STREET OR IN A GARAGE.
AND ALSO VARYING BETWEEN MILL VALLEY, SAN RAFAEL AND SANTA ROSA.
THESE ARE THREE THAT ARE CURRENTLY CHARGING FOR PARKING.
BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT THE MTC GRANT THAT IS PAYING FOR, THAT THE CITY RECEIVED FOR THIS STUDY, UM, IS ONE OF A WHOLE CONSTELLATION OF SIMILAR GRANTS.
SO WE KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES ARE CONSIDERING, IF NOT PAID PARKING, UM, WHAT THE SITUATION OF THEIR DOWNTOWN IS VIS-A-VIS PARKING.
RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THAT NAPA'S LOOKING AT IT, WE KNOW THAT SANTA ROSA'S LOOKING AT IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO ALREADY CHARGE FOR PARKING.
AND SO THERE'S, IT'S A BIG CONVERSATION ACROSS THE REGION RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN THE REASON THAT WE WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER, UM, THINKING ABOUT WHETHER THERE'S A CONVERSATION AROUND PAID PARKING, IS THAT WHAT WE WOULD WANNA DO WITH IT OR WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THE CITY DO WITH IT, IS CREATE A PARKING BENEFITS DISTRICT.
SO SIMILAR TO THE LAST CONVERSATION IN 2005, THE GOAL WOULD BE CREATING A RING-FENCED FUND THAT COULD THEN, UM, BE CHANNELED DIRECTLY INTO DOWNTOWN, IMPROVEMENTS INTO OR ADJACENT IN THE CORE AREA.
SO THAT COULD MEAN MORE LIGHTING FOR KELLER STREET GARAGE.
IT COULD MEAN MAINTENANCE OF, UM, OTHER TYPES OF PARKING.
IT COULD MEAN ESTABLISHING SOME SORT OF PARKING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AND ADMINISTERING IT, UM, REAL TIME AVAILABILITY SIGNAGE AS YOU, AS YOU SAID TO SEE HERE.
SO THERE'S A WHOLE SUITE OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT MIGHT BE FUNDABLE FROM THE PAYMENTS, UM, IF THE CITY DECIDES TO GO THAT ROUTE.
SO I THINK WE'LL END IT THERE.
SO THAT'S THE SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION THAT WE WANTED TO IMPART TO YOU, BUT WE DO WANT TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT THE, WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEN ALSO GET SORT OF YOUR HOT TAKES AND YOUR INITIAL FEEDBACK ON WHAT YOU THINK MIGHT REALLY RESONATE.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY THINGS THAT YOU FEEL YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ON OR, OR THAT YOU FEEL ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT A FIT.
UM, FOR RIGHT NOW, WE ALSO WANNA SHARE THE NEXT STEPS WITH YOU TO TAKE US TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT AND, UM,
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER ROUND OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY STAFF
[01:35:01]
AND ALSO IN ANOTHER ROUND OF BROADER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT BRINGING, UM, SOME SUGGESTIONS BACK TO THE COUNCIL LATER IN THE SPRING.
AND THEN CITY STAFF WILL BE CHARGED WITH ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION.
AND I THINK THAT THAT TAKES US ALL THE WAY TO QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I, I KNOW THIS WAS A WILD AMOUNT TO THROW AT YOU OVER THE LAST 30 OR SO MINUTES.
I'LL JUST QUICKLY NOTE BEFORE WE JUMP IN AT THIS URL, UM, CITY OF PETALUMA.ORG/DOWNTOWN-PARKING, UH, FOLKS CAN SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL UPDATES ON THIS EFFORT.
SO WITH THAT, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAND IT OVER TO COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS AND HAPPY TO REVISIT SLIDES AS WELL.
'CAUSE WE, AS, AS FRA SAID, WE KNOW WE THREW A LOT AT YOU.
YOU DID THROW AN AWFUL LOT GOING ON THERE.
AND, UM, IF I HAVE THIS RIGHT, UM, IT'S COMPLICATED AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE CREATIVE.
SO, UM, THINKING ABOUT THAT, I'M SURE THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS THEY, THEY WANT TO ASK.
AND, UM, AND I'M THINKING THAT THE PUBLIC THAT SHOWED UP, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU SHOWING UP, HAS QUITE A BIT THEY WANT TO ASK AND CONTRIBUTE AS WELL.
SO I THINK WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS ASK THE, OUR TRADITIONAL PROCESS IS COUNCIL ASKS ALL THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO ASK EVER, AND THEN PUBLIC GETS TO SPEAK AND THEN IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL.
AND, AND WE, WE DELIBERATE AT THAT POINT.
AND SINCE IT'S MORE OF A WORKSHOP, UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL IF THEY HAVE ANY BURNING QUESTIONS TO START WITH A ONE OR TWO.
UH, GET US THROUGH COUNCIL QUESTIONS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, GET TO THE PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND INPUT AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, AND THEN BRING IT BACK FOR THE LONGER KIND OF COUNCIL VERSIONS.
SO I'D KIND OF BE LOOKING FOR ONE OR TWO CONCISE ISH TYPE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL SO WE GET TO THE PUBLIC SOONER.
AND I'D LIKE TO START ON THIS SIDE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SHRIVES.
UM, THE FIRST ONE IS ON, UH, YOU GAVE US THE TICKETS OF 3,600 TICKETS DELIVERED, UH, UH, FOR ILLEGAL PARKING, UM, IN THAT DOWN CORE, CORE 2024.
BUT YOU DIDN'T MENTION ANY TOWING EITHER BY THE CITY OR BY, UH, THE PRIVATE FROM THE PRIVATE LOTS.
AND SO I WAS LOOKING FOR ACTUAL DATA ON HOW MANY FOLKS GOT TOWED, WHICH CAN BE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TICKETS.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME NUMBERS GENERATED THERE.
THAT SHOULD BE EASY, UH, TO GET THAT INFORMATION.
THE, UM, THE SECOND ONE IS ON THE ADOBE WINERY.
IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP, IT'S NOT BUILT YET, BUT IT'S AN EVENT CENTER.
UM, AND SO THAT'S RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE, UH, CORE AREA THAT WAS STUDIED, IN FACT, ONLY THE ONE STREET OFF.
AND SO, UM, FOR THAT PARTICULAR STRUCTURE, UM, UH, WOULD IT BE WORTHWHILE TO ACTUALLY EXPAND? WHERE ARE THEY GONNA PARK AND MAYBE EXPAND THE STUDY AREA AT LEAST ONE BLOCK DOWN FROM THEM AND SEE HOW THE AREA IMMEDIATELY NEAR THEM, UH, MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY, BY THE EXTRA 300 EVENT GOERS MIGHT MIGHT HAPPEN THERE.
SO, AND THEN ALSO FOR THE, UM, UH, IF THE HOTEL FOLKS SHOW UP, HOW MANY SPACES MIGHT BE NEEDED, UM, AND WHERE, UH, SOME IMPACTS THAT NOT.
SO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IS, IS THE REAL QUESTION.
UM, ARE WE GONNA HAVE, HOW ARE WE GONNA HANDLE THAT? SO, UH, YEAH, GREAT QUESTIONS.
I DO, WE DO NOT HAVE TOWING DATA OFFHAND, UNLESS THAT'S SOMETHING OUR PD HAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ACCESS TO AT HAVE AT MY FINGERTIPS OR AT MY DISPOSAL.
UM, I'LL LOOK IF, IF CHIEF MILLER MIGHT HAVE THAT, UM, HE CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THE DATA FOR YOU SPECIFICALLY ON TOWING.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE TURNOVER RATE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, IT'S VERY UNCOMMON.
UH, GENERALLY THOUGH A TIME WHERE WE RUN INTO SITUATIONS WHERE TOWING'S NECESSARY IS NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIAL EVENT, WHERE WE HAVE A ROAD CLOSURE THE FOLLOWING DAY.
UH, BUT WE DO OUTREACH, WE WORK WITH THE BUSINESS, UH, UM, BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, THE PEDAL DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION, TRY TO DO OUTREACH IN ADVANCE AND ACTUALLY DETER AND PREVENT TOWING SITUATIONS FROM THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I CAN WORK WITH OUR TEAM AND, AND OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND PROVIDE THAT DATA TO BJORN IN THE COMING WEEK.
WOULD THAT BE, WOULD THAT BE BOTH THE, UH, WHAT THE CITY IS GOING FOR TOWING AND ALSO FOR THE PRIVATE LOTS? CAN YOU GET THAT DONE? WE, WELL, WE, WE DON'T ENFORCE PRIVATE PROPERTY.
UH, THEY'RE REPORTED TO US AFTER THE FACT, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE REGULATE OR MONITOR, UM, THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR PURVIEW, BUT IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, WE, WE DO TRACK AND RECORD THOSE DATA POINTS.
YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, CHP DOES, DOES, UH, WORK WITH THE TOWING COMPANIES THAT DO THAT.
IT HAS TO GET REPORTED SO THE DATA COULD BE ACCUMULATED.
AND I THINK KNOWING HOW MANY CARS ACTUALLY GET TOWED AT WHAT PRICE WOULD INDICATE THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM ANYWAY,
[01:40:01]
SOMETHING I WOULD REQUEST.YEAH, THERE'S A RANGE THAT C-P-C-H-P ESTABLISHES FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWING.
WE WON'T KNOW THE TOW RATE ON, ON PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWS.
UH, WE ENCOUNTER MANY SITUATIONS WHERE IF A VEHICLE'S TOWED FROM A PRIVATE PROPERTY LOT, THEY REPORT THAT TO US.
SO WE CAN REFER THE, THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES IF THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLES WHEREABOUTS, WHERE IT IS LOCATED AND HOW TO, HOW TO ACQUIRE THEIR VEHICLE BACK.
UM, BUT WE DON'T GET INFORMATION NECESSARILY ABOUT THE RATE, UM, AT THAT TIME OR GATHER THAT, BUT WE TEND TO GET NUMBERS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS THE NUMBERS OF, UH, QUANTITY.
UH, MY TEAM WILL WORK TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY TO PRO PROVIDE SOME TOWING INFORMATION.
AND THEN WITH REGARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, UPCOMING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, IS THAT THIS DATA OBVIOUSLY REPRESENTS, UH, A SNAPSHOT IN TIME, RIGHT? REFLECTING EXISTING CONDITIONS FROM SUMMER FALL OF, OF 2024.
AND, UH, SO, YOU KNOW, AS NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS COME FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY WE NOW HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THIS REALLY ROBUST DATA TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT AND, AND SEE WHERE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES MIGHT BE, UM, WITH, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO, UH, PRIVATE OFF STREET PARKING AND, AND THEN, AND THINK CREATIVELY, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE POSSIBLE STRATEGIES AS, UH, OUR DOWNTOWN SEES MORE, UH, MORE ACTIVITY.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT PARKING AND ACCESS CHALLENGES.
UM, AND, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY YEAH, WE, WE, WE CERTAINLY CAN, UH, CONTINUE TO COLLECT PARKING DATA AND ESPECIALLY AS THESE NEW USES COME ONLINE AND WE SEE, UH, INCREASED ACTIVITY IN CERTAIN AREAS OF DOWNTOWN.
UM, THE, THE, THE HISTORY I WAS ON THE COUNCIL IN 2005 AND, UM, THE FLASHBACK TO WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS, UM, BROUGHT ME TO TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT THE BLOCK FACE, UM, LOCATIONS ARE BECAUSE EVERY STREET HAS A COLOR.
AND EVEN IF YOU MOVE YOUR CAR AS AN EMPLOYEE EVERY TWO HOURS, IF YOU ARE WITHIN THAT COLOR BLOCK AND YOU MOVE TO THAT SAME COLOR BLOCK, BUT YOU STILL MOVE YOUR CAR, YOU CAN GET A TICKET.
SO CAN WE HAVE A MAP OF THE BLOCK FACE, UM, COLORS? WHICH BLOCKS HAVE WHICH COLORS? BECAUSE I, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT IS ANYMORE, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A TICKET IN 20 YEARS.
UM, WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I DID GET A TICKET.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE GET TICKETS FOR BEING CAUGHT BECAUSE THESE EMPLOYEES, IF THEY'RE MOVING THEIR CAR AND THEY WANNA BE NEAR THEIR LOCATION, THEY COULD BE WITHIN THAT SAME COLOR BLOCK.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE SIGNAGE INDICATES BLOCK FACE ALONE, AND THERE ISN'T ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN BLOCK FACES BEING GROUPED TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT THE GOAL IS TO KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, JUST SO PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY UNDERSTAND IT WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT SIGNAGE.
I GET ASKED QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THE COUNCIL AS AN OVERLAY TO THE MAP THAT YOU SHOWED AND HOW MANY AVAILABILITIES WHERE THOSE COLOR SECTIONS OF STREETS ARE? UM, BECAUSE I KNOW EMPLOYEES ARE MOVING THEIR VEHICLES AND THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN CITED, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE, WE USED TO HAVE A VEHICLE WITH AN EYEBALL THAT WAS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE LICENSE PLATES, AND THAT WAS BACK IN 2005.
AND, UM, THAT IS WHAT WAS, YOU KNOW, MANAGING THAT PARKING SITUATION IF YOU WERE OVER YOUR TIME OR IN THE SAME VICINITY.
SO MAYBE WE CAN HAVE THAT ALSO, HOW MANY HANDICAP, HOW MANY A DA SPACES? SO IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A MAP, MAYBE ON THAT MAP YOU CAN MARK HOW MANY ARE BLUE BECAUSE REGULAR RESIDENTS OR RES REGULAR PARKING PEOPLE CAN'T PARK IN THOSE SPACES.
SO THOSE ARE LESS SPACES OR HANDICAPPED SPACES GETTING USED.
I, I, I DON'T, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT DATA.
WE CAN, LET'S LOOK TO FRANNIE AND SYDNEY.
DO WE, ARE WE ABLE TO DRILL INTO THE DATA? I KNOW WE, WE COULD PROVIDE THAT FOR THE LOTS.
I'M CURIOUS IF WE'D BE ABLE TO DRILL TO THAT LEVEL ON THE ON STREET COUNTS FOR UTILIZATION OF THE, UM, SPACES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WE COUNTED 14 A DA SPACES ACROSS THE DOWNTOWN, UM, SITE.
SO THE LARGER QUARTER MILE RADIUS, AND WE CAN LOOK AT OCCUPANCY FOR THE, UM,
[01:45:01]
TURNOVER COUNTS ON KENTUCKY STREET.I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN SHARE DATA FOR THE WIDER STUDY AREA, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY GET BACK TO YOU ABOUT THE ONE BLOCK BASE, THE TURNOVER COUNTS THAT WE DID OVER THE COURSE OF JUNE AND OCTOBER, BECAUSE I BELIEVE FROM THE COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS YOU GAVE US, THEY CAN BE IN THAT PARKING SPACE AS LONG AS THEY WANT.
THAT THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT UP TO TIME LIMITS AND ADA A PARKING, IT'S SOMETHING I JUST LEARNED MM-HMM
SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT IN PUBLIC RECORD.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR GOING TO THE STAKEHOLDERS.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO TALK TO SOME OF THE OTHER LARGE LOTS THAT USED TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT NOW ARE GETTING TOWED.
AND I'LL JUST ALSO HIGHLIGHT, UM, THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON ADDING 11 NEW ON STREET SPACES DESIGNATED FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR, IN ADDITION TO THE 14 THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON STREET.
AND, AND JUST AS A LITTLE BIT OF A FOLLOW UP THERE, SO THE STATE REGULATES HOW MUCH A DA SPACES ARE REQUIRED IN A BUSINESS DISTRICT, OR IS THAT FUZZY? IT'S STILL A LITTLE FUZZY FOR ON STREET, UM, PARKING REQUIREMENTS THAT CITIES ARE SUBJECT TO.
THERE'S, UH, A NEW A DA GUIDELINES GUIDANCE CALLED THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES THAT HAS NOT YET, UM, BEEN ADOPTED, I BELIEVE, BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, BUT IT'S BEEN IN DRAFT, FINAL DRAFT FORM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AND MANY CITIES ARE STARTING TO USE THAT AS GUIDANCE.
UM, AND, AND THAT DOCUMENT DOES PROVIDE A RATIO OF, IN ANY LOCATION WHERE YOU HAVE MARKED ON STREET SPACES, IT'S A RATIO OF CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF, UM, SPACES, MARKED SPACES PER BLOCK FACE.
UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT THE 11 GETS US COMPLIANT WITH THAT GUIDANCE THAT, THAT COM YES, IT WILL, IT WILL.
WELL, IT'LL ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH, UM, A PREVIOUS A DA LAWSUIT THAT THE CITY WAS SUBJECT.
UM, UH, SO ON THE DELIVERIES, I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE YOU MENTIONED BECAUSE OF ONLINE DELIVERIES, THERE'S, IT'S BECOMING MORE OF AN ISSUE.
IS THAT BECAUSE THE DELIVERIES ARE COMING IN THROUGH THE FRONT AND THERE'S LIKE DELIVERIES EVERY DAY VERSUS LIKE A LARGE INVENTORY OF DELIVERIES? JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT, LIKE WHAT'S SPECIFICALLY IS CAUSING THE CHANGE? YEAH, WHAT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM OUR FOCUS GROUP WAS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THE BUSINESSES ARE NOT JUST RECEIVING THOSE, THOSE LARGER BULK DELIVERIES YOU MIGHT EXPECT ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT ALSO GETTING A, A HANDFUL OF, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE ONE-OFF, UM, UPS, FEDEX AMAZON TYPE DELIVERIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS WELL.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, WHAT I WANTED TO CLARIFY.
UM, AND THEN ON THE PERMITS, THE, THE DOLLAR FIGURES WERE JUST ABSOLUTE DOLLARS, BUT THEY DIDN'T SAY PER, WHAT WAS IT, PER MONTH, PER YEAR? THOSE ARE ALL PER YEAR, YES.
UM, AND THEN I HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS.
CAN I ASK TWO MORE QUESTIONS? MIND, WE'RE GOING QUICKER THAN THE OTHERS.
UM, UH, DO WE KNOW WHO HOLDS THE PARK PERMITS FOR A STREET LIKE THAT? ARE THE, THE PLACES THAT ARE NEVER USED? I'M JUST WONDERING WHO, LIKE, WHAT, WHAT BUSINESSES OR RESIDENTS ARE HOLDING THOSE PERMITS AND PAYING FOR 'EM AND NEVER USING THEM? I, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
UM, AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN SHARE THAT INFO.
I THINK IT'S IN PRIMARILY INTENDED FOR OCCUPANTS OF THE MCNAIR BUILDING.
UM, AND I DO KNOW THERE IS A PRETTY LENGTHY WAITING LIST FOR, I BELIEVE THE CITY HAS 16 PERMIT SPACES THAT WE, UM, HAVE OWNERSHIP AND OPERATE.
UM, THERE'S ALSO A SECTION OF PRIVATELY RESERVED SPACES THERE THAT THE CITY DOES NOT CONTROL, UH, IN THAT LOT AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT HOW THE B OF A LOT IS PERFORMING? UM, WITH THEIR NEWLY INSTALLED PAID PARKING PROGRAM? WE DID HAVE, UM, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THEIR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PARTICIPATE IN THE FOCUS GROUP AND, UM, SHARED THAT THEIR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN, UH, POSITIVE.
I THINK IT'S, IT SOUNDED FROM HIS, HIS FEEDBACK LIKE IT'S ADDRESSED SOME OTHER ISSUES THEY'VE HAD WITH, UM, WITH PEOPLE, UH, DOING NEFARIOUS THINGS IN THEIR PARKING LOT AT NIGHT.
SO IT'S KIND OF, IT'S, IT'S, UH, FROM THAT, THAT SENSE, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT'S BEEN A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.
