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SR-012208-8A__- ~_ c;cros City Council Report Santa Monica° City Council Meeting 2-~j ?-~08 Agenda Item: S'-' ~ To: Mayor and City Council From: Eileen Fogarty, Director of Planning and Community Development Subject: Resolution establishing off-peak parking rate at Library and Civic garages and authorizing City Manager to allow free or reduced rate parking for up to 25 evening events per year at the Santa Monica High School. Recommended Action Staff recommends that City Council: 1. Adopt attached Resolution establishing a $3.00 per entry off-peak parking rate at the Library and at the Civic Center, when there are no events scheduled; 2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to allow free or reduced rate parking for up to 25 evening events at Santa Monica High School; and 3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to allow free or reduced parking rates for City-sponsored noticed meeting or events that are free and open to the public. Executive Summary Staff is proposing that the Council adopt a maximum daily parking rate of $3 at the library structure on weekends and holidays and at the civic structure on non-event weekends and holidays. The purpose of this rate is to draw price-sensitive, long-term daily parkers away from busy downtown structures when there is space available in other nearby facilities. It would also reduce the amount patrons of the library would pay, if they stay for more than three hours on a weekend. With the assistance of Bayside District Corporation, staff will promote the rate to retail employees who drive to work. Staff is also proposing authorization for along-standing practice of providing free or reduced rate parking for a limited number of evening events held at Santa Monica High School, City-sponsored events and publicly-noticed meetings. Though no further recommendation is being made at this time for reduced rate student parking, City and School District staff continue to discuss this issue. Currently the School District is studying its parking demand, and the City has agreed to review that demand in conjunction with demand in the Civic Center area to see whether there are opportunities for sharing parking resources and/or developing additional parking. These discussions include Santa Monica College (SMC). Staff will continue discussions and report back to Council on the status. The reduced parking rate is anticipated to be offset by the availability of additional standard rate parking in the downtown with greater turnover and the City has not received revenue from the District in the past for the use of the Civic lot for these special school events. Finally, as noted in the report, staff can now replace the bike lane along Main Street between Pico and City Hall by removing the temporary angled parking along Main Street. There is no anticipated net fiscal impact associated with the rate changes. After one year of operation, staff will report its findings to Council. Discussion Library Parking Structure The City opened the library parking structure in January 2006. The structure was expected to generate $30,000 per month in revenue, and to serve public parking needs as well as parking needs of library patrons and staff. Transportation Management staff has been monitoring occupancy and revenue to ensure that the structure serves the purposes for which it was constructed, and generates sufficient revenue to cover operating costs. Initially, parking was provided to hourly visitors, library staff and former monthly packers only. Over the past year, however, staff has increased the number of monthly permits sold, to 350 per month, by marketing them to people on the downtown structure waiting list and to merchants in close proximity to the library structure itself. The current goal is to issue about 400-425 monthly permits for this structure. The City has also recently allocated some space in the library structure to Engineering and Architecture staff. This parking facility is included as a stop on the holiday parking shuttle route, and is served by the new Mini Blue Tide Ride that also serves the downtown area. Although weekday occupancy at the library structure continues to grow, and revenue expectations are met, the structure still has additional capacity. The structure is less heavily used on weekends than during the week. Revision to the weekend rate structure could make library parking an attractive alternative for some retail employees 2 and relieve some pressure on downtown parking structures during busy weekend periods. Based on current parking patterns, staff estimates that reducing the maximum rate to $3/day on weekends could result in a net loss of $344 per weekend (or approximately $18,000 annually). However, it's anticipated that this will be offset by revenue from available parking spaces in the downtown at standard rates, as well as additional usage at the Library structure. Civic Parkina Structure Monthly parking is available at the Civic Structure at the same rate as other downtown facilities. Ultimately, this facility will be needed to serve Civic Center demand. It was constructed ahead of demand so as to be available to provide relief to the downtown while several older facilities there are torn down and rebuilt. Daily parking demand is expected to increase as metered, angled parking installed temporarily along Main Street between Pico and City Hall during the garage construction now can be removed. The removal of the temporary angled parking will allow the