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Indybay Feature
Santa Cruz City Council Decides on Downtown Garage
At their meeting on Sept. 9, the City Council will decide whether fund the initial design for a 5-story garage at Cedar/Cathcart. Plans for the garage have stimulated proposals for greener solutions to customer parking, with a focus on supporting the downtown workforce to use alternative transportation to commute to work.
At their meeting on Sept. 9, the City Council will decide whether fund the initial design for a 5-story garage at Cedar/Cathcart. The garage will displace the Downtown Farmers Market. The Campaign for Sensible Transportation is proposing that the City implement less costly and greener alternatives to building the garage. These alternatives are recommended in a 2003 report commissioned by the City called the Master Transportation Study. That study recommends that downtown employees be given incentives not to drive to work, including free bus passes, emergency taxi vouchers, credit at bike stores, and cash. The study cites examples from other cities in which such measures have substantially reduced car trips. To date, the City has not implemented the recommendations in the study.
On Sept 3, City Council Candidates will face the garage issue at a Candidate Night on Sustainable Transportation, at Louden Nelson Center, 7-8:30pm.
On Sept 3, City Council Candidates will face the garage issue at a Candidate Night on Sustainable Transportation, at Louden Nelson Center, 7-8:30pm.
For more information:
http://www.sensibletransportation.org
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I am sure they will move the Farmers Market to another location. Relax, the downtown needs parking.
So our community is at the mercy of commerce rather than their own decisions?
I always thought the power of action lied in the people of the community not the economic interests of businesses.
I always thought the power of action lied in the people of the community not the economic interests of businesses.
Approving the funds to start an initial design process is quite different then having the thing built. Why not see what they come up with? We need the parking, the Farmers Market will be moved. The Farmers Market organizers are actually ok with this and are for the project.
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pw/MST2003/index.htm
FINAL REPORT • July 23, 2003
Prepared by Fukuji Planning & Design
In Association with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Nelson Nygaard Consulting, Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Economic & Planning Systems, and Gene Bregman & Associates
Submitted to The City of Santa Cruz and the University of California at Santa Cruz
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
II. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
III. Mobility Vision, Goals, and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
IV. Sustainability Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
V. Analysis of Future Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
VI. Strategic Initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
1. Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
2. Transit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
3. Pedestrian System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
4. Bicycle Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
5. Transportation Systems Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
6. Livable Streets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
7. Traffic Calming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
8. Transportation Demand Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
9. Regional Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195
10. Investment Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207
11. Monitoring Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209
12. Education and Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
VII.Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225
1. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227
2. Survey and Workshop Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237
3. Twelve Key Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249
4. Parking Pricing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253
5. University Growth an Issue for Future Consideration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .279
6. Joint Statement Between the City of Santa Cruz and the University of
California at Santa Cruz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281
LIST OF FIGURES
1. 95060 Zip Code Residential Daily Travel Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
2. 95062 Zip Code Residential Daily Travel Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
3. Primary Activity Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
4. Increasing and Broadening Transit Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
5. Sidewalks to be Constructed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
6. Pedestrian Frontages: Westside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
7. Pedestrian Frontages: Harvey West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
8. Pedestrian Frontages: Eastside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
9. Pedestrian Frontages: Beach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
10. Enhancing Pedestrian Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
11. Expanding the Bicycle Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
12. Transportation Systems Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
13. Creating Livable Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
14. Seabright Neighborhood Traffic Plan Phase 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
15. Seabright Neighborhood Traffic Plan Phase 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157
16. Neighborhood Areas Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
17. Transportation Demand Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
FINAL REPORT • July 23, 2003
Prepared by Fukuji Planning & Design
In Association with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Nelson Nygaard Consulting, Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Economic & Planning Systems, and Gene Bregman & Associates
Submitted to The City of Santa Cruz and the University of California at Santa Cruz
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
II. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
III. Mobility Vision, Goals, and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
IV. Sustainability Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
V. Analysis of Future Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
VI. Strategic Initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
1. Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
2. Transit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
3. Pedestrian System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
4. Bicycle Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
5. Transportation Systems Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
6. Livable Streets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
7. Traffic Calming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
8. Transportation Demand Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
9. Regional Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195
10. Investment Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207
11. Monitoring Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209
12. Education and Promotion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
VII.Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .225
1. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227
2. Survey and Workshop Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237
3. Twelve Key Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249
4. Parking Pricing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253
5. University Growth an Issue for Future Consideration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .279
6. Joint Statement Between the City of Santa Cruz and the University of
California at Santa Cruz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281
LIST OF FIGURES
1. 95060 Zip Code Residential Daily Travel Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
2. 95062 Zip Code Residential Daily Travel Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
3. Primary Activity Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
4. Increasing and Broadening Transit Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
5. Sidewalks to be Constructed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
6. Pedestrian Frontages: Westside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
7. Pedestrian Frontages: Harvey West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
8. Pedestrian Frontages: Eastside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
9. Pedestrian Frontages: Beach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
10. Enhancing Pedestrian Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
11. Expanding the Bicycle Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
12. Transportation Systems Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
13. Creating Livable Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
14. Seabright Neighborhood Traffic Plan Phase 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
15. Seabright Neighborhood Traffic Plan Phase 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157
16. Neighborhood Areas Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
17. Transportation Demand Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
For more information:
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pw/MST2003/...
The parking lots in question can, and are, used for public events; the farmer's market, the monthly antique fair, and other events on occasion. It's not a perfect venue, but it's there. That venue will be gone when the parking garage lands. Where else will people meet? You think the merchants will let Pacific be blocked on a regular basis -- though that would be ideal?
Can I speak to aesthetics? This ugly, functional building will dwarf every other building around it. In essence, the street life of downtown Santa Cruz will be crammed in, as it can fit, around the parking.
Personally, I'm a big fan of putting things off responsibly. I find that about half my problems aren't really problems if I give them time to work out. I work on the supposition that the future can be radically different than the past, and that it is very likely, for example, that we will be driving fewer or smaller cars in the future. I look at that parking structure illustration, and I see a mighty white elephant waiting to trumpet. Could be wrong, but... why hurry?
Can I speak to aesthetics? This ugly, functional building will dwarf every other building around it. In essence, the street life of downtown Santa Cruz will be crammed in, as it can fit, around the parking.
Personally, I'm a big fan of putting things off responsibly. I find that about half my problems aren't really problems if I give them time to work out. I work on the supposition that the future can be radically different than the past, and that it is very likely, for example, that we will be driving fewer or smaller cars in the future. I look at that parking structure illustration, and I see a mighty white elephant waiting to trumpet. Could be wrong, but... why hurry?
For more information:
http://www.talesfromthecoast.blogspot.com
How do you know what it's going to look like when they have not even started the design process? The illustration shown is not what will necessarily be built.
About the only regularly scheduled event that happens in the current parking lot is the Farmers Market. The people behind the market are standing behind this new parking lot. It has their endorsement. They figure that with the ability to bring more people downtown it will also attract new customers and awareness of the Farmers Market and the whole "grown local" movement.
About the only regularly scheduled event that happens in the current parking lot is the Farmers Market. The people behind the market are standing behind this new parking lot. It has their endorsement. They figure that with the ability to bring more people downtown it will also attract new customers and awareness of the Farmers Market and the whole "grown local" movement.
Dear Friends,
As you may have heard, on September 9 the City Council will vote on whether to fund the initial design for a 5-story garage at Cedar/Cathcart. This structure would cost $42 million over 30 years. It would displace the Farmers Market.
We have the potential to not only stop another subsidy to automobile use, but launch an innovative program of incentives for downtown employees to use alternative transportation.