AND THEN ALSO OBVIOUSLY, UM, IT HAS, UH, CREATED A, A REVENUE SOURCE FOR THEIR LOT OUTSIDE OF THEIR BUSINESS HOURS, NO SENSE.
AND THEN AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL UTILIZATION, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME OF THAT IN OUR, IN OUR ACCOUNTS, BUT I THINK THEIR PRIMARY REVENUE HOURS ARE AFTER 5:00 PM SO, UM, REALLY YOU WOULD ONLY SEE THAT REFLECTED IN OUR FRIDAY EVENING COUNT.
[01:50:03]
THANK YOU.AND, UM, I GUESS JUST ONE KIND OF BROAD QUESTION, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONVERSATION TONIGHT COVERS THE ISSUE, THE ISSUES PLURAL, PROBABLY AT, AT HAND.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DRILLED ON FOR, FOR PARKING, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A KIND OF TWO THINGS THAT CAN KIND OF, UM, DARKEN YOUR DAY.
UH, ONE IS NOT FINDING A PARKING SPACE AND, AND WE'VE DRILLED IN ON THIS AND, UM, IT DOESN'T MEAN THERE ISN'T ONE THERE, IT JUST MEANS YOU CAN'T FIND IT.
AND, UM, THE OTHER ONE IS THE CONGESTION.
AND, AND I THINK THAT, UH, DELIVERIES, ESPECIALLY ON KENTUCKY, WHEN THE UPS TRUCK BLOCKS, THE WHOLE STREET WE'RE BACKED UP OR SOMEBODY IS VERY CAREFULLY EDGING OUT, CONGESTION CAN BECOME GRIDLOCK REALLY QUICK.
AND, UM, I'D, UM, AND, AND, AND THE SAME IS TRUE OF, UM, UM, A, UH, FOOD DELIVERY SERVICE, UH, DRIVER, UM, USING THE WASHINGTON TO, TO GET A COUPLE CUPS OF COFFEE OUT.
UH, I MEAN, WHERE WE ARE IN SOCIETY IS BAFFLING, BUT, UM, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY MEASURE OF CONGESTION AS PART OF THIS, OR SHOULD, CAN WE GET AN IDEA OF HOW PARKING INFLUENCES THE OVERALL CONGESTION PROBLEM IN, UH, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
UM, I'VE SEEN STUDIES THAT CITE IT AS A, A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF DOWNTOWN, DOWNTOWN CONGESTION TO VARYING AND I THINK STUDIES THAT HAVE QUANTIFIED IT.
I'M CURIOUS, UH, TO PUT FRANNIE AND SYDNEY ON THE SPOT WITH OUR TURNOVER ANALYSIS, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE LOOKING AT EVERY VEHICLE THAT WAS ENTERING THAT KIND OF CORDON AREA OF KENTUCKY STREET BETWEEN WESTERN AND WASHINGTON.
UM, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THAT DATA THAT COULD GIVE US SOME SORT OF, SOME SENSE OF THAT CIRCLING FACTOR? UM, MAYBE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT WOULD'VE PASSED THROUGH WITHOUT PARKING OR PULLING TO THE CURB? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PRODUCE? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON'T THINK I HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR THE TURNOVER DATA, BUT WE DO HAVE ACCESS TO REPLICA, WHICH IS A THIRD PARTY DATA SERVICE THAT USES MOBILE PHONE DATA TO TRACK THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND CAN PROVIDE PRETTY GOOD DATA WITH SOME CAVEATS AND ASTERISKS ABOUT TOTAL THROUGHPUT ON, UM, DOWNTOWN STREETS.
SO WE COULD LOOK AT WHAT THE TRAFFIC COUNTS THAT REPLICA IS ESTIMATING FOR THE STREETS ARE, AND, AND LOOK AT THAT AS A RATIO OF, UM, TOTAL PARKING AND KIND OF GIVE YOU A ROUNDABOUT ASSESSMENT THAT WAY.
UH, WE CAN'T, WE'LL NEED A FEW DAYS TO DO THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY FOR US TO GET THE INFORMATION TO YOU.
THERE WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE CERTAIN PEAK PERIODS THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO MUCH GREATER
UM, AND UM, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CLERK, KEVIN, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UH, HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE EXPANSION AREA COULD ACTUALLY EXPAND OUT, AND I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT, BUT, UM, IF YOU GO ACROSS D STREET, IF YOU'RE GOING SOUTH ON FOURTH STREET, YOU HAVE WALNUT PARK, THERE, COULD THERE BE ANGLED PARKING IN FRONT OF THE PARK WHERE THE, UM, WEEKEND FARMER'S MARKET IS? THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT.
I, I WOULD EXPECT, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL STREET RECONFIGURATION EFFORTS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THIS STUDY, BUT THROUGH INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS THAT WE CAN.
UM, IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT IF I THINK IF WE ARE HEARING THAT THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR MORE STREET RECONFIGURATIONS TO ADD TO PARKING SUPPLY, UM, THAT WE COULD BRING THOSE TO COUNCIL ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
AND WHAT STREETS COULD ACCOMMODATE THAT AND WHICH ONES COULDN'T WITHIN THE CORE MM-HMM
SO AN EXAMPLE, IT, IT REALLY IS DEPENDS ON OBVIOUSLY THE WIDTH OF THE STREET.
UM, SO IF YOU HAVE EXCESS WIDTH, MAYBE YOU'RE ABLE TO ADD ANGLED PARKING WITHOUT CHANGING THE CIRCULATION.
IF YOU HAVE MORE CONSTRAINED WIDTH, THEN UM, TYPICALLY YOU WOULD CONVERT A STREET TO ONE WAY.
I KNOW AT DIFFERENT POINTS THERE'S BEEN TALK IN THE PAST OF, UH, CONVERTING, I BELIEVE KELLER AND, AND LIBERTY STREETS, UM, TO A ONE-WAY COUPLE COUPLET TO ADD ANGLED PARKING, UM, KIND OF ON THE, THE BLOCKS BETWEEN WESTERN AND, UM, AND WASHINGTON.
MORE RECENTLY WE CAME TO COUNCIL LAST MAY FOR A WORKSHOP ON THE HOWARD STREET PAVING PROJECT WITH
[01:55:01]
SOME IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO RECONFIGURE THE, THE VERY CHALLENGING LIBERTY, A STREET INTERSECTION.AND, AND PART OF THAT PROPOSAL WAS CONSIDERATION OF A ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND LIBERTY STREET BETWEEN HOWARD STREET AND WESTERN AVENUE THAT WOULD, UM, WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY ADD TO THE PARKING SUPPLY THERE RIGHT ALONG ST.
SO AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THIS STUDY AT A HIGH, A HIGHER LEVEL WHERE WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON IDENTIFYING STRATEGIES, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC BLOCK MAYBE.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY DO CONCURRENTLY WITH THIS EFFORT IS, UH, START TO BRING THOSE, UH, PROPOSALS TO FORWARD FOR COMMUNITY AND CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION, UM, AS, UH, YEAH.
'CAUSE I'D LIKE TO KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE LIBERTY STREET, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AROUND AT ALL THE DIFFERENT CURB CUTS, SO HOW MANY COULD YOU GET MM-HMM
AND IS IT WIDE ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU HAVE PETALUMA MARKET THERE THAT HAS LARGE TRUCKS, UM, DELIVERIES AND STUFF.
YEAH, THOSE ARE ALL FACTORS THAT, YEAH, OBVIOUSLY.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, I WANTED TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT ONE WAY STREETS, JUST EVEN FOR SAFETY.
UM, YOU KNOW, HOW, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? AND THEN AS FAR AS THE A DA PARKING, UM, ADDITIONAL 1188 PARKING SPACES IS WHAT I READ, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHERE THOSE SPACES ACTUALLY ARE? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ON KENTUCKY STREET YOU HAVE ONE AT THE VERY END, CLOSE TO WASHINGTON, THEN YOU HAVE ONE RIGHT WHERE THE INTERSECTION IS, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST KIND OF WONKY INSTEAD OF MORE CONSISTENT.
SO THE, THE GOAL AND THEY'RE NOT, YEAH.
THE GOAL WILL BE OBVIOUSLY TO TAKE COVERAGE OF THE OVERALL DOWNTOWN AREA INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, AND, AND REALLY FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THOSE GAPS WHERE WE HAVE LENGTHY STRETCHES OR ENTIRE BLOCK FACES WITHOUT ANY, UM, DESIGNATED SPACES.
AND, AND THE PREFERENCE IS ALWAYS TO LOCATE THEM IN PROXIMITY TO AN EXISTING CURB RAMP.
SO EITHER NEAR A, NEAR AN INTERSECTION, NEAR A CROSSWALK, BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY AN EXISTING ACCESSIBLE PATH OF TRAVEL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE, A STREET PARKING.
IT SEEMS VERY CONFUSING, AND I KNOW IT'S CONFUSING FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE THERE'S KIND OF NO DOCUMENTATION MAYBE
BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW HOW MANY SPACES ARE IN THE ACE STREET, HOW MANY ARE, UM, UTILIZED AND, AND WE NEED TO DO SHARED PARKING.
'CAUSE ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S PARKING THERE.
AND THEN, I MEAN, I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S WAYS OF SHARING PARKING WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY AND JUST LIKE THE BANK OF AMERICA, HOW DOES THAT REALLY WORK? I DO WANNA KNOW HOW, UM, HOW THEY CHOSE THAT MACHINE.
AND, AND I HAVE HEARD THAT IT'S MUCH MORE POSITIVE SINCE PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR PARKING AND IT'S NOT REALLY EXPENSIVE AND PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING TOWED.
UM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? MOST OF THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED ALREADY, BUT LET ME JUST GO AND CAN I JUST CLARIFY.
SO FOR THE FOURTH AND A STREET LOT, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE NUMBER OF SPACES, UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE, THAT ARE IN THE PRIVATE PRIVATELY RESERVED AREA.
THE, THE CITY PERMIT AREA, AND THEN THE GENERAL, AND THEN THE AREA OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND WE, SO WE WOULD HAVE, WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE NUMBERS AND THEN WE ALSO WOULD HAVE, UM, UH, UTILIZATION DATA FROM EACH OF OUR ACCOUNTS FOR THOSE.
AND, UM, QUESTION, WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE, UM, UH, PUBLIC NOW.
IS THAT MS. CLARK, PLEASE READ THE MESSAGING? YES.
WE RECEIVED 22 COMMENTS AHEAD OF THE MEETING ON THIS ITEM, AND THOSE ARE ALL POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
UH, AND AT THIS TIME, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING IN PERSON SHOULD BRING THEIR SPEAKER CARDS TO THE CLERK'S DESK IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.
UH, SPEAKERS ARE REMINDED TO BE RESPECTFUL IN THEIR COMMENTS AND THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING TRANSLATED.
PLEASE PAUSE BETWEEN SENTENCES FOR TRANSLATION.
I THINK WE HAVE A FEW MORE CARDS COMING UP.
[02:00:26]
THANK YOU.WE HAVE, UH, NEARLY, UH, 20 COMMENTS TO BE, UH, HEARD TONIGHT.
AND, UM, AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE LIKE TO HAVE, UH, PEOPLE BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR, UH, FULL SAY.
AND SO LET'S SEE, 20 TIMES, UM, SAY THREE MINUTES.
UM, SO, UM, IF YOU CAN BE SUCCINCT, UM, OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM WOULD APPRECIATE SUCCINCTNESS AND, UM, WE HAVE OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS NICOLA FRY, AND OUR SECOND SPEAKER, DAVE ALDEN.
GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW RESIDENTS.
MY NAME IS NICOLA FRY AND I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF PETALUMA AND I'M TRAINED AS AN ENGINEER.
TODAY I WANNA ADDRESS THE PRESSING ISSUE OF PARKING IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA, A CHALLENGE THAT AFFECTS BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS ALIKE.
OUR DOWNTOWN PARKING SITUATION IS JUST INCONVENIENT.
IT'S A SYMPTOM OF A SYSTEM THAT IS IN NEED OF REFORM.
AS A SYSTEMS AND ANALYST ANALYST, I KNOW THAT SOLVING PROBLEMS ISN'T ABOUT PATCHWORK SOLUTIONS, BUT ABOUT CREATING SYSTEMS THAT ARE EFFICIENT, EQUITABLE, AND FORWARD THINKING.
WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO PARKING REFORM THAT IS BALANCES BOTH ACCESSIBILITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND IS ECONOMICALLY VITAL.
THIS MEANS RETHINKING OUR RELIANCE ON CARS AND PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS IN ALTERNATIVES.
IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL, OFFERING RELIABLE OPTIONS THAT REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR DOWNTOWN PARKING.
WE MUST ALSO EX EXPAND SAFE BICYCLING AND ROLLING INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE A VERY VIABLE AND ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR MO MORE PEOPLE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE CANNOT FORGET ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY.
OUR SENIORS, RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES RELY ON A DA COMPLIANT PARKING.
TO PARTICIPATE IN DOWNTOWN LIFE, THESE BUS SPACES MUST REMAIN A PRIORITY AND BE THOUGHTFULLY INTEGRATED INTO ANY REFORM PLAN.
SMART PARKING MANAGEMENT LIKE VARIABLE PRICING AND BETTER SIGNAGE COULD ERASE IT COULD ENSURE THAT SPACES ARE USED EFFICIENTLY.
AND LET'S EXPLORE PARTNERSHIPS TO CREATE SHARED PARKING SOLUTIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH UNDERUTILIZED PRIVATE LOTS.
THESE CHANGES WON'T BE EASY, BUT THEY'RE NECESSARY.
I REPEAT THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY TO MAKE DOWNTOWN PETALUMA A VIBRANT, ACCESSIBLE, AND SUSTAINABLE PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
BY COUPLING PARKING REFORM WITH INVESTMENTS IN TRANSIT, BIKING, AND A DA ACCESS, WE CAN CREATE A DOWNTOWN THAT WORKS FOR TODAY AND FOR THE FUTURE.
DAVE ALDEN SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY DARREN ZEN.
WELL, I WANNA BEGIN BY JUST EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THIS EVENING IS HA FOR THE FACT THAT THIS EVENING'S EVEN HAPPENING AT ALL.
10 YEARS AGO WHEN URBAN CHAT BEGAN TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC, WE WOULD MENTION CURB MANAGEMENT, PARKING REFORM, DONALD SCHOUP, AND GOT A LOT OF BLANK STARES.
IN 10 YEARS, WE'VE MADE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PROGRESS.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE THIS.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF STAFF.
I'LL MENTION BJORN IN PARTICULAR, TO BRING THIS HERE THIS EVENING.
THE PROGRESS IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
WITH THAT SAID, I PERSONALLY STRONGLY SUPPORT PARKING METERS WITH DYNAMICALLY SET PRICES.
UM, IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT THOSE MONIES GO BACK INTO SUPPORTING THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.
UH, I KNOW THAT BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE THE LARGEST VOICE IN HOW THOSE MONIES ARE SPENT, BUT I'LL PERSONALLY PUT MY VOTE IN FOR MAKING THE KELLER STREET GARAGE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.
UH, I'M SURE FOR WOMEN IT FEELS BAD HELL FOR ME AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A REAL GOOD PLACE TO BE LIGHTING, UPDATED, PAINT, SOMETHING BRIGHTER, JUST SOMETHING TO MAKE IT CLEANER, FEELING SAFER.
[02:05:01]
UM, AND ALSO, AND ANYBODY WHO'S KNOWN ME FOR A WHILE WILL CHUCKLE 'CAUSE THEY KNOW, THEY KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA SAY NEXT.I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US LOOK AT A FIXED ROUTE.
UH, LUMA AGO IS GREAT, BUT I THINK A FIXED ROUTE SHUTTLE WITH PROGRAM STOPS AND A PARKING AND A, UH, DELIVERY SPACE IN FRONT OF COPPERFIELD WOULD BE THE BEST THING EVER.
UH, I LIVE, OH, LESS THAN A MILE, UH, WEST OF DOWNTOWN.
IT'S WALKABLE, BUT I DON'T ALWAYS WANNA DO IT.
BUT IF I COULD WALK A BLOCK TO A BUS PICKUP AND GET DELIVERED DOWNTOWN, I WOULD PROBABLY MOVE, MOVE MY CAR, WELL, LESS FREQUENTLY THAN I DO NOW, BECAUSE THAT BUS WOULD JUST BE SO MUCH MORE CONVENIENT AND THE STRESS OF LOOKING FOR A PARKING PLACE OR PAYING FOR A PARKING PLACE WOULD GO AWAY.
SORT OF ON THAT SAME TOPIC, ANY APPROACH AT PARKING REFORM MUST INCLUDE OTHER MODES.
UH, I'VE MENTIONED TRANSIT, BUT OF COURSE BIKE HAS BEEN MENTIONED THIS EVENING.
WALKABILITY IS MENTIONED WAY FINDING, UH, IN OUR CONVERSATION LAST WEEK, WE HAD A, WE HAD A FORUM ON THIS TOPIC, AND THERE WAS TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO GET OFF THE TRAIN AND AREN'T SURE HOW TO FIND DOWNTOWN.
AND WHEN THEY DO FIND DOWNTOWN, THEY AREN'T SURE WHERE THEY ARE.
WE JUST NEED TO DO THINGS SO THAT VISITORS WHO WE SO BADLY WANT IN DOWNTOWN SPENDING THEIR MONEY KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
LASTLY, IN ALMOST EVERY COMMUNITY, I KNOW THAT BUSINESS OWNERS PUSH BACK ON PARKING METERS BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'LL HURT THEIR BUSINESS IN ALMOST EVERY COMMUNITY, THEY'RE SURPRISED WHEN THE REVERSE TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE.
EDUCATION IS GONNA BE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF MOVING FORWARD.
IF URBAN CHAT CAN HELP WITH THAT EDUCATION, WE WOULD LOVE TO TO TO BE AT THAT TABLE BECAUSE THIS REALLY IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
THANK YOU DARREN ZEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, SUE SCHULTZ.
COUNSEL, YOU KNOW, IN REVIEWING THIS REPORT AND PRESENTATION, THE FIRST QUESTION THAT POPPED INTO MY MIND IS, IS THERE A PROBLEM AND DO WE UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM? AND WHAT I MEAN IS IT LOOKS LIKE WE HOVER BETWEEN 60 TO 85% CORE ON STREET UTILIZATION, EXCEPT FOR THE SATURDAY ONE TO 4:00 PM SCENARIO WHERE IT SPIKES TO THAT 92%.
I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE'S A DWELL RATE OR A TURNOVER RATE OF ABOUT ONE HOUR AND FOUR MINUTES IT LOOKED LIKE FROM THE PRESENTATION.
SO TO ME, THOSE NUMBERS I HAVE TO ASK, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PARKING PROBLEM WE'RE TRYING TO FIX? OR WHAT DOES A HEALTHY SET OF DATA LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
AND TO ME THOSE SEEM TO BE PRETTY HEALTHY.
BUT OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO TAKE IN THE QUALITATIVE OR THE SURVEY AND FOCUS GROUP FEEDBACK THAT WE GET AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, I'D BE CURIOUS FROM TY LYNN, WHAT A HEALTHY SET OF DATA LOOKS LIKE AND REALLY HOW BAD THIS PROBLEM IS.
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH? UH, PAGE EIGHT AND NINE OF THE STAFF REPORT, THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE LAID OUT, I THINK ARE TERRIFIC.
YOU KNOW, I ESPECIALLY INTRIGUED BY THIS IDEA OF MAXIMIZING THE EXISTING OFF STREET PARKING.
I THINK BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, ESPECIALLY PRIVATE'S INTRIGUING BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LIKE THE GOLDEN EAGLE SHOPPING CENTER, HOW THAT IS THE DOWNTOWN PARKING LOT ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS, SOMETIMES, HOW DO WE FORMALLY ENLIST THAT? OR HOW DO WE DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO REALLY USE THE PARKING THAT ALREADY EXISTS? OF COURSE, CREATING MORE ASPHALT PARKING LOTS, I THINK AT THIS POINT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION.
