Laserfiche WebLink
parking saturation has been reached. Twice in the last week his clients told him they had to walk two <br /> blocks to get to his office. When this point is reached, it begins to get worse quicker because private <br /> property owners' spaces are being hoarded. He asked the Council not to wait, to look at the PDA <br /> recommendations and implement some of the short term recommendations. <br /> Vic Malatesta, owner of Vic's All Star Kitchen, said he became a member of the PDA 22 years ago and <br /> at that time they had a parking committee. In coming to this meeting, he had to park in the bank and <br /> could not find nearby parking. He said it is best in business to be proactive as opposed to reactive. <br /> Walnut Creek built a two-level structure downtown. Livermore thought they could build another theater <br /> and the dirt lot is filled every weekend with cars. People want to park close to establishments and he <br /> supported the strategy for approval. <br /> Rob Dondera, said he owns 725 Main Street, a dirt lot they are hoping to develop as soon as he can, <br /> and said $18,000 per parking space sometimes deters the building of parking. He spoke about parking <br /> issues and the inability to lease space and questioned whether a parking structure could be built in the <br /> Downtown, and to address the short and long term recommendations. <br /> Laura Olson said timing is good in the Downtown with a good economy and the downside is the parking <br /> crunch and tension it is creating for everybody. She supported the PDA's parking recommendations <br /> and thinks they have identified some low hanging fruit to immediately alleviate the parking situation. <br /> They also support staffs recommendations to better manage existing stock and plan for future parking <br /> needs in the Downtown. <br /> Angie Summers said when the Starbucks located in the Downtown, parking there was removed and <br /> right now there is no parking. She asked the City Council to think about every single project it approves <br /> and whether or not there will be parking for them. <br /> Mayor Thorne closed the public comment. <br /> Mayor Thorne asked staff what will be done in the short term and Mr. Fialho said they will deploy the <br /> implementation strategy with the goal of identifying short and long term objectives. If those costs are <br /> significant in the multi-million range, it will be a Proposition 218 type of process, given that it must be <br /> built into the City's operating budget. But, if the short term low hanging fruit is paving a vacant lot, <br /> paving the section between East Angela and Neal Street as proposed by the PDA, this does not take a <br /> lot of cash flow to accomplish which could be a mid-year adjustment the Council can deploy once they <br /> know the short and long term strategies are, and this is what the exercise is about. <br /> Mayor Thorne voiced concerns with people acting out regarding lack of parking and he supported <br /> implementing some immediate solutions. <br /> MOTION: It was m/s by Narum/Pentin to authorize staff to initiate the development of a Downtown <br /> Parking Strategy and Implementation Plan as proposed. <br /> Councilmember Olson said he has reviewed staff reports for years and when he read this report, he got <br /> upset. He is not opposed to developing a parking strategy, but he looks at the May 1st letter from the <br /> PDA where there are 7 suggestions that he thinks the City should look at immediately. One of them is <br /> to put a two-tier parking structure behind Red Coats on property which the City already owns. What he <br /> sees is paying for another consultant to do another study which only delays adding another parking <br /> solution. He will not vote against this motion, but he strongly indicated the City must stop dragging its <br /> feet. <br /> Councilmember Narum commented that she has heard from people to not approve another Italian <br /> restaurant, when will the Downtown become vibrant to now hearing there is no parking. She spoke with <br /> a resident who tried to go to a new restaurant in the Downtown and drove away because they could not <br /> City Council Minutes Page 26 of 28 October 6,2015 <br />