The Campaign for Sensible Transportation, http://www.sensibletransportation.org, is requesting that before authorizing any funding for the garage, the City Council implement the Parking Demand Management measures recommended by the 2003 Master Transportation Study (MTS). (See http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pw/MST2003/index.htm) The City and the University paid for this $500K study, that included a list of recommendations for making better use of existing parking resources downtown. According to the MTS, ³Managing parking and demand for vehicle travel are the most cost-effective ways to shift travel behavior.² Some of MTS recommendations:
* Prioritize customer parking over all-day parking in surface lots and meters. This would be accomplished through appropriate pricing policies, and through moving all permit parking to the existing multi-story garages.
* Financial incentives for employee use of alternative transportation. That could include subsidized bus passes, emergency ride home taxi vouchers, cash, credit at bike stores, car-sharing, discounted permits for carpooling, etc. Right now the downtown workforce occupies over 60% of city-operated parking spaces. If the City incentives convince 16% of these commuters to take alternative transportation, that will free up the number of spaces that the new garage would provide. That goal could be accomplished at a fraction of the cost of building the garage.
* Park & Ride lots with shuttle service for downtown employees
* Trip reduction ordinance for new developments
For more information and an online petition, see our website:
http://www.sensibletransportation.org/vibrantdowntown
Taking Action:
* Please take a moment to e-mail the Council on this issue, asking that they implement parking demand management before taking any action on the garage. citycouncil [at] ci.santa-cruz.ca.us
* Come to the City Council Candidate Night on Sustainable Transportation, Wed. Sept 3, 7-8:30pm, at Louden Nelson Center. Candidates Coonerty, Madrigal, Beiers, Fitzmaurice, Lane, Terrazas, and Canada have confirmed.
* Come to the City Council meeting on Sept. 9
* Send this e-mail to others
As you may have heard, on September 9 the City Council will vote on whether to fund the initial design for a 5-story garage at Cedar/Cathcart. This structure would cost $42 million over 30 years. It would displace the Farmers Market.
We have the potential to not only stop another subsidy to automobile use, but launch an innovative program of incentives for downtown employees to use alternative transportation.
The Campaign for Sensible Transportation, http://www.sensibletransportation.org, is requesting that before authorizing any funding for the garage, the City Council implement the Parking Demand Management measures recommended by the 2003 Master Transportation Study (MTS). (See http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pw/MST2003/index.htm) The City and the University paid for this $500K study, that included a list of recommendations for making better use of existing parking resources downtown. According to the MTS, ³Managing parking and demand for vehicle travel are the most cost-effective ways to shift travel behavior.² Some of MTS recommendations:
* Prioritize customer parking over all-day parking in surface lots and meters. This would be accomplished through appropriate pricing policies, and through moving all permit parking to the existing multi-story garages.
* Financial incentives for employee use of alternative transportation. That could include subsidized bus passes, emergency ride home taxi vouchers, cash, credit at bike stores, car-sharing, discounted permits for carpooling, etc. Right now the downtown workforce occupies over 60% of city-operated parking spaces. If the City incentives convince 16% of these commuters to take alternative transportation, that will free up the number of spaces that the new garage would provide. That goal could be accomplished at a fraction of the cost of building the garage.
* Park & Ride lots with shuttle service for downtown employees
* Trip reduction ordinance for new developments
For more information and an online petition, see our website:
http://www.sensibletransportation.org/vibrantdowntown
Taking Action:
* Please take a moment to e-mail the Council on this issue, asking that they implement parking demand management before taking any action on the garage. citycouncil [at] ci.santa-cruz.ca.us
* Come to the City Council Candidate Night on Sustainable Transportation, Wed. Sept 3, 7-8:30pm, at Louden Nelson Center. Candidates Coonerty, Madrigal, Beiers, Fitzmaurice, Lane, Terrazas, and Canada have confirmed.
* Come to the City Council meeting on Sept. 9
* Send this e-mail to others
I think with all the problems on the mall, I think most people of even opposing views on downtown issues would agree this is
As we loose Scribners Park, now called Scope Park, sold off for development by our City Council in 2007, http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/clippingfile/cliplist.php?subjhead2=557, our Mall is becoming a cement city. People have mentioned we don't know what it will look like. I think we all have a good idea from the many parking lots that have gone up over the years what it will look like, a tall cement parking garage.