UH, BUT I ALSO LIKE THE IDEAS AROUND MANAGING DELIVERY VEHICLES.
I'VE SEEN MORE THAN ONCE WHERE THOSE CAN SNARL UP TRAFFIC PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND OF COURSE, INVESTING IN ALTERNATIVES AND OTHER ROUTES OF TRANSPORTATION.
BUT I'D SAY OF THOSE OPTIONS, UH, WHAT SEEMED TO BE LEAST INDICATED TO ME WAS THIS IDEA OF PAID PARKING AND PARKING METERS.
AND WHEN I SAY THAT, I SAY THERE'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT.
THERE'S STAFFING UP ON ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, WHICH YOU COULD ARGUE WE'RE LIGHT ON ALREADY, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE PROGRAM THAT GOES ALONG WITH PAID PARKING METERS THAT I'M NOT SURE IS A SUPERIOR OPTION TO THE OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT ARE LISTED THERE.
I THINK THERE'S SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT, UH, THAT REALLY DESERVE OUR FULL ATTENTION, INCLUDING WAY FINDING, I MEAN, THE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENT SIGNAGE, THE CONFUSING NATURE OF IT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
I DON'T SEE WHERE IN THE DATA OR EVEN THE SURVEY FEEDBACK, THERE IS A CALL FROM THE PUBLIC, A CALL FROM BUSINESS OWNERS FOR PAID PARKING.
I DON'T SEE WHERE IN THE DATA WE HAVE THIS MASSIVE PROBLEM THAT WOULD BE ALLEVIATED BY PAID PARKING.
UH, AND I'LL JUST MENTION BRIEFLY, I SAW MILL VALLEY AS KIND OF AN ANALOG THAT WAS ASSESSED AS PART OF THE PAID PARKING ANALYSIS.
AND MILL VALLEY'S DOWNTOWN HAS PAID PARKING.
BUT WHAT HAS REALLY REVITALIZED THE PRIMARY ECONOMIC CORRIDOR ON MILLER AVE, AND YOU COULD SAY REALLY, UH, FROM LIKE THE FLOWER CRAB BAKERY ALL UP UNTIL THE SAFEWAY IS, THERE IS A MILES LONG STRETCH ON MILLER AVE OF DIAGONAL FACING FREE PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MEDIAN.
UH, AND THAT'S REALLY REVITALIZED THAT AREA.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT MORE DEVELOPMENT.
I WORK IN OFFICES DOWN THERE PRETTY FREQUENTLY.
UM, SO THAT KIND OF FLIPS IT ON ITS HEAD.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS, BUT WANTED TO SHARE THAT.
[02:10:01]
THANK YOU.UM, SUE HILT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY MARY DAVIS.
I'M A, I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTHEAST PETALUMA.
AND A FEW POINTS I'D LIKE THE COUNSEL TO, TO CONSIDER, UM, THE CITY SHOULD GET MORE DATA ON PARKLET PERFORMANCE AND SHARE WITH BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS.
THERE'S SEVERAL PARKLETS IN DOWNTOWN THAT ARE VERY POPULAR, AND TO ME, THE ENHANCED WALKABILITY AND GENERAL VIBRANCY OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
STUDIES SHOW THAT BUSINESSES NEAR PARKLETS IN URBAN AREAS CAN SEE SALES INCREASE 10 TO 15%.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF.
UM, SECOND, THE CITY SHOULD NOT DEVELOP ANY NEW ON STREET PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND SHOULD LOOK AT RECONFIGURING SOME PARKING AREAS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CENTER PARK, UH, AREAS SHOULD BE RE-IMAGINED TO PROVIDE PICKUP AND DELIVERY SPACES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE A SAFER EXPERIENCE FOR PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, AND WHEELCHAIR USERS.
THIRD, NO OVERNIGHT STREET PARKING SHOULD BE APPROVED FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL OR LODGING DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
ONSITE PARKING SHOULD BE PROVIDED, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, DEVELOPERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BUILD UNITS THAT HAVE FEWER PARKING SPACES.
SO THOSE WITH NO ONE OR NO VEHICLES AREN'T SUBSIDIZING THOSE WHO DO HAVE MULTIPLE CARS.
AND TWO ADDITIONAL POINTS THAT ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT PARKING, BUT DO DIRECTLY TO RELATE TO THE DISCUSSION.
AS A SOUTHEAST PETALUMA RESIDENT, LUGO SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SOUTHEAST PETALUMA.
WE'RE THE FARTHEST RESIDENTS IN THE, AND THE SCHEDULED BUSES ARE A TERRIBLE OPTION FOR US IN TERMS OF TRAVEL TIME.
IT TAKES FOREVER TO GET TO DOWNTOWN, JUST TO GET TWO MILES.
UM, AND FINALLY, THERE'S A PUBLIC PERCEPTION THAT CARS PAY FOR THE ROADS THROUGH GAS TAXES AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES, AND THEREFORE THEY OWN THE ROADS.
BUT IN FACT, 40 TO 50% OF ROAD COSTS ARE PAID BY ALL TAXPAYERS THROUGH SALES, TAXES, BONDS, AND FEDERAL GRANTS.
SO THE NEEDS OF PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, AND THOSE USING MOBILITY DEVICES SHOULD BE EQUALLY CONSIDERED WHEN CONSIDERING ROAD CHANGES.
MARY DAVIES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, LESLIE FRACHE.
WHEN I LIVED IN PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, I COMPLAINED ONE DAY TO MY CITY COUNSELOR, HOW COME MY NEIGHBOR THINKS SHE CAN PARK RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE? YOU'RE LUCKY THERE'S AN OPEN SPACE IN FRONT OF YOUR DRIVEWAY.
HE SAID, THAT'S NOT YOUR PROPERTY.
YOU OUGHT TO READ THE HIGH COST OF FREE PARKING.
SO I DID, AND I LEARNED THAT SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE IN THIS COUNTRY IS USED FOR FREE BY YOU AND ME.
THOSE FOLKS ON D STREET, THEY DON'T OWN THAT STREET.
THEY'VE BEEN USING IT FREE FOR DECADES.
AND NOW THEY'RE MAD THAT WE ALL GET TO, BUT YOU CAN'T BLAME 'EM.
MOST OF US DON'T UNDERSTAND MUCH ABOUT PARKING.
YOU ASK US WHAT YOU WANT, BUT HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE LOSE IF WE CHOOSE UNLIMITED PARKING? BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN MAKE SMART DECISIONS WHEN WE HAVE INFORMATION.
WE DON'T STOP TO REALIZE THAT MAKING SPACE FOR CARS MEANS TAKING IT AWAY FROM PARKS AND PARKLETS.
RETAIL HOUSING PATHS AND BIKE PARKING.
WE CALL THE PARKING GARAGE FULL IF YOU HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE THIRD FLOOR.
BUT AS DARREN SAID, THE DATA LOOKED PRETTY GOOD.
CLIMATE ACTION ALSO CALLS UPON US TO MAKE CHOICES.
WE CAN'T REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS BY DOING NOTHING.
MAYBE COM THE NEXT TIME YOU DO COMMUNITY OUTPUT, WHICH YOU CONTINUE TO DO, AND WE APPRECIATE EDUCATION ALONG THESE LINES, I THINK WOULD BE A REALLY BIG HELP.
GIVEN THAT WE CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING, WOULD WE RATHER ENCOURAGE NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION OR JUST GO AHEAD AND BURN UP THE PLANET? IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE PLANET, LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DRIVE LESS, MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO WALK AND ROLL.
CHARGE FOR STREET PARKING, POST SIGNAGE SO FOLKS CAN FIND THE TRAILS THAT MAKE GETTING TO DOWNTOWN WITHOUT A CAR.
LET'S EDUCATE PETALUMA MORE DEEPLY ON THIS.
UM, LESLIE CHE, UM, TO BE FOLLOWED BY SHARON KIRK.
I AM HERE TO, UH, EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR A PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT PRIORITIZES PEOPLE OVER CARS.
[02:15:01]
I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF PARKING AS THAT WOULD MERELY INDUCE MORE DEMAND LEADING TO MORE TRAFFIC AND MORE CONGESTION.AND IDEALLY, WE SHOULD AIM TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PARKING.
UM, TO THAT END, I THINK WE SHOULD INTRODUCE MARKET-BASED PRICING FOR PARKING AND USE THAT MONEY TO STRENGTHEN OUR DOWNTOWN.
AND AS WELL AS TO MAKE EXISTING OFF STREET PARKING OPTIONS LIKE THE KELLER STREET GARAGE, MORE ENTICING THAN THE ON STREET PARKING SPACES.
SAN FRANCISCO'S TRIAL WITH DYNAMIC PRICING RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN AVAILABLE PARKING, A DECREASE IN TIME SPENT SEARCHING FOR A SPOT IN SPEEDIER TRANSIT ROUTES.
SECOND, WE SHOULD ELIMINATE PARKING MINIMUMS WHEN MINNEAPOLIS SLASH PARKING MINIMUMS FOR HOUSING IN 2015.
THEY FOUND THAT DEVELOPERS RESPONDED BY DROPPING RENT COSTS FOR NEW UNITS FROM $1,200 PER UNIT TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER UNIT.
THIRD, WE SHOULD START REMOVING SOME ON-STREET PARKING.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE OWNERSHIP OF 18% WHEN PARKING IS PLENTIFUL AND AVAILABLE.
WE SHOULD NOT BE INCENTIVIZING CAR OWNERSHIP IN THE MIDST OF A CLIMATE CRISIS.
AND THOSE SPACES ARE VALUABLE LAND, WHICH COULD CERTAINLY BE PUT TO BETTER USE.
FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THE CAFE T PROGRAM IN TORONTO CREATED A THOUSAND PLUS EXPANDED PATIO SPACES FOR RESTAURANTS, MOST OF MOST OF WHICH CAME FROM REPURPOSING ON STREET PARKING, THEY FOUND THAT THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS AT LOCAL BUSINESSES ACTUALLY INCREASED, AND THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER SPENDING WENT FROM 186 TO $245 PER MONTH.
LASTLY, WE SHOULD UNBUNDLE PARKING FOR ALL NEW RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS WHEN THE PRICE OF PARKING IS AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF HOUSING RATHER THAN PAID SEPARATELY, IT LEADS TO HIGHER VEHICLE OWNERSHIP RATES.
I ADDITIONALLY PROPOSED THE PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN INCLUDE PROVISIONS TO INCREASE THE VISIBILITY AND DESIRABILITY OF ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
FOR INSTANCE, WE COULD INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF EVENTS LIKE CYCLOVIA WHERE CERTAIN STREETS ARE CLOSED TO CAR TRAFFIC.
THIS WOULD SHOW THE CITY WHAT OUR CITY COULD LOOK LIKE IF IT WAS ORIENTED TOWARDS PEOPLE AND NOT CARS.
OR WE COULD CREATE DEDICATED BUS LANES.
SO TAKING PUBLIC TRANSIT IS ACTUALLY FASTER THAN TAKING A CAR.
OR WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAIN RUNS ON TIME.
UH, PETALUMA NEEDS TO LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND WHEN DRAFTING THIS PLAN AND THAT FUTURE SHOULD BE ONE WITH LESS PARKING, LESS CARS, AND A MORE VIBRANT ECONOMICALLY SOUND COMMUNITY.
KIRK SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, BRUCE HAGEN.
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING TONIGHT'S WORKSHOP.
OH, I BETTER STAND OVER HERE, I GUESS.
UM, I'VE SUBMITTED PUBLIC COMMENT THAT COVERS A LOT OF WHAT I'M GONNA SAY, SO I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE THIS VERY BRIEF.
UM, I DO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE PARKING MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT'S SMART FOR OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES AND ENABLES US TO BRING MORE VISITORS TO OUR DOWNTOWN.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DATA AND THE PREPARATION THAT WENT INTO THIS, UH, WORKSHOP.
LIKE DARREN, I HAD SOME INITIAL CONFUSION OVER THE DATA, AND I THINK I'VE SORT OF SORTED THAT OUT WITH A DEEPER DIVE, UM, ON EACH OF THE, THE CORE, UM, UH, TIME SNAPSHOTS.
THERE WAS AN OVERALL UTILIZATION RATE FOR THE CORE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL STREETS, YOU'LL SEE THAT SOME OF THEM ARE AT FAR BEYOND, UH, CAPACITY OR REASONABLE CAPACITY.
THEY'RE REDLINED AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE OVER PARKED, IF YOU WILL.
SO I DON'T SEE THIS AS SO MUCH OF A, UM, UH, SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM AS IT IS.
UM, LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE DATA IS TELLING US.
AND I THINK WHAT THE DATA IS TELLING US IS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF, UM, UH, IT'S NOT REALLY A PARKING PROBLEM.
IT'S A, I DON'T HAVE A PARKING SPACE AT MY DESTINATION PROBLEM.
AND, UH, IF WE START, UH, REALLY SUPPORT METERING, UH, PARKING DOWNTOWN SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANNA BE RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR DESTINATION CAN PAY FOR IT, AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN MOVE THEIR CARS AND THEIR, THEIR, UM, UH, PLANS OUT TO THE PERIPHERY, UH, CITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED, UM, METERED PARKING PROGRAMS SHOW AN INCREASE IN SALES TAX REVENUE FROM THEIR, FROM THEIR DOWNTOWN SHOPPING DISTRICTS.
AND WHEN PARKING REVENUES ARE SPENT ON BEAUTIFYING AND UPGRADING THE DOWNTOWNS, IT CREATES THAT VIRTUOUS CYCLE SO THAT IT BRINGS IN MORE PEOPLE AND MORE REVENUES.
I MEAN, JUST IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD DO WITH REVENUES.
MAYBE WE COULD EVEN REBUILD THE TRESTLE.
SO I DO SUPPORT BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL, UM, REVENUES THROUGH OUR PARKING MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
ANOTHER ITEM THAT WAS TOUCHED ON THAT I THINK IS REALLY CRITICAL IS THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH POTENTIAL HOUSING DEVELOPERS TO CREATIVELY SOLVE THE PARKING PUZZLE SO THAT THEY'RE NOT MAKING OUR ON STREET PARKING SITUATION WORSE WHEN THEY DO BRING HOUSING INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND I HAVE HOPE THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE DON'T WANT TO ENCUMBER THESE PARKING, THESE, UH, HOUSING PROJECTS WITH HIGH DEVELOPMENT COSTS, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH FREE PARKING.
WE HEARD HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO BUILD A PARKING PLACE, HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO BUILD A PODIUM PARKING PLACE.
SO SOME CREATIVE APPROACHES TO,
[02:20:01]
UH, SOLVING THIS PROBLEM MIGHT INCLUDE UNBUNDLED PARKING LOT SHARING AND TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS THAT OBVIATE THE NEED FOR PARKING AT ALL.UM, AND I DO SUPPORT REDUCING THE NEED FOR PARKING IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
WITH DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE, UH, FIXED ROUTE SHUTTLE.
WE CAN BRING PEOPLE INTO THE CORE WITHOUT THE CARS.
AND WE, WITH PROPER WAY FINDING, WE CAN INCREASE BIKE PARKING OPTIONS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MORE SI EASILY, UH, CYCLE IN.
THANK YOU BRUCE HAGEN TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, CHANTEL ROGERS.
UM, A FEW THINGS BEAR REPEATING.
FREE PARKING IS FREE ONLY IN MONOPOLY.
EVERYWHERE ELSE LIKE PETALUMA, IT JUST PUSHES THE COST ONTO EVERYONE, INCLUDING NON-DRIVERS.
WE NEED SMART PAID PARKING, NOT THOSE OLD TECH METERS LIKE YOU SAW PAUL NEWMAN DECAPITATE IN COOL HAND, LUKE.
THAT TECHNOLOGY SHOULD USE PROVEN METHODS, WHICH MAKE IT EASIER TO PARK, NOT HARDER, BUT PARK IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
AND IT SHOULD PRODUCE REVENUE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF DOWNTOWN CLIMATE.
EXECUTIVE ORDERS WILL NOT WIPE AWAY OUR CLIMATE CRISIS, BUT GASOLINE CARS AND TRUCKS REMAIN PETALUMA'S BIGGEST SOURCES OF CLIMATE POLLUTION.
SO WE NEED TO UP OUR GAME ON ALTERNATIVES TO DRIVING SINGLE OCCUPANT CARS.
WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS SO FAR WITH OUR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, AND I THINK, UH, THE LAST I HEARD IS THAT WE WOULD FINISH IT THIS SPRING.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS AND LET'S ADOPT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WE GOT FROM THE CITY THREAD CONSULTANTS FOR GETTING 25 MILES OF NEW, UH, ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, UH, UH, ELEMENTS TO OUR CITY'S PLAN.
SO A CITYWIDE NETWORK, SAFE, HEALTHY, AND AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR RIDERS, WHETHER YOU'RE IN A CAR OR IN TRANSIT FOR ROLLERS, WHICH INCLUDES EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND WALKERS, FORGET ABOUT CLASS ONE, CLASS TWO AND CLASS THREE.
WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE RIDERS.
WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE WALKERS AND THE ROLLERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.
'CAUSE IF WE JUST FOCUS ON A CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LEFT OUT AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY'RE BEING LEFT OUT.
SO, AND FINALLY, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, STAY TUNED FOR TREE PARKING.
UH, CHANTEL ROGERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UM, PATTY COLE.
I SHARE EVERYBODY'S DESIRE TO VIEW A, YOU KNOW, PIE IN THE SKY, EVERYBODY ON BIKES, YOU KNOW, CLIMATE AND ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF.
BUT I, I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT OUR TOWN FUNCTIONS ON BUSINESS AND VISITORS AND PEOPLE FROM FROM OUT OF TOWN.
IT'S NOT JUST US AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE WILLING TO GET ON OUR BIKE OR, UM, TAKE A BUS INTO TOWN AND GIVE UP PARKING ALTOGETHER.
UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO COME TO SONOMA COUNTY AND NAPA COUNTY HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS.
AND IF PETALUMA MAKES 'EM PAY A LOT OF MONEY, DOESN'T HAVE PARKING AVAILABLE, WHEN THAT'S WHAT THEY WANNA DO, TRIES TO GET 'EM TO COME IN ON THE TRAIN OR THE BUS, THEY'LL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SONOMA, NAPA, HEALDSBURG, THERE'S A LOT OF PLACES TO GO.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT.
AND IF WE MOVE TOO QUICKLY TO, UM, TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT ALL THIS STUFF, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO PAY FOR OUR TOWN ON BOARD AND THEY, THEY, THEY MIGHT NOT COME.
SO WE DO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT, I THINK.
UM, I'M ALSO WONDERING WITH THIS SURVEY, HOW SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT AFFECT IT HA HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOADING SPOTS, DELIVERY, FOOD PICKUP, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT, BUT WHERE ARE THE NUMBERS, THE PARKING NUMBERS THAT RELATE TO THAT? IF YOU WANNA HAVE THAT, THEN DO YOU HAVE TO REDO YOUR WHOLE PARKING THING TO TAKE THOSE NUMBERS OUT? WAS THE PARKING SURVEY INCLUDED? UM, WITH DAYLIGHTING, DAYLIGHTING ACTUALLY DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE A SINGLE RED CURB.
IT'S NOT MANDATED IN THE STATE LAW, BUT IT IS MANDATED ON EVERY INTERSECTION.
UM, AND SO BEING THAT THAT WAS BECAME LAW IN 2023, I WOULD ASSUME THAT ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH PARKING THAT HAPPENED IN 2024 SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ANTICIPATE THE LOSS OF PARKING SPOTS FROM DAYLIGHTING.
AND THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING ON HOW MANY SPOTS WERE
[02:25:01]
ACTUALLY LOST.UM, AND I THINK THE PUBLIC, AND YOU ALL NEED TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE AS WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE FEW, WITH, WITH OUR REMAINING SPOTS, WE CAN'T IGNORE THE ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY VALID CONSIDERATIONS LIKE INCREASING HANDICAP PARKING AND ALSO STATE MANDATES THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE BUT TO ABSORB IN TERMS OF LOST PARKING AREAS.
SO, UM, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE SURVEY IS THAT I THINK THAT IT'S A MISTAKE NOT TO ANTICIPATE, UM, THE TASTING ROOM, THE POSSIBLE HOTEL AND OVERLAY IF WE'RE NOT, IF WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING OUR, YOU KNOW, DOING THE SNAPSHOT.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY NIMBLE FOR WHAT'S COMING.
THANK YOU, UH, PATTY COLE ROSS TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, NATHAN SPINDEL.
AND UH, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS THIS EVENING.
UM, I WANNA SPEAK FOR THE RENTERS, UM, AND THE FACT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN YOUR STUDY AREA, THAT QUARTER MILE AREA.
SO SOME OF THE PARKING THAT YOU SAW, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE, AND THEY MAY BE RENTERS WHO DON'T HAVE AN OPTION OF OFF STREET PARKING IN THEIR BUILDING AND CAN ONLY PARK ON THE STREET.
AND SO I WOULD APPRECIATE, UM, AS A RENTER, UH, THAT YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
I LIVE ON LIBERTY STREET JUST OUTSIDE OF YOUR STUDY AREA ON THE OTHER SIDE OF WASHINGTON, RIGHT AT THAT CORNER.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS, WE DO HAVE, THE STREET IS FULL WITH PARKING.
SO MAYBE A FUTURE STUDY COULD LOOK AT SOME OF THESE OUTSIDE STREETS BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT YOU DECIDE YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO, INTO CONSIDERATION THAT YOU MIGHT PUSH THE PA THE PROBLEM OR THE PARKING OFF, UH, ONTO SOME OF THE SURROUNDING STREETS THAT WERE NOT IN YOUR STUDY AREA.
AND, UM, IN THE FUTURE, YOU MIGHT ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER A WIDER USE OF RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS FOR THOSE OF US WHO DO LIVE IN THESE IMPACTED AREAS AND DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE BUT TO PARK ON THE STREET.
UM, AND ALSO ENGAGE SOME OF THE LANDLORDS IN THESE AREAS SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR, UM, ABILITY TO RENT IN THESE AREAS MIGHT BECOME IMPACTED IF, UM, THE APPLICANTS FEEL THAT THERE ISN'T ANY PLACE TO PARK, UM, WHERE THEY LIVE.
SPIN SPINDEL TO BE FOLLOWED BY LARRY JONAS.
I MOVED TO PETALUMA SIX YEARS AGO BECAUSE I LOVED, ITS LIVELY DOWNTOWN.
I LIVE A MILE AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN AND I GO THERE EVERY DAY FOR WORK, ERRANDS AND MEALS.
I GET THERE BY WALKING, DRIVING, AND BIKING.
THE IDEAS DISCUSSED IN TONIGHT'S WORKSHOP ARE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DOWNTOWN EVEN BETTER.
TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE WITH A WELL-DESIGNED PAID PARKING PROGRAM, WE COULD HAVE IT SO THAT ON EVERY BLOCK IN DOWNTOWN PETALUMA, THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE OPEN PARKING SPACE.
ON EVERY BLOCK OR TWO THERE WOULD BE AN A DA ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACE.
ON EVERY COUPLE BLOCKS, THERE WOULD BE NICE NEW PUBLIC BATHROOMS THAT EVERYONE WHO LIVED IN THE CITY WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO TAKE A FREE SHUTTLE BETWEEN THEIR HOME AND DOWNTOWN.
THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WOULD GET MORE CUSTOMERS, THAT OUR DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGES AND STREETS WOULD BE BETTER MAINTAINED AND UPDATED WITH NEW LIGHTING THAT WE'D HAVE FUNDING TO REDUCE TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND INJURIES ON THE MOST DANGEROUS DOWNTOWN STREETS LIKE WASHINGTON AND PETALUMA BOULEVARD.
AND THAT WE'D FINALLY GET SOME FUNDING FOR MUCH DESIRED DOWNTOWN PROJECTS LIKE THE HISTORIC RESILE RESTORATION, THE PAL LUUM MUSEUM RETROFIT, AND THE BEAUTIFICATION OF OUR RIVERFRONT.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE MANY BENEFITS PROVIDED BY A PAID PARKING PROGRAM.
IT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED EQUITABLY SO THAT DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEES AND LOW INCOME VISITORS AND RESIDENTS WOULD STILL HAVE FREE PARKING.
AS A PETALUMA RESIDENT AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I SUPPORT EXPLORING THESE EXCITING IDEAS.
THANK YOU LARRY JONAS TO BE FOLLOWED BY HEATHER GALLAGHER.
UH, AT THE RISK OF BEING REDUNDANT, I THOUGHT I'D COME DOWN AND SPEND SOME TIME HERE.
UM, I FIND IT VERY IRONIC THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKING PROBLEM TONIGHT.
AND IN PRIOR MEETINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A HOTEL DOWNTOWN.
THAT HOTEL WILL GENERATE OVER 150 EXCESS
[02:30:01]
PARKING SPACES.I GOT THESE NUMBERS FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
NOW, LAST WEEK THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE ARGUS COURIER ABOUT DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES DECLINING.
PART OF THAT IS PARKED IS PARKING.
EVIDENT TO THAT IS THE ANTIQUE STORE THAT HAD MOVED OUT OF THE OLD PENNY'S, UM, DOWNTOWN PARKING, OR NOT DOWNTOWN, UH, PENNY'S, UM, STORE.
ANYWAY, UM, AND ON HIS WINDOW HE SAID, COME VISIT US AT OUR NEW SITE.
OKAY, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
NOW THAT'S A BIG EMPTY BUILDING.
UM, LAST NIGHT WE WENT TO NAPA FOR THE LIGHT SHOW, WHICH WAS REALLY SPECTACULAR.
AND IT'S AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF PARKING STRUCTURES THEY HAVE AND PARKING LOTS IN NAPA.
THERE'S ALSO A HOTEL OWNED BY THE SAME PEOPLE THAT'S PROPOSING THIS HOTEL.
THERE WAS FIVE GUYS STANDING OUTSIDE DOING VALET PARKING.
NOW LUCKILY, I GUESS THEY HAVE SOME PLACE TO GO WITH THAT, UH, VALET PARKING.
UM, NOW ALSO PARKING'S GONNA GET A LOT WORSE WHEN ADOBE ROAD OPENS UP, THAT MONSTROUS
THAT C STREET PARKING LOT, WHICH IS ALREADY HEAVILY IMPACTED, IS JUST GONNA BE IMPOSSIBLE.
SO NOW YOU GOT THAT GOING IN AND, UM, YOU HAVE LUCKILY, UM, SUMMIT PARKING LOT, THE OLD NORTH BAY PARKING LOT, AND, UH, LEO LANE'S PARKING ON, UH, OH GOSH, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE STREET? FOURTH STREET, FIFTH STREET.
AND THESE ARE ALL PRIVATE PARKING THAT EVERYBODY'S PARKING IN.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU REALLY LOOK AT THE PARKING SITUATION AND MAYBE THE LOT THAT'S DOWN THERE ON, UM, D STREET AND THE BOULEVARD, THAT EMPTY LOT THAT HAS HAD POLLUTION PROBLEMS, MAYBE THAT MIGHT BECOME A NEW PARKING LOT.
THANK YOU HEATHER GALLAGHER TO BE FOLLOWED BY BEN PETERS.
I AM VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT YOU GUYS ARE TAKING ON THIS PARKING SITUATION BECAUSE IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE RESTAURANTS HAVING SPACES TAKEN UP ON THE STREETS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW, UM, FAIR THAT IS FOR ALL THE OTHER RESTAURANTS THAT DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE TAKE UP PARKING SPOTS.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME RESTAURANTS THAT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE PARKING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THE RESTAURANTS ARE TAKING UP PARKING ON THE STREETS.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY GETS PAID FOR THOSE PARK FOR THAT RESTAURANT TO BE, TO UTILIZE THOSE SPACES, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR THE OTHER RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPACTING IT QUITE A BIT.
LIKE EVERYBODY SAID, ADOBE CREEK WINERY IS GONNA BE A BIG HAZARD FOR OUR PARKING SITUATION.
UM, THERE WAS MENTION THAT BREWSTERS MIGHT HAVE BEEN CLOUDING THE PARKING OVER IN THAT AREA, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE THE APARTMENTS THAT WERE NEWLY INSTALLED THERE WITH 1.5 PARKING SPOTS ALLOWED PER RESIDENT THERE IS IMPACTING THAT AREA.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING TONIGHT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU KIND OF CONSIDER THE IMPACTS THAT, UH, PROVING THE OVERLAY COULD HA AFFECT ON THE PARKING SITUATION.
THANK YOU BEN PETERS TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, MORGAN BELLINGER.
UH, SO A GUY WALKS INTO THE HOTEL PLUMA BAR AND HE SAYS, WHERE DO I PARK? AND THE BARTENDER SAYS, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WE HAVE A PARKING UTILIZATION OF ALMOST 50% AND OVER A THOUSAND PRIVATE PARKING SPACES.
WE DON'T HAVE A PARKING PROBLEM IN PETALUMA.
OKAY? WHEN WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE ADOBE ROAD WINERY AND THE LOT ACROSS THE STREET WHERE WE HAD DATA ON THE UTILIZATION SAYING IT'S 60% FULL, IT'S GOING TO BE STILL 80% LESS THAN 80% FULL, WHICH WAS THE MAGIC NUMBER.
OUR CONSULTANT IS TELLING US, OKAY, THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM.
OKAY? THAT IS US DOING IMPORTANT MATH.
OKAY? SO I KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC TO EVERYONE.
THIS IS PART OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR CLIMATE ACTION.
[02:35:01]
AD HOC ON THE TRANSPORTATION GROUP THERE.AND WE WILL, AS PART OF OUR BLUEPRINT FOR CLIMATE ACTION, BE TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, DEMAND MANAGEMENT AND PARKING MANAGEMENT.
I INVITE EVERYONE TO COME WHEN WE HEAR PEOPLE SAY, I BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE.
BUT WE SHOULD BE SAYING, I BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND, OKAY, THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS ON THE A STREET THING THAT SEEMS A LITTLE FUNNY BUSINESS GOING ON.
I WILL SAY, IF THESE PEOPLE PRIVATELY OWN PARKING SPACES, THEY HAD BETTER BE PAYING TAXES, OKAY? AND IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING TAXES, WELL THEN WE NEED TO ASK THEM TO PAY BACK TAXES OR WE NEED TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.
I WILL SAY, UH, ON A RELATED NOTE, THE YACHT CLUB, OKAY, I DID MY OWN PARKING COUNT THERE.
OR DO WE HAVE A SIMILAR DEAL WITH THE YACHT CLUB? A DOLLAR A YEAR FOR YACHT CLUB MEMBERS TO PARK FOR FREE 15 SPACES.
THAT'S IMMEDIATELY SOLVES 20% OF YOUR ADOBE ROAD PROBLEM RIGHT THERE.
PLUS LET'S BUILD A BATHROOM THERE.
OKAY? YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS IS ALL FUN AND GAMES TO SOME PEOPLE AND SERIOUS BUSINESSES TO SOME PEOPLE.
I WILL SAY ON THE DYNAMIC PRICING TOPIC, WHICH SEEMS TO BE REALLY THE ONLY CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC AMONG THESE WHOLE SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS, DYNAMIC PRICING DOES NOT MEAN PAID PRICING.
OKAY? DYNAMIC CAN HAVE A ZERO COST.
OKAY? YOU PUT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
HOW MUCH DOES THE INFRASTRUCTURE COST? WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS? THAT'S SOME THAT'S DIRECTION YOU NEED TO PROVIDE STAFF TODAY.
WHAT IS IT GONNA COST TO PUT IN THESE MACHINES SO THAT WE CAN DYNAMICALLY PRICE THEM? ONE OF THE, THERE'S SO MANY OPTIONS, BUT LET'S START WITH THE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU MORGAN BELLINGER TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UM, ISA GONZALEZ.
HI, UH, MORGAN BELLINGER, PETALUMA RESIDENT.
I LIVE ABOUT A MILE FROM HERE.
UM, THERE WAS A MOMENT WHERE I CONSIDERED WHETHER, WHETHER TO DRIVE OR BIKE FOR THIS MEETING.
I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH FUEL COSTS FOR THIS TRIP.
AND I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH INSURANCE OR MY CAR NOTE COSTS FOR THIS TRIP.
'CAUSE I PAY FOR THAT NO MATTER WHAT.
BUT I DID THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH PARKING WOULD COST AND PARKING IS FREE.
SO I DROVE BECAUSE PARKING IS FREE.
ANY TRIP DOWNTOWN DRIVE 'CAUSE PARKING IS FREE.
YOU WANT FOR THE PRESENTATION TON OF DATA THERE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO GATHER A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO IS PARKING DOWNTOWN.
PETALUMA IS AN AG TOWN, AND WE WANNA SUPPORT OUR FARMERS WHO OFTEN CAN'T CHOOSE A BIKE OR WALKING SHOES TO GET HERE.
PETALUMA, AS WE KNOW, HAS SENIORS AND FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES, AND WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET DOWN, GET DOWNTOWN EASILY.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF THE FOLKS PARKING ON KENTUCKY STREET LIVE FOUR BLOCKS AWAY AND JUST DECIDED TO DRIVE BECAUSE PARKING IS FREE, THEREBY TAKING SPOTS FROM FARMERS AND SENIORS AND DISABLED FOLKS.
I'D ALSO ENCOURAGE US TO GATHER INFO ABOUT OVERNIGHT PARKING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
NOT BECAUSE KENTUCKY IS BUSTLING AT 4:00 AM BUT BECAUSE CARS PARKED IN THE CITY OVERNIGHT GOVERN OUR PLANNING DECISIONS AND MAKE PEOPLE OPPOSE HOUSING NEXT DOOR.
THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING ME FROM OWNING A DOZEN CARS AND PARKING THEM IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
SAN ANSELMO DOESN'T ALLOW STREET PARKING FROM TWO TO 6:00 AM UNLESS YOU HAVE A HARDSHIP PERMIT.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS, SAN ANSELMO RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE A PARKING BASED REASON TO OPPOSE BUILDING DENSE HOUSING, A SENSIBLE PARKING PERMIT SYSTEM FOR PETALUMA RESIDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN A MILE OF DOWNTOWN MIGHT ALLOW FOR OVERNIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING AND GARAGE PARKING, BUT LEAVE KENTUCKY STREET FOR THE FARMERS AND THE SENIORS AND THE VISITORS AND THE FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN I'M LEAVING MY HOUSE FOR DOWNTOWN, I WANT TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH PARKING WILL COST AND BE ENCOURAGED TO SAVE A COUPLE OF BUCKS BY BIKING OR DRIVE DOWNTOWN IF I NEED TO, AND PUT SOME MONEY IN THE CITY COFFERS FOR GARAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND, UM, ONE LAST THING IS WE KEEP HEARING THIS GREAT QUESTION.
WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? UM, I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT PETALUMA BOULEVARD IS DEDICATED SO MUCH SPACE TO PARKING THAT'S NOT USABLE AT ALL BY CITY RESIDENTS WHO DON'T CHOOSE TO OWN A CAR.
MEANWHILE, I CAN'T SEND MY CHILD ON A BICYCLE DOWN PETALUMA BOULEVARD EXPERTS ONLY BECAUSE ANY SPACE THAT THE BIKE LANE WOULD TAKE UP IS TAKEN UP BY
[02:40:01]
PARKING.SO TO ME, THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE GOT PUBLIC LAND NOT BEING USED EQUITABLY.
IT ONLY REPRESENTS PEOPLE WHO OWN CARS.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, ISAIAH, UH, GONZALEZ TO BE FOLLOWED BY, UH, MARIANNE PONI.
UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, I AM SO BUMMED, HONESTLY, UH, JUST THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HYPER-FOCUSED ON, UH, AND INVESTED LIKE THIS AMOUNT OF FUNDS INTO RESEARCHING AND STUDYING.
UM, I WAS BORN IN SAN FRANCISCO, BUT MY PARENTS BROUGHT ME HOME TO AN APARTMENT ON THE EAST SIDE OF PETALUMA IN 1996.
AND I WENT TO TINY TOTS PRESCHOOL, BUT I THEN MOVED BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR KINDERGARTEN UP TO SECOND GRADE, THEN TO SAN JOSE UP TILL FIFTH GRADE.
AND THAT WAS WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS, WHO SIMULTANEOUSLY HAD BOUGHT THEIR HOME HERE IN 1999, OVER TOWARD THE END OF THE, UH, LYNCH CREEK TRAIL WHEN IT USED TO BE A ROCK QUARRY.
IT WAS A BRAND NEW DEVELOPMENT THEN.
AND THEIR HOME WAS ONLY $200,000.
UM, I SHARE ALL OF THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE MOVED BACK AND I WAS IN FIFTH GRADE, MY MOM PLACED ME IN GRANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THEN I WENT TO PETALUMA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN I WENT TO PETALUMA HIGH SCHOOL.
AND BECAUSE MY PARENTS WORKED LONG HOURS UP UNTIL 6:00 PM YOU KNOW, TYPICAL COMMUTER TYPE WORKING HOURS, UH, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME UNSUPERVISED ONCE I AGED OUT OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
UM, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME JUST WANDERING AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA, LIKE COUNTLESS HOURS.
AND I AM OVERLY FAMILIAR WITH THAT, THAT REGION, BECAUSE I HAD TO WALK ACROSS IT CONSTANTLY TO GET BACK HOME.
AND MY FAMILY EXPERIENCED CONSTANT DISPLACEMENT BEING A MINORITY FAMILY IN PETALUMA.
AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE PARKING ISSUE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING UP A PAYWALL TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA BY PRICING, PARKING, WE HAVE A BIGGER ISSUE OF LOOKING AT EQUITY ACROSS THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
AND THAT'S THE MOST FRUSTRATING PART OF LISTENING TO THIS BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED TO HYPERFOCUS ON THE DOWNTOWN.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CITY AT LARGE AND REINVESTING AND REDISTRIBUTING THE BUSINESS THAT'S IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO THE REST OF THE CITY SO THAT THERE'S MORE EQUITY, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY WE SWITCHED TO A, A DISTRICT STYLE, UH, VOTING.
EACH OF YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO ABOUT ROUGHLY 10,000 PETALUMA NOW.
SO SHOULDN'T THIS BE LIKE COUNCILMAN BARNACLE AND COUNCILMAN DI CARLY'S AREAS OF EXPERTISE, AND SHOULDN'T WE BE TRUSTING THE INPUT FROM THEM AND THEIR RESIDENTS VERSUS INVESTING IN THIS STUDY FROM EXPERTS? THAT'S ALL I'M WONDERING.
THANK YOU MARYANNE PEDRO TO BE FOLLOWED BY MARIE, UH, MCCUSKER.
I APOLOGIZE IF MY COMMENTS ARE A BIT DISJOINTED, BUT I HAVE A LIST, VARIOUS ITEMS. UH, THE FIRST IS I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL FORMALLY INQUIRE ABOUT THE PARKING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE, UH, BANK.
LOTS THAT ARE NOT, UM, THAT ARE ARE CURRENTLY VACANT BUILDINGS ARE VACANT AND EVENING PARKING IN THOSE AREAS.
UM, SECOND, I'M WONDERING IF THE DATA COLLECTED BY THE PARKING CONTROL OFFICERS CAN BE DOWNLOADED, UH, TO SEE IF THE SAME CARS ARE PARKING DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY OR MOVING THROUGHOUT THE PARKING AREA.