I would like to see the City Council and the Community to come up with as many new " Out of the Box" ideas to make Downtown better for everyone, without anymore development. That should be their first focus, and the best ideas should be put to a public vote. But instead they keep doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
Adding more parking will not bring in more tourists, but it will make us loose vital areas for venues like the farmers market, something I think most locals and others enjoy very much. Why are we spending money on this when we cannot even fund basic health services and have a more than strained city budget and no state budget? There are other things we can do to make downtown better rather than build upwards and remove what is now a multi-use public space that will be reduced to a single use space. It serves many venues now, the Farmers Market, the Antique Fair and both of the these events are money makers for people living here and a large draw for both locals and tourists -- not to mention Food Not Bombs, the Drum Circle etc.
Were loosing our Flea Market eventually. Our we going to allow the City to continue to just develop on its every whim? I know many people from many walks of life who will not go downtown if they build this and scrap the Farmers Market. The City is 95% built out by Council member Mile Rotkin's figures. Maybe its time we take better care of the space we have rather than build more. What happened to the Kiosk bathrooms? What aboout free wireless for the entire mall? What about making the current buildings more green by using solar etc?
If they do build this, it should be on the sole condition that the main part of Pacific Ave is closed to cars and has foot traffic only. This would allow for lots of venues, trees and landscape in the middle of the road, giving the mall a brand new look. Thats just an idea, and that is my point, we need better ideas not more cement.
We need a council that uses its minds to come up with creative ideas to make downtown better. We can't TRY and sell a parking lot on eBay like we did the giant ugly gateway to Santa Cruz River St. sign once its built. The giant yellow monstrosity was so despised, we not only could not sell it after it was built, we could not give it away.
It's time we all force the council to end this idea and try come up with new ideas. If we build it they will not come.
Picture came from http://www.thomasrmannphotography.com/cc_borders_creek.shtml
Thats npt
As we loose Scribners Park, now called Scope Park, sold off for development by our City Council in 2007, http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/clippingfile/cliplist.php?subjhead2=557, our Mall is becoming a cement city. People have mentioned we don't know what it will look like. I think we all have a good idea from the many parking lots that have gone up over the years what it will look like, a tall cement parking garage.
I would like to see the City Council and the Community to come up with as many new " Out of the Box" ideas to make Downtown better for everyone, without anymore development. That should be their first focus, and the best ideas should be put to a public vote. But instead they keep doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
Adding more parking will not bring in more tourists, but it will make us loose vital areas for venues like the farmers market, something I think most locals and others enjoy very much. Why are we spending money on this when we cannot even fund basic health services and have a more than strained city budget and no state budget? There are other things we can do to make downtown better rather than build upwards and remove what is now a multi-use public space that will be reduced to a single use space. It serves many venues now, the Farmers Market, the Antique Fair and both of the these events are money makers for people living here and a large draw for both locals and tourists -- not to mention Food Not Bombs, the Drum Circle etc.
Were loosing our Flea Market eventually. Our we going to allow the City to continue to just develop on its every whim? I know many people from many walks of life who will not go downtown if they build this and scrap the Farmers Market. The City is 95% built out by Council member Mile Rotkin's figures. Maybe its time we take better care of the space we have rather than build more. What happened to the Kiosk bathrooms? What aboout free wireless for the entire mall? What about making the current buildings more green by using solar etc?
If they do build this, it should be on the sole condition that the main part of Pacific Ave is closed to cars and has foot traffic only. This would allow for lots of venues, trees and landscape in the middle of the road, giving the mall a brand new look. Thats just an idea, and that is my point, we need better ideas not more cement.