UH, I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THE, UH, NUMBER OF, UH, PARKING CONTROL OFFICERS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE PARKING CONTROL OFFICER EACH DAY, AND THAT ENFORCEMENT ONLY GOES UP TO ABOUT THREE 30 OR FOUR O'CLOCK.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, SOMEONE CAN PARK DOWNTOWN AT 2:00 PM AND NOT NEED TO MOVE THEIR CAR, UM, ALL EVENING.
UM, I'M WONDERING, UH, IF WE COULD INCREASE THE ENFORCEMENT HOURS AND, UM, BEYOND 6:00 PM AND
[02:45:01]
THE, UH, UH, REVIEW OF THE, THE PARKING AREAS.UH, I'M WONDERING IN THE SURVEYS, HOW LONG A DISTANCE A WALK IS ACCEPTABLE.
UM, I'M CONCERNED THAT, UH, IT MAY BE A VERY, YOU KNOW, SHORT, UH, DURATION.
AND HOW DO YOU DEFINE PARKING BEING DIFFICULT TO FIND? I THINK FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT MAY MEAN THAT THEY CAN'T FIND A PARKING SPOT ON KENTUCKY STREET BETWEEN WESTERN AND UM, UH, EAST WASHINGTON.
UM, THERE WAS SOME, I THINK IT'S NAIVE TO THINK THAT, UH, PARKING IS GOING TO BE A REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE CITY.
UH, THERE'S SO MANY COSTS TO MAINTAINING PARKING SYSTEMS, UM, AND, UH, ADJUDICATING PARKING FINES.
UH, AND, AND TRACKING THAT INFORMATION.
I NOTE THAT ON PAGE, UH, 10 OF THE REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, THERE'S A FIGURE OF $9 MILLION.
AND BY MY CALCULATION, IT'S ONLY 2.4 MILLION.
UH, IF YOU TAKE IN ALL THE FACTORS THAT THEY'VE INCLUDED THE NUMBER OF DAYS RATES, PERCENTAGE PARKING SPOTS.
SO IT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE TIME TO ADD SIX OTHER COMMENTS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
MAUREEN MCCUSKER TO BE FOLLOWED BY TOM GAFFEY.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING TOGETHER WITH SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY.
WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK THROUGH THIS STUDY ON THURSDAY LAST WEEK AT OUR BOARD MEETING.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS JOB QUITE A LONG TIME, SO IT WAS KIND OF NICE TO SEE SOME FIGURES AND TO BE ABLE TO GET OUR HEADS AROUND THEM.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, I DO BELIEVE THERE'S PROBABLY MORE WORK AND LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS TO GET TO SOME SOLUTIONS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU STAFF FOR THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS.
UM, I WOULD ASK THAT WE BRING BACK THE ORIGINAL FOCUS GROUP THAT MET, UM, HERE, UM, THAT WAS QUITE A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
AND THE FIRST, UM, PARKING STUDY HAD SOME DEFICITS.
WE BELIEVED IN TIMING AND YOU WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEM IN THE NEW PLAN.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE FRUITFUL TO BRING THAT GROUP BACK.
UM, I THINK ANY FOCUS GROUP THAT ARE ASKED TO WORK ON SOMETHING SHOULD BE CONTINUALLY ENGAGED WITH RIGHT THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SO, UM, I'D LIKE, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PROPERTY OWNERS IN THERE THAT I THOUGHT WAS, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, OUR PARKING GARAGE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME.
IT WAS AN ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT THAT DIDN'T HAVE A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IN IT.
SO IF WE WANT A SAFE GARAGE THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO UTILIZE AND FEEL SAFE USING AND IT'S CLEAN, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO MAINTAIN IT.
HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE RAISED ARE, UM, UP FOR DISCUSSION, I'M SURE.
AND WE WANT WHAT WE WANT, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY OF FINDING THE FUNDING TO DO IT.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT THIS MAY FIND A SOLUTION FOR THAT.
UM, I TRAVEL A LOT AND I FIND THAT MANY DOWNTOWNS DON'T HAVE ANY PARKING.
A LOT OF PRIVATE LOTS ARE UTILIZED AND PEOPLE PAY FOR THAT PRIVILEGE.
MORE SO IN EUROPE THAN I'VE EVER SEEN.
DO WE LIKE TO PAY FOR FUN, UH, PARKING? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT WE ALL WANT TO GET TO WHERE OUR DESTINATION AND WE WANT TO ENJOY IT.
AND WE WANT NEED TO FIND CONVENIENT WAYS OF BEING ABLE TO PARK OUR VEHICLES BECAUSE WE DO DRIVE AND WE ARE A TOURISM DESTINATION.
AND I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE ARE THE BIGGEST RETAIL CENTER IN OUR TOWN, AND WE ARE A TOURIST DESTINATION.
AND THOSE FUNDS THAT WE RAISE FROM TOURISM ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY FOR, UM, OUR, THE POLICE FIRE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO.
AND ALSO FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO LET'S NOT FORGET THAT OUR SMALL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES RELY ON PEOPLE WALKING THEIR DOORS.
AND HOWEVER WE GET THEM IN THERE, WE NEED TO PROTECT.
WE ARE NOT A CARLA SOCIETY YET.
CARLA'S TRAVEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PETALUMA.
WE HAVE A FERRY AND A TRAIN AND BUSES THAT TAKE BIKES.
IT'S HOW YOU HAVE IN INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE GROUND TO MAKE THAT REAL.
WE ARE AWAY A LONG TIME AWAY FROM THAT BEING A REAL REALITY.
SOME PEOPLE MANAGE IT, BUT IT'S NOT WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
UM, EMPLOYEE PARKING IS AN ISSUE, HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.
WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO MANAGE EMPLOYEE PARKING.
I DO HAVE MORE, BUT I'LL STOP NOW.
TOM GAFFEY TO BE FOLLOWED BY DWAYNE BELLINGER.
I REMEMBER MANY, MANY YEARS AGO THAT USED TO BE A RULE, UH, IF YOU WORK DOWNTOWN FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, DON'T PARK IN FRONT OF THE SHOP BECAUSE OUR CUSTOMERS NEED IT.
[02:50:01]
MIGHT BE PART OF THE ISSUE WITH SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES PARKING TOO CLOSE TO THE PLACES THAT THEY WORK.UM, BUT MARIE AND, AND, UH, DARREN IS HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN MOST OF MY STEAM OUT OF THIS.
I THINK LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS THAT, THAT, UH, YOUR RESEARCHERS CAME UP WITH, IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST YET.
AND, AND I SEE THAT EVERY DAY.
'CAUSE AS A LOT OF YOU GUYS KNOW, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME WALKING DOWNTOWN.
MOST OF THE TIME I'M SEEING, UH, SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO PARK.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM.
ALSO, AS MARIE SAID, WE ARE YEARS AWAY FROM BEING A CARLESS SOCIETY.
AND THAT'S A SHAME, UH, BECAUSE IT IS GONNA DO DAMAGE.
BUT, UH, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET PEOPLE OUTTA THEIR CARS.
AND SO I THINK THE OBJECT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HAVE PARKING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DO.
WE NEED THE TOURISTS TO COME INTO THIS TOWN.
AND, UH, EVERY, EVERY FEW MONTHS IN THE ARGUS COURIER OR THE PRESS DEMOCRATS, SOMEBODY WRITES THIS LETTER, MY GOD, I PARKED IN PETALUMA.
I TOOK TOO LONG AT THE RESTAURANT, AND IT'S COST ME $40 AND I WILL NEVER GO THERE AGAIN.
UH, BILLY PATTERSON, GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, GREW UP IN THIS TOWN, WILL NEVER RETURN TO THIS TOWN AGAIN BECAUSE OF A PARKING ISSUE.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU REMEMBER BILLY
SO LET'S, LET'S, UH, I KNOW THE BIKER, THE BIKE, UH, COALITION IS SALIVATING OVER THIS ISSUE TONIGHT.
BUT NOT EVERYBODY CAN RIDE A BIKE.
BRUCE IS THE ONLY GUY I KNOW THAT ONLY RIDES A BIKE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, KEVIN, YOU AND I DO, I WALK YOU RIDE, BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T.
WE DON'T GROOVY OURSELVES OUT OF A LOT OF BUSINESS DOWNTOWN, PLEASE, PROGRESSIVE.
I USED TO CONSIDER MYSELF A PROGRESSIVE, BUT THAT STUFF'S STARTING TO SCARE ME AN AWFUL LOT LATELY.
SO ANYWAY, UH, LISTEN TO DARREN, LISTEN TO MARIE LOVE BIKES, BUT HOLY COW, THANKS.
DWAYNE BELLINGER IS OUR LAST SPEAKER TONIGHT.
UM, I HAD ONE TOPIC, BUT I WANTED TO ADDRESS WITH YOU GENTLEMAN JUST BEFORE ME.
UM, THE METHOD FOR DEALING WITH, UH, PEOPLE GETTING HUGE TRAFFIC TICKETS WHEN THEY COME HERE IS TO SEE TO IT THAT THE FIRST ONE'S FIVE BUCKS.
AFTER THAT, YOU CAN GET 40 BUCKS IF YOU LIKE, OR 80.
UM, I, IN FACT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IN RESPONSE TO, UH, ONE OF THE PEOPLE HERE THAT TALKED ABOUT OUT OF TOWNERS COMING HERE AND BEING UPSET IS IF WE HAVE THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM ANTICIPATED IN MOST CITIES, UH, SOMEBODY FROM OUT OF TOWN COULD HAVE A MESSAGE FLASH ON THE SCREEN THERE.
IT SAYS, UH, WELCOME TO PETALUMA FOR THE FIRST TIME.
'CAUSE WE KNOW WHEN THEY USE THEIR CREDIT CARD, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THEIR NAME SHOWS UP AND SAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA CHARGE YOU FOR YOUR FIRST TIME HERE.
AND WHEN YOU COME BACK AGAIN, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND A PLACE BECAUSE WE'LL CHARGE PEOPLE.
BUT WHAT I, WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SUGGEST, UH, TALK ABOUT IS THESE OVERSIZED TRUCKS THAT PARK IN PARKING LOTS, PARKING SPACES, AND TAKE UP A SPACE AND A HALF OR TAKE UP A SPACE AND JUST ENOUGH THAT YOU'RE AFRAID TO PARK NEXT TO THEM.
AND CAN WE HAVE DIFFERENTIAL CHARGES? I KNOW, I KNOW MOST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, THE CARS ARE ABOUT A FOOT NARROWER THAN OURS AND MUCH SHORTER.
CAN WE CHARGE LESS FOR SMALLER CARS AND MORE FOR THESE HUGE TRUCKS THAT TAKE UP TWO SPOTS? THANK YOU.
UH, AND THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE EVENING.
I'D LIKE TO BRING IT BACK UP TO COUNCIL AND START, UH, WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BARNACLE.
UH, SO ON THE, THE, THE PROBLEMS WE'RE TRYING TO FIX, UM, I PULLED UP AN EMAIL FROM COUNCIL MEMBER STRIPS FROM OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.
UM, HE WAS A SURVEY OF EMPTY STOREFRONTS IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
THERE WAS 20 EMPTY STOREFRONTS IN THAT SURVEY, SINCE SOME HAVE BEEN FILLED.
SOME, SOME ARE, UH, HAVE GONE OUTTA BUSINESS.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY, I WOULD IMAGINE SOMEWHERE IN THE 15 TO 20, UM, EMPTY STOREFRONTS.
IF ALL THOSE, UH, STOREFRONTS, UM, ARE FILLED, THERE'S GONNA BE EVEN MORE DEMAND FOR PARKING, RIGHT? BECAUSE THOSE NEED CUSTOMERS.
THE THE AMOUNT OF CUSTOMERS THAT ARE IN OUR DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW ARE SUPPORTING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
IF WE GROW THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN OUR DOWNTOWN, WE NEED TO GROW THE CUSTOMER BASE FOR THAT BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT, UH, THE GOAL OF THIS IS TO ELIMINATE PARKING SPACES.
HONESTLY, PART OF MY FEEDBACK'S GONNA BE TO INCREASE, UM, SUPPLY LOOKING AT, UM, SOME STREET RECONFIGURATIONS AND PRIVATE LOTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR DOWNTOWN'S NOT A STATIC PLACE.
WE WANT TO, UM, BE FILLING OUR EMPTY STOREFRONTS.
WE WANT TO BE GROWING THE RESIDENT AND THE VISITOR CUSTOMER BASE.
[02:55:01]
TOURISM IS, IS A VERY IMPORTANT DRIVER FOR BUSINESS IN OUR DOWNTOWN.WE WANT TO GROW THE CUSTOMER BASE FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, THAT THEY NEED PLACES TO PARK IF THEY'RE COMING TO VISIT.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT A PAIN IN THE ASS FOR PEOPLE TO PARK.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO PARK.
WAYFINDING CAN HELP WITH THAT.
UM, ALSO, I NOTE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SO MANY NEEDS.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC RESTROOMS, UH, MAKING THE GARAGE MORE INVITING, SECURITY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE PAID FOR AND PAID BY SOMETHING, UM, SOMEONE'S GONNA PAY RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE BIGGEST LIKE FREE, SER FREE SERVICE WE PROVIDE RIGHT NOW IS PARKING.
IT IS FREE FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR CITY.
AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF HULLABALOO ABOUT A $1 PER YEAR LEASE THAT WE GAVE TO FOR THE FAIR FOR 53 ACRES.
THERE'S WELL OVER 53 ACRES OF FREE PARKING IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE GIVING AWAY FOR FREE EVERY DAY.
SO I DO THINK THERE'S MERIT IN LOOKING AT, UM, TARGETED FREE PARKING.
IMPORTANTLY, I THINK TO BE FUNDING IMPROVEMENTS AND PUSHING PEOPLE INTO THE PARKING GARAGES FOR, UM, OUR, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, HONESTLY.
UM, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THE DATA, I WANT TO JUST SORT OF HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR ME, UM, MADE A LOT OF SENSE.
UM, SLIDE 30, 70% SAY THAT IT'S MODERATELY TO VERY DIFFICULT TO, TO, TO FIND PARKING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S RELATIVE TO.
IS IT LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARDER TO FIND PARKING DOWN, VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND PARKING DOWNTOWN COMPARED TO FINDING PARKING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
LIKE, UM, SO THAT, LIKE, IF, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE COMPARE IT TO SOMETHING IF YOU'RE GONNA, YOU KNOW, GIVE THAT BECAUSE, UM, THOSE STATS ALONE, THEY JUMP OUT AND THEY'RE ALARMING.
BUT IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO FINDING PARKING IN SAN FRANCISCO COMPARED TO FINDING PARKING IN, YOU KNOW, EAST PETALUMA AT THE VACANT KMART BUILDING, LIKE, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? SO IF WE DON'T GIVE RELATIVE THINGS, WE GET DATA LIKE THAT, THAT REALLY DOESN'T TELL US ANYTHING.
UM, THE OTHER ONE ON SLIDE 31, UM, THERE WAS ONE, I HAVE 85% IS VERY, UM, OH, IT WAS THE EMPLOYEES AND SAID, 85% SAY THAT PARKING CLOSE TO TO WHERE THEY WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO TO TOWARD WHAT END, RIGHT? LIKE, IS IT IF THEY CAN'T FIND PARKING CLOSE TO WHERE THEIR WORK, ARE THEY GONNA START LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB? IS IT, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT'S, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
OR THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO WALK FIVE MINUTES TO GET TO WORK, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF FOUR MINUTES.
UM, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, AGAIN, I THINK THAT, UM, IF YOU ASK QUESTIONS LIKE THAT THAT ARE RELATIVE TO THINGS, BUT THEY'RE NOT, BUT YOU DON'T PROVIDE ANY RELATIVE COMPARISON, YOU JUST WIND UP WITH A STAT.
AND, UM, IT REALLY DOESN'T ADD MUCH VALUE TO THIS OTHER THAN, UM, KNOWING LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE OF PEOPLE'S HEADS.
UM, THE IDEA THAT 40% OF EMPLOYEES ARE, ARE USING THE TWO HOUR ZONE AND MOVING THEIR CARS ALL DAY, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LOST PRODUCTIVITY FOR A BUSINESS, RIGHT? LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY AT THAT POINT.
UM, I, UH, SO FOR THOSE REASONS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST A COUPLE NITPICKS ON ON THAT.
UM, I WANT TO GET BACK TO, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.
UM, SATELLITE PARKING, EMPLOYEE PERMIT SYSTEMS, UH, THE TIME OF DELIVERY AND, UM, THE RIDE HAILING, UH, FOR, FOR LYFT AND UBER.
I'VE, IF YOU TRY AND CALL LYFT RIGHT NOW, THERE'S LIKE, PROBABLY LIKE FOUR CARS THAT ARE GONNA BE
AND THEY'RE LIKE, IT'S NOT A HUGE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE SOMEDAY WHEN, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE'VE BUILT UP AROUND THE TRAIN STATION AND WE HAVE LIKE REAL NEEDS FOR THAT.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S, IT'S JUST NOT AN ISSUE.
UM, THINGS THAT I'M, I AM INTERESTED IN, UM, LOOKING AT INCREASING SUPPLY BY, THROUGH ONE WAY STREETS LIKE KELLER STREET.
UM, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON CALLING OUT AROUND WALNUT PARK AND LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY AROUND THERE.
UH, I AM VERY INTERESTED IN TRYING TO GET OUR PRIVATE LOTS TO BE USED.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A NEW REVENUE STREAM FOR A LOT THAT'S SITTING THERE VACANT.
LIKE WHY WOULDN'T THEY WANT TO DO THAT? UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IF SOMEONE ELSE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT.
LIKE, DOES SOMEONE WANT TO INVEST IN THE CAPITAL AND, YOU KNOW, THE MANAGEMENT AND SHARE THEIR FEES WITH, WITH THE PERSON, YOU KNOW, AND POTENTIALLY IT COULD, IF, IF THE PARKING'S GETTING PAID, MAYBE THEY CAN EVEN LOWER THE RENTS AND WE
[03:00:01]
CAN HELP TO BRING IN BUSINESSES THAT WAY.UM, SO I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THAT.
UH, ABSOLUTELY WANNA SEE SOMETHING DONE WITH DELIVERY ZONES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T WANNA SEE OUR DELIVERY DRIVERS GETTING HIT ON PIMA BOULEVARD, UM, OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER.
BUT, UM, CERTAINLY WANNA SEE THAT SAFETY ISSUE ADDRESSED.
UM, I WANNA SEE AN ANALYSIS OF PAID PAID PARKING.
UM, I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN PAID PARKING EVERYWHERE.
I'M INTERESTED IN PAID PARKING ON THE MOST, LIKE, HIGHLY DESIRABLE PARKING SPACES IN DOWNTOWN.
UM, AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND LIKE THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS FROM SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LIKE A TARGETED APPROACH.
UM, AND THEN IMPORTANTLY, LIKE WAYS WE CAN SPEND THE MONEY.
UM, THERE WERE SOME THINGS TALKED ABOUT, INCREASING TRANSIT SERVICE, UM, GARAGE IMPROVEMENTS, DOWNTOWN BATHROOMS, LIGHTING, THINGS LIKE THAT ALL CAME UP.
UM, I WANT TO, UH, IMPORTANTLY, IF WE'RE BRINGING THIS BACK AND IT'S GONNA BE A HOT ISSUE, UM, WE'RE GONNA SELL PUBLIC PAID PARKING TO THE COMMUNITY BY ALL THE BENEFITS THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET FROM IT, NOT FROM, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, ARE DANGLING A LOT OF BENEFITS AND THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE ENCUMBERED FOR US AT BENEFITS SO THAT, UM, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN MAKE SURE THEY SEE IT IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE US INCREASE MORE SHORT TERM.
I THINK, UM, FOR SOME OF THE TWO HOUR PARKING ON THE EDGES THAT ARE NOT BEING USED.
IT MAKES SENSE TO LOOK AT INCREASING THE TIME LIMITS ON THOSE.
UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PROGRAMS ARE GONNA BECOME MORE NEEDED, UH, ESPECIALLY AS WE BUILD OUT OUR DOWNTOWN.
UM, I WANNA SEE MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN DOWNTOWN, LIKE THE THING RIGHT NOW, LIKE, WE DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THIS SURVEY, DIDN'T LOOK AT A PARKING SURVEY AT 8:00 PM AT NIGHT, BUT I WISH IT DID BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN OUR DOWNTOWN THAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A WHOLE MESS.
MORE PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN AND OUT THERE ON THE STREET, SPENDING MONEY AT THEIR BUSINESSES.
I SEE A COUPLE OF 'EM OVER THERE THAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THEIR FRONT DOOR STAYING LATER AND, AND HELPING THEM TO EARN MORE REVENUE.
UM, I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE INCREASING A DA, WE'RE AN AGING CITY.
UM, AND 11 PARKING SPACES MAY BE WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE PLANNING TO DO.
BUT, UM, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY MEETING THE NEED OF WHAT, UM, OUR COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS LOOK LIKE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIKE WHAT THE STATE MANDATE MIGHT BE, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE FACT THAT LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUR, THE SENIOR POPULATION IN PETALUMA HAS GROWN AT TWICE.
THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE STATEWIDE AVERAGE IS 26% OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO, OR A 56% INCREASE.
I MEAN, SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY MEETING THE, THE COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS WITH THE A DA PARKING, UM, ABSOLUTELY SHARED PARKING WITH, WITH RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL USES.
AND THEN, UM, A HUGE SUPPORT FOR WAYFINDING.
UM, I CAN'T SAY THAT ENOUGH OF LIKE, LET'S GET PEOPLE TO A PARKING SPACE.
UM, LIKE MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE WHEN I'M DRIVING WITH MY WIFE IS SHE ALWAYS WANTS TO FIND THE, THE BEST PARKING PLACE AND I JUST WANNA FIND A PARKING PLACE
UM, AND SO, BUT LIKE I WOULD LOVE TO, UH, LIKE HAVE A BETTER WAY FINDING ON THAT FRONT.
UM, AND THAT'S, UH, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR NOW.
COUNCIL MEMBER CATER THOMPSON GO.
YES, I'LL GO NEXT, BUT, UM, I'LL JUST COME ACROSS THE DIOCESE.
YOU BASICALLY HIT, YOU KNOW, MOST OF MY POINTS, SO I'M NOT GONNA REITERATE.
UM, BUT I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT WHEN I GO OUT OF PETALUMA TO BERKELEY TO BUY SHOES AND YOU DROP TWO, THREE, $400 ON SHOES SOMETIMES AND 50 CENTS FOR PARKING, WHICH IS PARKING METERS.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, IT, IT, I HATED IT AT FIRST, BUT I'M JUST REALLY USED TO IT.
I GO TO SANTA ROSA AND I GO SHOPPING AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING AND I RESENTED IT FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M JUST NOT THERE ANYMORE 'CAUSE IT'S MORE CONVENIENT AND IT BRINGS IN REVENUE FOR THE CITIES.
UM, AND I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND, AND I, I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT WHEN TOM WAS SAYING THAT HE GOES DOWNTOWN AND THERE'S PARKING PLACES, YOU KNOW, EMPTY PARKING SPACES A LOT.
SO THAT'S SOMEBODY THAT'S DOWN HERE ALL THE TIME TELLING US THERE'S A LOT OF PARKING RIGHT NOW.
WHEN I GO INTO TOWN AND PARK, MY COUSIN HAS TO HAVE WENDY, YOU KNOW, THE PARKING.
GOD IS GONNA GIVE HER THE PERFECT SPACE.
I WILL GO TWO BLOCKS OUT 'CAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE DRIVING AROUND.
AND I THINK PEOPLE JUST NEED TO, UM, LOOK AT THEIR HABITS AND, AND THEY ARE HABITS.
UM, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, THERE WAS PARK PAID PARKING
[03:05:01]
IN PETALUMA, THERE WERE PARKING METERS AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE TAKEN OUT AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE PUT BACK IN.SO THERE'S THIS, YOU KNOW, WHOLE, YOU KNOW, SCENARIO FROM 1955 AND I DON'T REMEMBER THAT TIME
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S UNUSUAL, BUT I REALLY WOULD RATHER SEE IT IN THE CORE AND NOT OUT IN AREAS.
BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST THING WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL FROM 1998 TO 2002 WERE MERCHANTS PARKING IN DOWNTOWN.
THIS MANY YEARS LATER, THE MERCHANTS ARE STILL PARKING IN FRONT OF THEIR STORE.
AND I'VE SEEN THEM 'CAUSE I KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.
SO I THINK THERE'S HABITS THAT HAVE TO BE, UM, CHANGE.
I THINK MAYBE THE ANGLED PARKING AND CERTAIN AREAS.
'CAUSE I DON'T REALLY WANNA TAKE AWAY PARKING, BUT I, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE AWAY SO THE MERCHANTS CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A SPACE TO PARK AND IT'S NOT IN FRONT OF THEIR STORE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS.
UM, SOME OTHER PARTS, I JUST THOUGHT THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD, UM, COMMENTS MADE.
AND, AND THE OTHER THING IS WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT BATHROOMS DOWNTOWN.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHERE'S THE A DA PARKING SPACES? YOU KNOW, SO THINGS ARE ACTUALLY LIKE A PUZZLE THAT FITS REALLY WELL TOGETHER.
BUT I, I THINK THAT, UM, PAID PARKING WOULD GO A LONG WAYS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE DOWNTOWN.
YOU LOOK AT THE STREETS, YOU LOOK AT THE CROSSWALK, YOU KNOW, USED TO LOOK SO NICE AND NOW IT'S NOT.
AND THAT'S WHERE THAT MONEY SHOULD GO.
AND IT SHOULD NOT GO OUTSIDE OF THE CORE OF OUR TOWN.
'CAUSE WE HAVE THE TRESTLE TO DO, AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED.
AND, YOU KNOW, KNOW, THE, THE MUSEUM NEEDS RETROFITTING ALL OF THESE COSTS MONEY.
AND IN TODAY'S WORLD, 50 CENTS OR A DOLLAR OR TWO FOR PARKING IS NOT GONNA KILL YOU AND IT'S GONNA BENEFIT YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO I AGREE WITH A LOT BRIAN SAID.
SO JUST TAKE THOSE COMMENTS AS MINE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL VICE MAYOR NOW.
AND I DO AGREE WITH MY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TO THE RIGHT OF ME, UM, THAT YOU GUYS HIT GREAT POINTS.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT DELIVERIES.
I AM NOT DOWNTOWN ENOUGH TO SEE THESE DELIVERIES.
I'M GONNA DATE MYSELF BACK TO 1974.
WHEN I WAS WORKING DOWNTOWN AS A TEENAGER, THE DELIVERIES WERE DONE IN THE ALLEYWAYS.
SO THEY'RE NOT BEING DONE IN THE ALLEYWAYS ANYMORE.
UM, I KNOW THE HALL OF ABOVE THE CATERER TRUCK WENT DOWN THE ALLEY.
I KNOW THE MUSICIANS UNLOAD FOR THE BIG EASY IN THE ALLEYWAY, SO I DID NOT REALIZE THAT.
AND SO DO WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT AS AN ISSUE? I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE ABOUT DELIVERIES.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, IN 2005, I BELIEVE TO 2008, WE MADE THE ROAD DIET AND THEN THE DELIVERIES WERE DONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FOR THE, FOR, UM, PELOMA BOULEVARD.
AND THEN THEY WENT TO THE FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE.
SO LIKE, UM, STARBUCKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, AND THEN SOME OF THE ANTIQUE STORES THAT DIDN'T HAVE BACK ENTRANCES.
UM, SO THAT WAS MY QUESTION ABOUT DELIVERIES.
UM, METERS MAKE PEOPLE, UM, ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT TIME THEY PARKED AND WHAT TIME THEY SHOULD BE BACK TO MOVE THEIR CAR OR, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT ANOTHER LOCATION AND, AND THEN WALKING TO WHERE THEY WANNA BE, THEIR DESTINATION.
UM, WHEN COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE METERS.
I WENT TO SONOMA, THEY DON'T HAVE METERS.
I WAS CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE PARKING.
THEY HAVE, LIKE, WE DO THE TWO HOUR ZONE AND I WENT TO LUNCH, THEN I WENT SHOPPING.
I DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION AT THE TIME.
I CAME OUT WITH A LITTLE PURPLE ENVELOPE AND A LITTLE LOVE LETTER FROM THE CITY OF SONOMA AND A $200 BILL.
I TOLD MY FRIENDS IN SONOMA AT THE COUNCIL, I SAID, I COULD HAVE BOUGHT MORE THINGS AT THE STORES IF I HAD PAID ATTENTION TO YOUR SIGNAGE, BUT I WAS BUSY MEETING UP WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
ANYWAY, THAT MAKES UP PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
I LEARNED ABOUT THE METERS AND THE A DA WHEN I TOOK MY PARENTS TO SANTA ROSA AND THEY HAD THE PLACARD AND THEY'RE LIKE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEED THE METER.
AND I'M LIKE, OH NO, I WANNA FEED THE METER.
AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, I'M GONNA TAKE A CHANCE.
YOU'RE GONNA PAY MY PARKING TICKET BECAUSE THEY USE THEIR PLACARD ON MY CAR AND
[03:10:01]
WE PARKED FOR FREE.UM, WE NEED TO TALK TO SOME OF THESE, UM, PUBLIC, I MEAN, PRIVATE LANDS THAT ARE NOT USED AT NIGHT.
'CAUSE THERE'S BIG HUGE AVAILABILITY OF PARKING.
ALSO, I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, OH, GO DOWN TO THE CITY OF PETALUMA AND PARK AND THEN WALK UP TO THE, UM, CROOKED GOAT.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WAS A POSSIBILITY.
SO WE NEED TO ADVERTISE THAT MORE.
UM, WE HAVE SOME PRIVATE PARKING THAT USED TO BE PUBLIC AND NOW PEOPLE ARE GETTING TOWED AND I'M GETTING TO HEAR ABOUT IT 'CAUSE IT'S NEAR PLACES I GO.
AND I HAVE HAD TO PARK ON LIBERTY STREET TO THE PERSON WHO LIVES ON LIBERTY STREET.
I'M SORRY, BUT I WILL WALK THREE BLOCKS.
UM, AND WE NEED TO REALLY NIP IT IN THE BED ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES PARKING ON THE STREET, BECAUSE I REMEMBER PARKING UP AT THE TOP OF KENTUCKY STREET AND WALKING DOWN AND THEN AT NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT HAVING TO WALK BACK TO MY CAR.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO ENCOURAGE THOSE EMPLOYEES TO PARK AWAY FROM THE BUSINESSES AND KEEP 'EM AVAILABLE.
UM, CONFIGURING LIBERTY STREET AND HOWARD STREET.
I KNOW WHEN WE CONFIGURED KENTUCKY STREET BACK IN THE EIGHTIES, I BELIEVE, AND WE MADE IT ONE WAY, WE GAINED MORE PARKING.
SO WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE, IT'S GONNA COME BACK TO US, BUT THERE WAS SOME TALK ABOUT WHICH DIRECTION, HOW OUR STREET WAS GONNA GO AND WHICH DIRECTION LIBERTY STREET WAS GONNA GO SO THAT THE, UM, BUSINESSES WEREN'T GONNA BE COMPROMISED.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S COMING BACK, BUT THAT WILL PROVIDE MORE PARKING, ESPECIALLY IF WE START ADDING IN SUNDAYS BECAUSE PEOPLE GO TO BREAKFAST, THEY GO TO MASS AND THEY PARK IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO IF THEY, IF WE'RE GONNA START ISSUING TICKETS ON SUNDAY, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE, UM, WHAT PEOPLE ARE USING.
SO I MAY TAKE A FEW EXTRA MINUTES HERE JUST 'CAUSE I MISSED THE CALL ON THE LAST ONE.
BUT, UM, SO I, I, I DO APPRECIATE STAFF GOING IN AND, AND LOOKING BACK AT, AT THE HISTORY OF, OF PARKING METERS A LITTLE BIT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, I KNOW IT'S OLD, OLD DATA, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STAFF CONTINUE TO DIG, UM, AND HAVE US REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY, WHY THEY GOT PULLED OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHERE, WHERE THE PROBLEMS WERE, UM, WHAT THE COMMUNITY THOUGHT.
AND, AND IF THAT AFFECTED BUSINESS DOWNTOWN.
UH, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE STAFF REPORT FROM THE CONSULTANT SAID THAT 85% IS THE IDEAL PARKING OCCUPANCY.
AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN SHY AWAY FROM THAT BECAUSE IT, AS IT SO HAPPENS, WE'RE RIGHT AROUND 85% RIGHT NOW.
SO THEY'RE CONSIDERING US TO BE, YOU KNOW, VERY IDEAL.
UM, I'M, AGAIN, WE CAN'T, I DON'T THINK WE CAN DISMISS THAT.
UM, I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO STRIVE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.
UM, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD EVER JUST BE HAPPY WITH THAT.
I THINK YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE TRYING TO DO BETTER.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK PARKING IS QUITE THE CRISIS AS IT'S BEING PORTRAYED.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'LL SAY TOO THAT IT'S, IT'S REALLY PEAK HOURS THAT I THINK PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE MOST DIFFICULTY.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE, THE MOST IS DURING PEAK HOURS AND YOU'RE NOT WHEN IT ISN'T.
AND I SEE IT A LOT DOWNTOWN WHERE THERE'S PLENTY OF PARKING SPOTS AND, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY AND, AND, UM, SO I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD, PRETTY GOOD STOCK OF PARKING SPACES.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT BEING MORE EFFICIENT.
I THINK THAT, UM, ABOVE ALL IN DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE LIFE FORCE OF IT.
UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING DOWN THERE.
AND ANY CHANGES OR DISRUPTIONS IN HOW CUSTOMERS GET TO THEIR FRONT DOOR COULD BE DISASTROUS FOR THEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL TO PRESERVE THE BALANCE THAT EXISTS DOWNTOWN BETWEEN THOSE BUSINESSES.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN BUSINESSES, VISITORS OR LOCALS THAT ARE TRYING TO DO BUSINESS WITH THEM.
UM, WHAT I'M SAYING BY THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ANY POTENTIAL REVENUE FROM PARKING METERS, UM, YOU KNOW, COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE GO DOWN THERE.
AND SO THEN, SO THEN SALES TAX REVENUE DROPS, AND SO WE COULD BE PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK FOR HAVING MADE SOME REVENUE FROM THE METERS, BUT, BUT WE'RE THEN LOSING IT THROUGH SALES TAX AND WORSE, THAT'S ALMOST A DOUBLE WAY.
I MEAN, BECAUSE THEN IT AFFECTS THE BUSINESSES, AND THEN IF THEY START TO DROP LIKE FLIES AS THEY HAVE BEEN,
[03:15:01]
THEN, THEN NOBODY'S GONNA COME PAY FOR THAT PARKING ANYWAY.YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER TOO, I MEAN, WE ARE IN A REALLY, OUR ECONOMY IS IN A FRAGILE STATE.
YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING GOTTEN THROUGH COVID, UM, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT BUSINESSES REALLY ARE STILL SUFFERING AND, AND FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THAT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, DO WE WANNA ROLL THE DICE ON, ON MAKING A FEW EXTRA BUCKS WITH METERS? UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO.
AND, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING TOLD BY THE CONSULTANT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE RIGHT THERE IN THE SWEET SPOT.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE THE, THE PUSH COMES FROM TO CHARGE FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DOING SO PARKING SOMEWHERE SO SIMPLE AS A LOW MAINTENANCE, YOU KNOW, IT, IT DOESN'T REALLY COST THE CITY THAT MUCH TO HAVE PARKING SPACES FOR FREE.
UM, WHEN, WHEN, AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE GOT FREE TRANSIT SERVICES, AND THAT'S NOT TO KNOCK THE TRANSIT SERVICES, BUT YOU KNOW, THOSE VEHICLES COST MONEY.
THERE'S MAINTENANCE, THERE'S HIRING DRIVERS, THERE'S YARDS FOR THEM, FUEL, ALL, ALL THESE THINGS THAT ADD UP THAT, THAT THE CITY IS SUBSIDIZING AND, AND GIVING AWAY FOR FREE.
YET NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT BASICALLY PENALIZING PEOPLE FOR OWNING A VEHICLE AND WANTING TO PARK IT SOMEWHERE.
AND, UM, SO IT, IT'S JUST CONFUSING TO ME THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS EMPLOYEES GO, UM, IT, IT SEEMS LIKE FROM THE REPORTS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEING CONSIDERED AS A NUISANCE DOWNTOWN.
BUT, UM, BUT THEY ARE AN INCREDIBLY CRITICAL PART OF DOWNTOWN.
YOU KNOW, THEY, BUSINESSES COULDN'T OPEN THEIR DOORS WITHOUT THEM.
AND SO I, I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THEM HAVING TO PURCHASE PERMITS, UH, DOWN, YOU KNOW, TO, TO PARK SOMEWHERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALREADY HARD ENOUGH TO GET EMPLOYEES AND PAY THEM ENOUGH SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE ENDS MEET.
UH, THEY, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE BUYING PERMITS.
OR EVEN IF WE LOOKED AT SOMETHING LIKE PUSHING THAT ONTO THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY'RE AGAIN, STRUGGLING THEMSELVES.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY DO HAVE TO PARK SOMEWHERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS THEY'VE ALL SAID, THEY, THEY DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO PARK CLOSE TO WORK AND NOT MILES AWAY AT A LOT WHERE THEY'RE GETTING FERRIED BACK AND FORTH.
UM, IT, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SOMETHING THAT, THAT THEY WANT.
AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, IN REGARD TO THE PARKING GARAGES, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF SPACE IN THOSE.
UM, BUT I, I WILL SHARE THE SENTIMENT THAT THEY'RE NOT THE MOST INVITING PLACE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, I SEE HOMELESS IN THEM A LOT.
GRAFFITI, YOU KNOW, OLD, OLD GUM THAT STUCK TO THE GROUND FOR YEARS.
UM, THEY'RE DIRTY, THEY'RE DIMLY LIT.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR OF, UM, YOU HEAR OF STUFF LIKE DRUG DEALERS GOING DOWN IN THEM.
ALL OF THAT STUFF REALLY OUGHT TO BE ADDRESSED SO THAT WE MAKE IT MORE ENTICING FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO PARK IN THOSE AND, AND HELP ALLEVIATE, YOU KNOW, ANY CONGESTION THAT MIGHT EXIST ELSEWHERE DURING PEAK HOURS.
AND THEN, UM, I, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE VISITORS TO PETALUMA, UM, MAKING MICRO TRANSIT THEIR PREFERRED CHOICE TO, TO GET DOWNTOWN.
UM, I THINK PEOPLE GENERALLY WANNA BE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE, OR, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE GONNA BE SPENDING THE ENTIRE DAY DOWNTOWN, THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA WANNA AT LEAST BE CLOSE AND CLOSE TO THEIR VEHICLE.
SO MAYBE THEY CAN DROP THEIR BAGS OFF OR IN BETWEEN LUNCH OR WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.
YOU KNOW, HAVE THEIR CAR CLOSE TO THEM SO THAT, SO THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE IT AND NOT, NOT BE AT THE MERCY OF WHEN THE BUS COMES TO GET THEM OR WHATEVER.
SO, I MEAN, AS FAR AS EXPLORING OPTIONS TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, I AM, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO ANGLE PARKING.
I THINK, I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT.