We need a council that uses its minds to come up with creative ideas to make downtown better. We can't TRY and sell a parking lot on eBay like we did the giant ugly gateway to Santa Cruz River St. sign once its built. The giant yellow monstrosity was so despised, we not only could not sell it after it was built, we could not give it away.
It's time we all force the council to end this idea and try come up with new ideas. If we build it they will not come.
Picture came from http://www.thomasrmannphotography.com/cc_borders_creek.shtml
Thats npt
Tim, that's what I'm afraid of as well. That Pacific will be a narrow alley of shops, increasingly in shadow, separated physically and emotionally by the surrounding community by a ring of multi-story concrete boxes. Just another self-contained shopping mall; all it would need is a roof.
I have served as a cog in the wheel of more bureaucracies than I care to admit; public, private industry, nonprofit. And I do know that policy mandates and plans made by committees that disbanded two, three, five years ago by committees are often ignored, deemphasized or short-circuited by the managers and politicians in the here and now. A garage is what their friends want, a garage is what they understand and what they've always done, and the "alternate"plans recommended by the community seem untried and risky. So they'll tell you the old committee recommendations were 'taken in to account," and go on with business as usual.
My recommendation for those who are concerned? Ask for the documentation of how the old plan was taken into account: reports written, meeting minutes, etc. If they can't produce them, then there's no evidence that alternative strategies were taken into account. And they probably weren't.
If they can produce them, look for the key logic points: Management team recommended against alternative plans because of insufficient funds/low probability of success/whatever. And then you can question each one of those points. And I will bet you that many of them are faulty, or based on faulty pretenses. Either because they already knew what direction they wanted to go in, or because, frankly, Santa Cruz city gov't is not the A team. Or both.
I have served as a cog in the wheel of more bureaucracies than I care to admit; public, private industry, nonprofit. And I do know that policy mandates and plans made by committees that disbanded two, three, five years ago by committees are often ignored, deemphasized or short-circuited by the managers and politicians in the here and now. A garage is what their friends want, a garage is what they understand and what they've always done, and the "alternate"plans recommended by the community seem untried and risky. So they'll tell you the old committee recommendations were 'taken in to account," and go on with business as usual.
My recommendation for those who are concerned? Ask for the documentation of how the old plan was taken into account: reports written, meeting minutes, etc. If they can't produce them, then there's no evidence that alternative strategies were taken into account. And they probably weren't.
If they can produce them, look for the key logic points: Management team recommended against alternative plans because of insufficient funds/low probability of success/whatever. And then you can question each one of those points. And I will bet you that many of them are faulty, or based on faulty pretenses. Either because they already knew what direction they wanted to go in, or because, frankly, Santa Cruz city gov't is not the A team. Or both.
For more information:
http://www.talesfromthecoast.blogspot.com
Went to a Q&A meeting for city council candidates held by various transportation groups, including the Committee for Sensible Transporation and others. Somebody did a killer presentation, with photos at taken various times of the week, showing how underused the existing parking structures are. They also explained that the initiative for a new garage was arrived at by a formula -- so many parking spaces for so many square feet of business space in each 'quadrant' of downtown. By that formula a new parking garage was needed at Cedar and Cathcart. Even though the Soquel/Front Street garage in a different quadrant (a whole two blocks away) was not full to capacity at any time of the week.
Perhaps the council candidates had already been against the garage, but after the presentation I can say that none of them were for it, and were all in favor of trying alternate plans that did not require building. Good job, people, though I could have done without the presenter trying to lead us all in a chorus of "Big Yellow Taxi" at the end.
So, in the end, another mindless bureaucratic imperative was thwarted by reality. This time.
Perhaps the council candidates had already been against the garage, but after the presentation I can say that none of them were for it, and were all in favor of trying alternate plans that did not require building. Good job, people, though I could have done without the presenter trying to lead us all in a chorus of "Big Yellow Taxi" at the end.
So, in the end, another mindless bureaucratic imperative was thwarted by reality. This time.
For more information:
http://www.talesfromthecoast.blogspot.com
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