I DON'T THINK ANGLE PARKING SHOULD COME AT THE EXPENSE THOUGH, OF, YOU KNOW, CUTTING DOWN THE LANES EVEN MORE FOR AUTOMOBILES TO GET THROUGH.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK KENTUCKY WORKS AS A ONE-WAY STREET, BUT, UH, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE ONE-WAY STREETS ALL OVER PETALUMA.
I WENT TO SCHOOL DOWN IN SAN LUIS OBISPO WHERE THERE'S A WHOLE MAZE OF THEM.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, I MEAN, IT ACTUALLY DOES MAKE YOU DRIVE MORE BECAUSE WHEN YOU COULD HAVE TURNED LEFT, YOU HAVE TO GO RIGHT, AND YOU HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BLOCK TO GET TO WHERE YOU WERE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'LL, ONE MORE THING I'LL THROW OUT IS, YOU KNOW, WE DID JUST GIVE UP ABOUT 122 SPACES OVER ON D STREET, AND D STREET HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY
[03:20:01]
OVERFLOW FOR BIG EVENTS OR, OR OTHER THINGS GOING ON DOWNTOWN.AND I THINK WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER GIVING THEM THEIR SPACES BACK.
AND THEN, UM, ONE OTHER THING I THINK MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE IS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID IN YOUR REPORT A LITTLE BIT OVER AN HOUR IS, IS THE AVERAGE TIME THAT PEOPLE SPEND DOWNTOWN.
UM, YOU KNOW, MOST PLACES WE HAVE ARE TWO HOUR SLOTS.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, CLOSER TO THE CENTER OF DOWNTOWN, YOU MIGHT LOOK AT QUICKER TIMES, YOU KNOW, ONE HOUR SLOTS OR 90 MINUTE.
UM, AND THEN AS YOU GRADUALLY GET TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN, INCREASED TO FOUR, OR MAYBE LOOK AT HAVING A MIX ON STREETS OF, OF THOSE TIMES, YOU KNOW, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET CLOSE AND IN AND OUT REAL QUICK IF THEY WANT TO, OR IF THEY'RE GONNA SPEND THE WHOLE DAY DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME SPOTS FOR THEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE MORE THING THAT, THAT I DID WANNA SEE, AND I REQUESTED FOR COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO VIEW WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, A FULL REPORT FROM, FROM THE CONSULTANT.
AND, UM, I STILL WANT TO SEE THAT I, I WOULD LIKE THAT MADE AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL TO HELP US, UM, FORM OUR DECISIONS.
AND THEN, UM, I DID, ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE IS, UH, THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT, THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR ALL OF THIS, UM, IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT OF IT THAT COULD BE USED FOR MORE STUDYING OR, YEAH, SO WE, THE, THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, UM, IS TO DELIVER THE, THE SCOPE THAT WE OUTLINED.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE'VE ALREADY, UM, PAID FOR EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS.
UM, ALL OF THE DATA COLLECTION, UH, REALLY THE ONLY DELIVERABLE THAT REMAINS THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN, UM, PAID OUT IS, IS THE REMAINING, UM, A A LITTLE BIT MORE OUTREACH AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND THEN THE, THE FINAL REPORT, UM, AND PRE PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL.
SO, UM, THIS ONE, THIS GRANT IS A LITTLE ODD IN THE SENSE THAT WE ACTUALLY DO NOT MANAGE THE BUDGET.
IT'S, UM, WE WORKED WITH THE, THE CONSULTANT TO ARRIVE ON A SCOPE THAT, THAT ACCOMPLISHED OUR OBJECTIVES.
AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY, UM, ARE, WE'RE HIRED DIRECTLY BY THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, WHICH IS OUR, UM, METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR THE NINE COUNTY BAY AREA, OR REGIONAL.
THEY'RE OUR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AGENCY.
UM, SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY THE ONES WHO, UM, HAVE HIRED THE CONSULTANT IN OUR, IN OUR FULLY FUNDING THE STUDY, UH, ON THEIR END.
SO, UM, LONG-WINDED WAY OF SAYING ALL THAT REMAINS IS BASICALLY THE, THE, UH, KIND OF THE FINAL DELIVERABLES TO, UH, PRODUCE THIS PLAN.
AND THEN, I GUESS ACTUALLY ONE MORE QUICK THING TOO IS, IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I WORRY THAT SOMETHING LIKE METERS WILL BE SOMEWHAT OF A GENTRIFICATION OF DOWNTOWN, WHERE WE'VE HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE SPEAK TONIGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, BEING RENTERS OR EQUITY OR, OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND, AND THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT NOW HAVING TO PAY TO BE ABLE TO PARK DOWNTOWN.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE CAN OVERLOOK THAT EITHER.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER QUINN, THANK YOU.
UH, IN THE INTEREST OF, UH, OF TIME, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH A WHOLE LITANY, UH, I'LL SHARE THAT.
I THINK, UH, BRIAN DID A TERRIFIC JOB OF SUMMING UP, UH, SUMMARIZING MOST OF, UH, THE, THE SALIENT POINTS THAT I THINK WERE, WERE REALLY IMPORTANT.
UH, UH, I DO HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS.
UM, I DO THINK WE, UH, THROUGH A, THROUGH PARKING REFORM, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO FIND A, A WORKABLE AND EQUITABLE SOLUTION FOR EMPLOYEES.
UH, THAT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE OUT OF POCKET FROM, FROM THE EMPLOYEE.
UH, SPEAKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, MY WIFE, UH, WAS A DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEE, AND SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WENT OUT AND MOVED HER CAR EVERY COUPLE OF HOURS.
UM, AND PART OF THE ISSUE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS INSTRUCTED TO PARK ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE KELLER STREET GARAGE, AND SHE DIDN'T FIND IT SAFE, UH, IN PARTICULARLY, UM, YOU KNOW, NAVIGATING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRWELLS.
UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL, UH, UM, I'LL REMIND HER THAT SHE SHOULDN'T PARK IN THE TWO HOUR SPOTS, BUT LET'S MAKE THAT, UH, LET'S MAKE THAT A WORKABLE SOLUTION.
UH, I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SUPPORT, UH, TIME OF DAY RESTRICTIONS FOR LOADING ZONES, UM, LOADING ZONES FOR TRUCKS DOWNTOWN LOADING, LIKE IT'S NOT UNCOMMON IN, UH, IN DOWNTOWN AREAS FOR, UH, LOADING AND UNLOADING TO BE RESTRICTED TO, UH, CERTAIN TIMES.
[03:25:01]
SO THAT'S, UH, UH, THAT'S NOT AN UNORDINARY THING.LASTLY, I'LL SAY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR DOWNTOWN IS CRITICAL.
UH, I BELIEVE OUR HISTORIC DOWNTOWN IS STRUGGLING.
WE HAVE OPEN STOREFRONTS, WE HAVE STOREFRONTS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN OUR DOWNTOWN, AND I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN, IN FINDING WAYS THAT, UM, BRING DOWNTOWN BUILDING LANDLORDS, UH, THAT MOTIVATE THEM TO WANNA INVEST IN THEIR BUILDINGS, BRING THEM UP TO CODE, MAKE IT SO THAT TENANTS CAN, UH, OPEN NEW BUSINESSES.
AND I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS, THIS PARKING APPROACH, UM, CAN, UH, BE A TOOL IN OUR, YOU KNOW, SORT OF OVERALL TOOLBOX TO HELP US FIND WAYS TO INVEST IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND CREATE ECONOMIC, UH, UH, VITALITY.
SO I WENT THROUGH AND, AND STARTED COUNTING ALL THE GREAT IDEAS THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TONIGHT, BOTH BY THE STAFF, BY THE COUNCIL, AND BY THE PUBLIC.
AND THERE'S ABOUT 40, SO, SO GOING ONE BY ONE WOULD NOT BE A GOOD IDEA.
UM, BUT EVERYONE'S PROVIDING REALLY GREAT IDEAS, AND I WOULD FULLY SUPPORT WHAT'S BEEN ALREADY SAID HERE, WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS SAID.
EVERYONE'S BRINGING TOGETHER SOME REALLY GREAT IDEAS.
UM, AND OF COURSE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS GONNA BE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
THAT'S STILL WHAT WE'RE MISSING.
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS ON WHICH ACTIONS ARE GONNA GIVE US THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK TO GET US TO THE RE BEST REVITALIZATION OF OUR DOWNTOWN, UH, TO GET MORE PEOPLE GOING DOWN THERE, UH, WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF STRUGGLE, UH, TO DO IT HOWEVER THEY CAN DO IT.
SO, UM, THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THIS STUDY, NOT JUST, UH, OPPORTUNITIES, NOT JUST, OH, WE CAN DO THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS.
WHICH ONE IS GOING TO GIVE US THE, THE BEST FOR THE LEAST EFFORT AND BE THE QUICKEST TO GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE AT LEAST CLOSER.
AT LEAST DO SOMETHING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO GET THERE.
SO I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT UP TO STAFF TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHAT THE CONSULTANTS, UH, WHERE TO GO WITH THAT ONE.
UM, THERE WAS SOME, UH, OF COURSE, I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT A COUPLE IDEAS.
JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE WHAT A COUPLE FOLKS SAID.
I WANNA REPEAT A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE IDEA, UM, WAS, OH, WHEN I WENT TO OREGON, I, I WAS JUST ON, ON A TOURIST UP THERE GOING TO A CITY, AND I WALKED BY AN OUTLET STORE.
AND WHEN WE WENT, DROVE RIGHT BY THE STREET ON MY PHONE WHERE IT COMES UP, AN APP FOR COUPON FOR THAT STORE.
WELCOME TO, OR WELCOME TO THE TOWN, AND WE'RE AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE COMES SPEND, I'LL GIVE YOU 50% COUPON ON YOUR FIRST ITEM.
SO, UM, THERE'S TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE THAT WE JUST HEARD TONIGHT.
THERE'S GPS TRACKING ON OUR PHONES THAT CHRISTIE CAN TELL US WHO'S WHERE SO BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING.
IT IS BEING TRACKED APPARENTLY BY A COMPANY.
UM, AND PROBABLY THE DATA'S AVAILABLE RIGHT TO US TOO, SO WE CAN USE THAT.
SO, UM, THERE IS SOME TECHNOLOGY THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT'S ALREADY, ALREADY OUT THERE AND BEING USED.
SO, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND USE IT, UH, FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT IF WE CAN.
UM, THEN ANOTHER IDEA, YES, WE DO NEED TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN, AND THIS IS A BIG PART OF THAT, THE PARKING.
BUT WHAT, WHAT'S MENTIONED IS, UH, LET'S NOT IGNORE THE 15 MINUTE COMMUNITIES AT THE SAME TIME.
LET'S NOT PUT ALL OUR MONEY DOWNTOWN, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE REVITALIZED.
BUT LET'S DO IT STEPWISE, BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK.
BUT WE'VE 15 MINUTE COMMUNITIES.
OH, CAN WE TAKE SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING DOWNTOWN AND SAY, OH, INSTEAD OF GOING DOWNTOWN, WHY DON'T YOU COME OVER TO THE OTHER SHOPPING CENTER OVER HERE? UH, ROOSTER RUN.
'CAUSE THERE'S A FUN STUFF OVER THERE TO DO TOO.
'CAUSE THERE'S EMPTY STORES THERE RIGHT NOW.
AND SO WE NEED TO DRAW PEOPLE TO, TO EACH OF THE DISTRICTS TO WHERE THERE IS ACTUALLY EVENTS THERE.
SO, UM, SO TO BE INCLUSIVE, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, BUT LET'S SEE, WHAT CAN WE OFFER IN OUR 15 MINUTE COMMUNITIES TO BRING PEOPLE, NOT ONLY TO GO DOWNTOWN, BUT INSTEAD OF GOING DOWNTOWN AND CONGESTING DOWN THERE, LET'S DISTRIBUTE THAT, SOME OF THOSE THINGS AROUND THE TOWN AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AS IN COMBINATION WITH 15 MINUTE COMMUNITIES.
SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A, A NEW IDEA, A DIFFERENT IDEA BEING BROUGHT FORWARD.
THEN, UM, THE PARKLETS, YES, SOME RESTAURANTS ARE, ARE WORKING ON, I THINK WE ARE WORKING ON A, UM, UH, MAYBE SOME NEW POLICIES AROUND THE PARKLETS, ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN FOR THE RESTAURANTS.
SOME HAVE IT, SOME DON'T, SOME ADVANTAGES, SOME DISADVANTAGES IS THE COST, RIGHT? IS THE SPACE, RIGHT? UM, ARE THEY STRUCTURED RIGHT? I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT PARKLETS EARLIER.
WE WANT TO, UM, SHIFT THEM UP UPSCALE, IF THEY'RE GONNA KEEP 'EM, PAY FOR IT AND UPSCALE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PART, MAKE 'EM MORE LIKE THE, THE FRENCH STREETS DOWN THERE WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY LOOKS MORE FORMALIZED, LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
UM, NOT, NOT ROAD, NOT THESE ORANGE ROAD THINGS KEEPING CARS AWAY.
SO IT'S, SO LET'S DO SOMETHING THERE.
UM, AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH, AND I'VE BEEN, I TAKE MY BIKE DOWNTOWN.
I CAN GET DOWNTOWN FASTER ON MY BIKE THAN I CAN WITH A CAR, ESPECIALLY AFTER I PARK SOMEWHERE.
BUT WHEN I DO TAKE A CAR, I'VE ALWAYS FOUND A PARKING SPACE.
[03:30:01]
DON'T MIND PARKING UP, UP ON THE TOP FLOOR.IN FACT, I SOMETIMES JUST GO THERE DIRECTLY.
I DON'T EVEN BOTHER LOOKING AROUND.
I JUST GO TO THE TOP FLOOR OF EITHER GARAGE.
MY WIFE WILL NOT, SIMILAR, MY WIFE, I'VE, I'VE BEEN TO THE KELLER STREET AND I'VE PARKED AND THERE WAS HOMELESS RIGHT THERE NEXT TO ME THAT I'M NOT BOTHERED BY THAT.
I'LL TALK TO THE PERSON, MAKE SURE IF I FEEL COMFORTABLE, BUT YOU START WALKING DOWN, UM, YOU CAN SMELL THE DRUGS, YOU CAN SMELL THE URINE.
THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS GOING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRWELL AT KELLER STREET.
SO, YEAH, WE NEED TO REALLY, THAT THAT'S GONNA BE ABSOLUTELY KEY.
WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF KELLER STREET AND MAKE THAT A MUCH SAFER AND, AND FEEL FOR IT FOR THAT.
'CAUSE MY WIFE WON'T, WON'T GO THERE AT ALL.
UM, THEN, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING BITS.
I WANNA REEMPHASIZE WHAT SOMEONE, UH, SAID ABOUT THAT.
UM, THAT FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE LIVING DOWNTOWN, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LANDLORDS AND THEM, A, A PACKAGE NEEDS TO BE INCLUSIVE OF THEM, NOT JUST THE BUSINESSES.
SO LET'S MAKE SURE WE TALK TO THE LANDLORDS AND, AND TO SOME OF THE RENTERS AND SAY, HOW CAN WE HELP THEM, UH, WITH THEIR PARKING SITUATION AS WELL.
SO I THINK THAT MAY HAVE BEEN STILL A MISSING, UH, FACTOR HERE THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY LOOKED AT YET.
UM, ANOTHER ONE IS, UM, A LOT OF THE DATA IS BEEN CONGREGATED INTO AVERAGES OF AREAS, LIKE, LIKE SPECIAL AREAS.
AND I THINK WHAT WAS MENTIONED, UH, ALSO THAT EACH, THERE'S STREETS THAT ARE MORE IMPACTED THAN OTHERS.
INDIVIDUAL STREETS WHERE THERE'S EVEN A COUPLE PURPLE LINES AND THEY'RE ALWAYS RED OR PURPLE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE NEVER GREEN OR, OR, SO THERE'S A COUPLE AREAS.
UH, SO YEAH, SO PARKING METERS MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR THESE, BUT IF WE'RE GONNA DO PARKING METERS, WE NEED TO DO IT IN A SECTION, NOT JUST ONE STREET HERE AND ONE STREET OVER THERE.
'CAUSE THEN THAT'S REALLY CONFUSING.
LIKE SANTA ROSA, THE, UH, BLOCKS OUR, OUR, OUR SECTIONS ARE BLOCKED OFF.
SO IT'S REALLY CLEAR THIS AREA IS METERED AND OUTSIDE OF THAT IS NOT METERED.
UM, AND THEN I'VE BEEN TO SANTA ROSA AND, UM, YEAH, I RAN AROUND A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEN I SAW THE SIGN, OH, THERE'S PARKING AVAILABLE, BUT IT'S $4 FOR, FOR TWO HOURS.
UM, SO I DIDN'T GO INTO A PARKING GARAGE FOR THAT REASON, BUT THERE WERE SIGNS SAYING, THERE'S AVAILABILITY.
I CAN GET INTO THIS GARAGE, I CAN PARK, IT WILL COST, IT TOLD ME HOW MUCH I WAS GONNA PAY.
AND ACTUALLY I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE.
I SHOULD HAVE JUST GONE RIGHT IN AND PAID IT, UH, FOR THAT.
BUT THAT, THAT'S, THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE UP THERE, UM, DOING THAT.
'CAUSE I'VE TRIED TO, OH, I'LL GO OUTSIDE.
I'M GONNA GO DOWN THIS AROUND THE BLOCK.
I COULDN'T PARK ANYWHERE WITHIN FOUR BLOCKS.
IT WAS ALL RESIDENTIAL RESTRICTED PARKING.
YOU CAN'T PARK THERE UNLESS YOU ARE A RESIDENT, NO PARKING.
OTHERWISE YOU PARK THERE WITHOUT YOUR TAG, YOU GET A TICKET RIGHT AWAY.
AND I SAW THE FOLKS GOING AROUND TICKETING DOING THAT.
SO, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, UH, IF RESIDENTIAL PARKING, WHETHER OR NOT, UH, THE TAGS OR THE STREETS GET LABELED ON THAT ONE.
UM, AND THEN ABOUT THE DATA, WHAT DOES HEALTHY LOOK LIKE? SO THAT WAS ANOTHER THING FOR THE CONSULTANTS TO WORK ON, IS, UM, DO THEY CONSIDER OUR PARKING RIGHT NOW TO BE PRETTY HEALTHY? OR IS, IS WHAT'S, WHAT'S NOT SO HEALTHY? WHAT DOES HEALTHY LOOK LIKE? SO THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER FACTOR IN THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP FOR, UH, IN THE FINAL REPORT.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.
THERE'S, OH, THE OTHER THING, UM, BEEN TO AN AIRPORT.
IF YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT, YEAH, YOU, YOU GET THERE, YOU SHUTTLES GO TAKE YOU TO THE FAR, I ALWAYS PARK AT THE VERY FAR FARTHEST PLACE AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT.
I CAN POSSIBLY PARK AND TAKE A SHUTTLE IN.
WHAT I PAY, SOMETIMES PAY, SOMETIMES NOT, THAT DEPENDS, DEPENDING WHICH AIRPORT IT IS.
BUT I CAN GET THERE WITHIN 15, GET OFF THE PLANE.
ONCE I GET MY LUGGAGE, I CAN GO GET TO MY, MY CAR IN 15 MINUTES.
IF SHUTTLES ARE FREQUENT ENOUGH, I CAN GET TO WHERE I NEED TO BE NO MATTER HOW FAR AWAY I PARK AT AN AIRPORT.
COULD WE DO THAT HERE? THERE IS SOME PLACES THAT DO HAVE SHUTTLES AROUND THAT WAS MENTIONED.
SO HAVING A SHUTTLE LIKE THE LUMA AGO.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THAT'S MISSING IS, UM, WHERE CAN WE PARK OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN AND DO THE LUMA SHUTTLE ON A SCHEDULED BASIS? EVERY 15 MINUTES, IT'S GONNA SHOW UP IF YOU GO TO THE NORTH PLAZA PARKING LOT, RIGHT BEHIND, UH, A LOCAL POCO.
UM, AND, UM, UH, THERE I CAME, UH, WHERE THERE THE OLD, UH, KMART IS THAT PARKING LOT.
I RIDE MY BIKE THROUGH THERE ALL EVERY DAY.
AND THERE'S TWO TO 300 SPACES RIGHT IN THE CENTER, COMPLETELY UNUSED.
IT'S BEAUTIFULLY STRIPED, TOTALLY EMPTY ALL THE TIME.
SO WHY DON'T WE LEASE SPACE THERE, HAVE LUMA GO SAY, OKAY, EVERY 15 MINUTES SHOWS UP THERE, GO DOWNTOWN, COME BACK AND EVERYONE, ALL THE EMPLOYEES DOWNTOWN, JUST PARK THERE AND WE'LL COMMUTE.
WE'LL GET YOU BACK AND FORTH IN 15 MINUTES.
EVERY 15 MINUTES YOU'LL GET A RIDE DURING YOUR WORKING HOURS IF THAT'S WHAT THAT WHAT YOU NEED.
UH, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE, THE BIGGEST AREAS.
AND THERE'S STILL ALL THE OTHER, BEEN A COUPLE OTHER PLACES.
CORPORATE, THERE'S CORPORATE OFFICES, BUILDINGS COMPLETELY EMPTY RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER TOPIC.
UH, 'CAUSE THEY GOT LOTS OF PARKING AROUND THEM TOO.
SO THAT'S, UM, BESIDES WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SAID THAT I AGREE WITH, EVERYONE'S SAID SO FAR.
[03:35:01]
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING TONIGHT.APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE.
UM, I, I, I THINK THE BETTER WAY OF VIEWING THIS IS WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR ECONOMIC VITALITY AND, AND VIBRANCY DOWNTOWN? BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALL SAYING THAT THAT'S SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, AND WE'RE ONLY TOUCHING ON THE PARKING SIDE OF IT RIGHT NOW.
UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE COUNCIL PLACE PRIORITY AND STAFF PLACE PRIORITY ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SO THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW.
UM, I DO APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER SHRI MENTIONED OF 15 MINUTE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, I, I THINK SOME OF OVER DOWNTOWN IS OVERFLOWING, UM, INTO, INTO OTHER AREAS.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE, UH, THE, UH, PAYROLL AND MAGNOLIA INTERSECTION, UH, BECOMING A NEW, UH, LITTLE DISTRICT, UH, HAVING, UH, SARINE THERE AND BROOKE SNOW ON THE WAY THERE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, TIME WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND I WANT TO PRESERVE WHAT WE WANT TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE WHAT WE WANT TO ENHANCE DOWNTOWN AND ALLOW THE 15 MINUTES TO GROW AS WELL.
UM, I, I THINK EV ALL USER GROUPS ARE COMPETING FOR THE SAME SPACE, AND THERE ISN'T MORE SPACE IN FRONT OF THAT SAME CURB.
SO IF THE WORKERS NEED TO BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS, IF THE CUSTOMER NEEDS TO BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS, IF THE A DA SPOT NEEDS TO BE IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS AND THE DELIVERY SPOT AND THE UBER AND THE, YOU KNOW, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT SERVING IT, UH, SOLVING IT BY LOOKING AT ONE THING AND WHO GETS THAT STOREFRONT AREA.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS THE MORE HOLISTIC, WHICH IS WHAT STAFF IS, IS LOOKING AT WHERE, WHERE ELSE DO WE HAVE.
UM, AND, UM, I, I WILL CONCUR WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY THAT THE DATA DOESN'T LEAD US TO SAYING THERE'S A PARTICULAR PROBLEM.
I MEAN, PLANNING COMMISSIONER CUS AND MADE THIS POINT TOO, THE DATA DOESN'T LEAD US TO SAYING THE PROBLEM IS PARKING.
I THINK WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM IS PEAKING IN PARKING, RIGHT? AND, BUT WE DON'T MOVE TO CAPITAL SOLUTIONS RIGHT AWAY FROM INSUFFICIENT DATA WARRANTING THAT.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE OTHER AREAS OF ADDING CAPACITY IN A CREATIVE AND LOCAL WAY.
AND WE TALK ABOUT, UH, LUMA GO BEING, UH, A A GREAT ADDITION.
EVERYBODY LOVES IT, BUT YOU GOTTA RIDE IT TO MAKE IT SUCCEED.
IF YOU DON'T RIDE IT AND YOU ONLY LOVE IT, DO YOU REALLY LOVE IT? SO, UM, YOU, WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE THOSE THINGS.
AND SO INHERENTLY IN PARKING, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE ASSIGN THE PARK TO THE BANK, YOU WANNA OPEN A BANK, YOU GOTTA HAVE THIS MUCH PARKING, YOU WANNA OPEN A STORE, YOU GOTTA HAVE THIS MUCH PARKING.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE NOT OPEN, YOU'RE NOT USING ALL THAT ACREAGE THAT ISN'T TAX GENERATING THAT ISN'T, UH, HELPFUL TO ANYONE ELSE.
SO I DO THINK ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES SHOULD BE, UH, COMMUNICATING AND, UM, AND ENABLING THE PRIVATE PARKING LOTS THAT WE SEE ALL AROUND TOWN.
IF YOU GO TO VOLPES IN PARK AT WEST AMERICA, YOU GET TOWED.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND IF YOU LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT RIGHT THERE, THAT, THAT'S A, THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS CURRENTLY.
UM, BUT UH, I THINK WE DO HAVE TO SORT OUT THE, A STREET PARKING LOT AND WHO'S ON THE PUBLIC LANDS THAT'S THEREBY PERMIT AND WHETHER THERE'S SOME LONGSTANDING CONTRACT THAT REQUIRES THAT OR THAT SHOULD BE OPEN BECAUSE AGAIN, WHEN BUSINESS IS NOT THERE, THOSE ARE WASTED SPACE.
UM, AND, AND WE HELPING WITH THE GARAGES IS OBVIOUSLY A, UH, AN IMPORTANT THING PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
AND, AND, UH, AND SINCE THOSE ARE THE LIGHTEST USED PARKING AREAS, THEY HAVE THE MOST RETURN FOR IMPROVEMENT.
UM, AND, AND, AND I THINK THERE'S, UH, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP ABOUT GETTING OUTTA YOUR CARS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THE FUTURE IS MORE OF US OUT OF OUR CARS.
ALL THIS CONGESTION TALK, ALL THIS PARKING IS DIFFICULT TALK.
IT'S LIKE A FIVE OR SIX, 5%, MAYBE IT'S 10% MAKING UP NUMBERS HERE, BUT IT'S 5% OF PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR AND SUDDENLY THE LANES ON THE FREEWAY ARE OPEN, SUDDENLY THERE'S A PARKING SPACE.
IF FIVE TO 10% OF PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR, SO WE DON'T NEED EVERYONE TO BE ON A BIKE.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT, UH, UH, A BELIEVABLE SCENARIO.
WE DON'T NEED EVERYBODY TO WALK.
WE JUST NEED THE PEOPLE WHO WANT A PARKING SPACE AND WHO WANT TO DRIVE TO BE NICE TO THOSE WHO WILL DO THE OTHER THING.
IF WE ENCOURAGE A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR IN SOME OF US, THE REST OF US BENEFIT AND 5% THIS YEAR WILL LEAD US TO FIVE MORE PERCENT NEXT YEAR.
AND, AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL GET AHEAD IN THE WORLD.
SO, UM, I, I APPRECIATE WHAT STAFF'S GOT GOING ON HERE AND I WANNA RUN ACROSS THE COUNCIL ONE MORE FOR ONE MORE TIME FOR LAST THOUGHTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARNACLE? YEAH, A COUPLE THOUGHTS.
[03:40:01]
SHARED, UM, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF HOUSING IN THIS, IN THE AREA THAT, IN THE STUDY AREA, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE SMART STATION, UM, SOME OF THE PARCELS IN DOWNTOWN THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, WE WANT TO SEE PEOPLE LIVING DOWNTOWN.UM, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO THINK ABOUT WHAT LIKE A POLICY MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO WHERE, UM, WE CAN HAVE A SHARED LIKE, UH, WE CAN, UM, PUSH SOME OF THE PARKING THAT MAY OTHERWISE BE AN ACCOMMODATED IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING OR IN A CONDO BUILDING, UM, IN ONTO THE STREET SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE HOUSING, UM, AND WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN DOWNTOWN AND MORE FEET ON THE STREET.
UM, UH, I WANTED TO REITERATE WHAT MARIE ASKED FOR TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE FOCUS GROUP, UM, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, BRIEFED ON THE FINDINGS THAT WE GOT TONIGHT.
AND THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IN PARTICULAR, AS YOU START TO IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF WHAT A POTENTIAL PAID PARKING PROGRAM COULD FUND LIKE THAT FOCUS GROUP'S GONNA BE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA BE IMPORTANT VALIDATORS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW BAD DO YOU WANT THESE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU WANT, RIGHT? UM, ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, SO I WANT TO REITERATE THAT, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE DATA IS TELLING ME IS THAT OUR DOWNTOWN'S NOT PRODUCING AS MUCH COMMERCE AS WE THINK.
LIKE IF IT, IF A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF PARKING IS 85% AND WE'RE WELL BELOW THAT, LIKE WE WANT OUR DOWNTOWN TO BE PRODUCING A LOT MORE COMMERCE.
LIKE PARKING IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE.
THE ISSUE IS COMMERCE, AND WE WANT TO HAVE MORE COMMERCE, WE WANT MORE.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T A POPULAR POSITION, RIGHT? BUT LIKE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE IT BE A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER TO FIND PARKING IF OUR BUSINESSES WERE ALL THRIVING.
IF THE WORST PART OF YOUR DAY WAS FINDING PARKING, BUT YOUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY WAS THRIVING, UM, I THINK EVERYBODY UP HERE WOULD SAY FANTASTIC.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO TRY AND SHIFT THIS AWAY FROM LIKE, WHERE AM I GONNA PARK? WHERE AM I GONNA PARK TO, LIKE HOW ARE WE GONNA HELP OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY? HOW ARE WE GONNA GET OUR PARKING UTILIZATION UP TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY? AND, AND I JUST, ALL OF US UP HERE, LIKE WHAT'S THE DATA TELLING US? THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM.
LIKE, THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT WE'RE NOT FACILITATING ENOUGH COMMERCE IN OUR DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS STRUGGLING AS COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY COUNT OR CALLED OUT.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.
SO, UM, LIKE PEOPLE ALWAYS POINT TO PARKING.
I SAY THERE'S THREE ISSUES IN CITY GOVERNMENT THAT YOU CAN'T BE ON.
YOU CAN'T BE, YOU KNOW, LAWS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE EITHER ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.
IT'S PARKING, PICKLEBALL AND POLICE.
BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE IMPORTANTLY, LIKE THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE.
THE ISSUE IS HOW ARE WE HELPING OUR BUSINESSES AND PUTTING FEET ON THE STREET FOR PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER QUINT, YOU BROUGHT UP, UM, YOU KNOW, TELLING, YOU'RE REMINDING HER TO PARK IN THE GARAGE.
I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD BECAUSE I JUST, LIKE, I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S RESPONSIBLE TO SAY, GET OUTTA YOUR CAR AND RIDE YOUR BIKE IF YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE ON YOUR BIKE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE, FAIR TO SAY, YOU KNOW, USE THE PARKING GARAGE IF YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE.
I THINK IT'S ON US TO MAKE IT SAFE.
LIKE, JUST LIKE I FEEL ABOUT RIDING ABOUT BIKE LANES, I WANNA MAKE IT SAFE AND CONVENIENT TO RIDE YOUR BIKE.
I WANNA MAKE IT SAFE AND CONVENIENT TO USE THE PARKING GARAGE.
AND SO I THINK THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, UM, THIS PARKING PROGRAM IS JUST LIKE, WHAT'S IT GONNA TAKE TO MAKE FRANK'S WIFE FEEL SAFE USING THE PARKING GARAGE? AND THAT WOULD BE A GOOD, YOU KNOW, VOICE OF CUSTOMER RESEARCH PROJECT OF JUST SAYING LIKE, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE CHRISTIE TO, UM, FEEL SAFE USING THE PARKING GARAGE? UM, AND THEN, UM, I THINK THE OTHER THING IS BRINGING BACK CASE STUDIES.
UM, I LIKE, WE HEAR LIKE, OH MY GOSH, NOBODY'S GONNA, NOBODY'S GONNA GO TO THESE BUSINESSES BECAUSE, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA SEE DECREASED SALES TAX.
OH, BUT THE CASE STUDIES DON'T TELL US THAT.
LIKE YOU BROUGHT UP SAN LUIS OBISPO, I'M A MUSTANG AS WELL.
UM, THEIR DOWNTOWN IS PUMPING WITH PEOPLE.
IT IS THRIVING AND THEY HAVE PAID PARKING.
THEY LIKE PLACES THAT HAVE PAID PARKING.
IT WORKS LIKE, AND, AND I WANNA BRING, ELEVATE THOSE CASE STUDIES AND FORCE US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FORCE THE COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT THOSE SUCCESSFUL CASE STUDIES.
AND IF YOU FIND FAILED ONES TOO, BRING THOSE FORWARD TOO.
THERE CERTAINLY ARE EXAMPLES OF COUNCILS THAT HAVE TAKEN AWAY THEIR PAID PARKING AND WHY DID THEY TAKE AWAY THE PAID PARKING? UM, BUT WE WANNA SEE BOTH, UM, BECAUSE, UM, WE'VE GOTTA GET PAST THE RHETORIC AND CUT TO THE CUT THROUGH THAT AND ACTUALLY LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE REAL FACTS AND THE DATA ON THE GROUND OF LIKE, WHAT, WHAT CITIES ARE SEEING FROM THIS.
BECAUSE IT, IT JUST CAN'T BE A MOTION.
SO THOSE ARE MY, MY FINAL COMMENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS AND ENLIGHTENING PRESENTATION AND, UH, DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
[03:45:01]
UH, LAST THOUGHTS ON THIS JUMP IN.UM, YOU KNOW, I, UM, WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE END OF THIS AND, AND, UH, AND FOR ME, WELL SATISFIED ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THINGS.
UH, I HAVE FORGOTTEN EARLIER TO BROACH, UM, YOU KNOW, IN ALL OUR ITEMS, WE LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL PART, WE LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC PART, AND I KNOW THE CITY OF PETALUMA LOOKS AT A-D-I-E-D, UH, DEI PART AS WELL.
WHAT ABOUT THE EQUITY? AND I'M WONDERING WHERE OUR, UM, BIASES ARE, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DO A SURVEY, WE'RE REPORTING OUT SURVEYS DATA.
AND SO IN A FUTURE REPORT, I'D LOVE TO COMMENT ABOUT HOW IT'S, UH, EQUITY BALANCED SO THAT WE'RE BROADCASTING TO THE COMMUNITY, OUR CONCERNS ON THAT LEVEL AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD, UH, SUPPORT, UM, PRETTY STRONGLY IS IN THE, THE SHARED PARKING CONCEPT, BOTH BUSINESS TO BUSINESS AND A CITY TO, TO BUSINESSES FOR OTHER PRI PRIVATE PARKING LOTS.
UH, WE JUST HAVE TO ORGANIZE WHATEVER IT TAKES.
'CAUSE I THINK THERE'S CONCERNS FROM THE PRIVATE BUSINESSES, UH, WHO'S HAS THE LIABILITY, UH, WHO'S GONNA BE HERE, WHO'S GONNA DO WHAT, UM, UM, AND SO WE HAVE TO WORK THAT THROUGH.
IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED.
UM, BUT AGAIN, IT'S EDUCATION AND THERE'S SOME LEGAL THINGS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK.
BUT YEAH, IF WE COULD, UH, PUT THAT EXTRA THOUSAND SPACES THERE.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER, UH, COUPLE HUNDRED OVER AT TARGET AND THERE'S A COUPLE MORE HUNDRED OVER THERE NEAR THE KMART.
AND, UM, SO THERE'S PLENTY OF PARKING AROUND TOWN AND WITH SHUTTLING BACK AND FORTH, BUT SHARED PARKING AGREEMENTS, UH, MAYBE THE EASIEST BANG FOR THE BUCK IF WE JUST DO A LITTLE PAPERWORK AND GET SOME AGREEMENTS GOING TO TALK TO FOLKS, TALK TO THE OWNERS OF THESE PRIVATE PARKINGS, THAT, THAT MAY GIVE US THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK VERY QUICKLY, AS WELL AS CHANGING SOME PAINT HERE AND THERE.
UM, SO RATHER 'CAUSE METERED PARKING, UH, MAYBE A HIGH HAVE A HIGH COST UPFRONT, UNLESS THERE'S SOME REALLY NEW HIGH TECH STUFF WHERE THE POST GOES IN AND YOU JUST, YOU EVEN JUST WALK BY IT AND IT COLLECTS YOUR CAR AND KNOWS YOU'VE BEEN IN AND KNOWS YOU'VE BEEN OUT.
UM, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT MAY GET A LITTLE CONCERNING TO, TO A FEW OTHERS.
BUT, UM, IF, IF THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE TO BE ABLE TO USE WITH PARKING METERS, IF, IF THAT'S EASY, THEN THAT MIGHT BE COST EFFECTIVE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL I SEE THOSE NUMBERS.
AND I THINK WE'RE ALL IN SUPPORT OF, UM, OF THAT AS THE LOW HANGING FRUIT, AND ESPECIALLY IF THE DATA DOESN'T SUPPORT THE NEXT STEPS.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US FOCUS ON TRANSIT AS INDEPENDENT OF DOWNTOWN PARKING, BUT, YOU KNOW, A BIG BENEFACTOR FOR DOWNTOWN, UH, IMPROVED DOWNTOWN RELATIONS.
BUT THE TRENDS THAT WE TALK ABOUT SHOULD BE BROAD, BROADER, WHICH WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC TONIGHT.
UH, EXTENDING LUMA GO TO ALL PARTS OF THE CITY OR FIGURING OUT THINGS.
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER DI CARLY.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, WITH BRIAN THAT SLOW IS IS A PRETTY VIBRANT DOWNTOWN.
UM, YOU GOTTA CONSIDER TOO THOUGH THAT THE AVERAGE AGE DOWNTOWN IS ABOUT 20, AND THEY'RE ALL TRYING TO PARTY AND, AND EAT AND HANG OUT AND, AND THEN, UM, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THEIR PARENTS DOWN THERE WHEN THEY VISIT, YOU KNOW, BOOMING THE ECONOMY.
UM, SO, BUT I, I THINK SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER TOO WITH, WITH PETALUMA IS WE DO HAVE THE HIGHEST LOCAL SALES TAX IN THE STATE.
AND YOU KNOW, I I THINK FOR US TO THEN BE LIKE, WELL NOW WE'RE GONNA CHARGE YOU TO PARK HERE TOO, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE PAYING MORE ON TAXES.
UM, DUDE, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE JUST NICKEL AND DIVING, YOU KNOW, VISITORS, UM, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHEN WE SHOULD BE WELCOMING THEM INTO OUR TOWN.
YEAH, WE DO SHARE THAT DUBIOUS HONOR WITH SO MANY CITIES, DON'T WE? YEAH.
UM, OKAY, COMMENTS, COMMENTS, UH, UH, WITH THAT, I BELIEVE WE'VE, UH, WORKSHOPPED THE HECK OUTTA THIS THING.
AND, UM, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT NEXT STEPS AR ARISE FROM THIS.
AND, UH, BEFORE CLOSING, I JUST LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT TONIGHT WE'RE CLOSING THE MEETING IN HONOR OF OUR FORMER POLICE CHIEF ROBERT MURPHY AND IN HONOR OF DAN AGUILAR, UM, BOTH OF WHOM I DISCUSSED EARLIER.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND, UH, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.