replacement of the bike lane along Main Street. The Civic Structure also has availability on weekends and holidays. Staff is proposing the $3 weekend and holiday rate at this facility as well, except when the Civic Auditorium is hosting an event. Beginning in January, staff is also shifting about 278 Santa Monica Place employees from parking in Structure 5 on weekends to parking in the Civic Structure. Hiah School Parkina Some high school students and parents have requested reduced rate parking for students and school events. This has a value of approximately $50,000-$65,000 annually at current rates. The School District previously established a task force on this issue. This group did not recommend that the District request reduced rate student 3 parking. However, requests for reduced rate parking for students continue. District and City staff have begun discussions on this issue. The School District is studying its parking demand and the City has agreed to review that demand in conjunction with the demand in the Civic Center area to see whether there are opportunities for sharing parking resources and/or developing additional parking. These discussions include Santa Monica College (SMC). Staff will report back to Council on the status. of these discussions Staff is proposing that free/validated parking be provided for up to 25 events, such as PTSA meetings, student concerts and back-to-school nights, per year on non-event days if space is available. The City has historically provided free parking for evening High School events by not closing the Civic Auditorium Lot on these specific days. The value of this parking, based on the $8.00 daily rate is between $50,000 - $65,000, depending on the number of spaces used. As an alternative, the Council could consider a $3 flat rate on all non-event evenings, allowing the parking to be available at a low rate whenever the space is not needed for events, which would result in revenue of approximately $20,000 to $25,000. City-Sponsored events and meetings Staff frequently receives request for parking fee waivers from City-funded non-profit groups, City departments, other governmental agencies and other groups sponsoring an event or activity in Santa Monica. It has been the City's past practice to provide parking waivers for certain non-profit groups, such as Heal the Bay for beach clean ups. Staff has also provided parking waivers for members of the public attending City- sponsored noticed meetings. In order to have a clear set of criteria for providing parking waivers, staff recommends that the City Manager or his designee be authorized to grant parking waivers for City-sponsored events that are free to the public and for noticed City public meetings. Types of events and meeting that would fall under these criteria are the Land Use and Circulation Element workshops, National Night Out and the Council workshops held most recently at the Main Library. Events that are not open to the 4 public nor City-sponsored, such as Heal the Bay beach clean ups, would not fall under this parking waiver criteria. Financial Impacts & Budget Actions Based on current parking patterns, staff estimates that reducing the maximum rate to $3/day on weekends could result in a net loss of $344 per weekend, or approximately $18,000 annually. However, this should be offset by the availability of additional spaces in the downtown at standard rates. Prepared by: Lucy Dyke, Transportation Planning Manager roved: Forwarded to Council: Director, PIanT1'fng and Community C Development Attachment: Resolution Ewell 5 Page 1 of 1 JAN 0 8 2008 Maria Dacanay From: Maria Stewart Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 3:26 PM To: Maria Dacanay; Vernice Hankins Subject: FW: Parking waiver item on city council agenda From: Eveline Bravo [mailto:ebravo@HealTheBay.org] Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 2:09 PM To: Don Patterson Subject: RE: Parking waiver item on city council agenda Mr. Patterson, I, on behalf of Heal the Bay, would like to submit the following statement as comments to agenda item number 8-A at tonight's City Council Meeting. For over 20 years, Heal the Bay has cared greatly for Santa Monica Bay and has worked on a variety of initiatives that range from stormwater pollution abatement to environmental education. One of those successful initiatives has been the beach cleanup program: Coastal Cleanup Day and Adopt-A-Beach. In 2007, 6,100 volunteers from over 110 groups donated over 15,000 hours cleaning up Santa Monica beaches. Heal the Bay cannot offer volunteers much for this effort other than education and a fulfilling experience. However, we have been able to work with the City to reduce or waive the price of parking for these volunteers. Heal the Bay urges the City of Santa Monica to keep this program running successfully by providing this small incentive for volunteers. Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors also waives and reduces parking fees to $1 for volunteers in an effort to encourage this public service. People that live, work and visit Santa Monica care about our beaches and Heal the Bay's beach cleanup program enriches that experience for thousands of volunteers and tens of thousands of visitors. Please provide a parking waiver or major fee reduction (to $1) to volunteers that provide Santa Monica with the community and environmental benefit of clean beaches. Thank you, Heal the Bay ~veline Bravo Beach Programs Mana ,eer Coastal Cleanup Day Manager Heal t{~e Bay eh 1444 ~treet `~J' 3nta Monica, ~~ g040I PhoneNumCecijlO}451-1500x 144 I'ax [~umCer: (j I O~ 490- 1902 e6revo@heztheba~~ www.healtSebay.orv, Support a plastic bag ban in LA County -add your signature here http://www.thepetitionsite comp/Ban-Plastic-Bags-4-LA-County JAN 0 8 2008 i/aiZOOs January 8, 2007 'Mayor Herb Katz and City Council Members City of Santa Monica 1685 Main St. Santa Monica, CA 90401 Dear Mpyor Katz and City Council Members: Once pgpin the January $ public hearin Santa Monica High conflicts with the first PISA meeting of the new g by Council on use of the Civic Center parking gprpge near school resumes. Since many of our students and Year, and falls just two days after writing to reiterate our request that the City, District and PTSA work together to address the trpnsportation issues pt Santa Monica High, including the need fopadequate, affordable perking foastudents Andre In our July 23, 20071etter to Council, we requested viable Alternatives for parking for Santa MonicptHlgh School students, including affordable student perking access to the underutilized Cit school at 4+~ and Olympic. At your meetin Jul the City gprpge. There are only 40 g Y 24, You directed staff to investigate sgtude~t perks g at seniors for $125 parking spaces on the Samohi cam y basis to neighborhood southwe t ofsPiw andrLincoln Boupe~aadofvpj efXpCe~bate h sslack oiled on a loiter parking for residents perking in the parking for students. Despite high rates of student transit use, biking and wplking to school, some Samohi students need to drive to school so they can get to after school jobs, early classes, or stay IAte for a sport or activit to drive siblings to end from school because their paren}s are working. Y• Many need The current Civic Center daily and monthly perking rate is too high for most high school students and their families. We suggest That 200-400 month) Monica High and SMC students at p rate of 42~ its at the Civic perking structure be reserved for Santa alternative transportation without bein $ month or $4.25 dp generally out of class at 3:30 or 4, many spaces used b g unaffordable. Since Samohi Tudents start school t ael courage y students can be used a Y and are urge this reduced rate be instituted as soon as possible, and certainly before the Zone U restrictions be in. gain in the evening. We We are heprtened to see City-District joins use plannin program and facilities needs of Santa Monica High end the Civic Center, With Measure BB and o g projects identified in the District's Fpcilities Master Plangthere are ex chin g oo address the transportation, City to collaborate on joint planning for cultural and recredtional fpcilities pt Spmohi and the Civicther and improved 9 pportunities for the District and parking, transit, pedestrian and bicycle access. Cemer The creation of Parking Zone "U" will further limit options for student for students pt the under-utilized perking gprpge Across the street fromathe high Cllpol9 g~ p~ovadbee rptes pedestrian crossing and parkin g alternative for students without imppcting residential neighborhoods. It is equally importam that bus service to Spmohi be improved to relieve the current overcr p safer Blue Bus service each afternoon. We hope that b y developing a shared student perking access with SMC, Santa Monica High students can be provided with better access to frequent Mini Blue servi e,/currentl Big limited to the Tide Ride. Since a large and growing percentage of Samohi students take classes ai I Y SMC, Mini Blue service from Samohi to the various SMC campuses at Madison, Bundy and the Entertainment Technology classes will greatly facilitate this collaboration. In closing, we appreciate your renewal of the longstanding City commitment to provide free parking for important school events such as Back to School Night, College Night, Open House and Graduation. Providing adequate affordable parking to encourage parents to participate in their student's education is essential to the success of our schools and our students. We look forward to continuing to work you're your staff to provide safe and affordable transportation options and exciting joint use opportunities for our school children and our community. Thank your for your consideration, Judith Meister Santa Monica High School PTSA President Alison Kendall, LEED AP, AICP Chair, Transportation Committee onia Ramos ADD 7t7 g-,q JAN 2 2 2008 From: Brianna Shepard [briannashepard@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 7:55 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: SAMOHI Student Parking He11o, Councilmembers, As a parent of a SAMOHI Junior, I am writing to ask that you consider the proposal that the Santa Monica High School PISA proposed last summer for reduced parking rates in the Civic Center lots for students on school days. It is clear to me, as a working single mother, that, though sometimes public transportation is feasible, in many instances it simply is not a viable option. My son has an A period class and he stays after school late onmost days for sports practice, and so on. If it israining, he has to drag his gear, his school work and himself to and school by bus - waiting in the rain sometimes for half an hour. we are an environmentalist family, and certainly support public transportation as well as bicycle-riding. But this is just not possible in all cases. Some parents work and need their children to drive younger siblings to and from school or other activities. Some students live in Topanga which makes taking a bus or riding a bike nearly impossible. And most public school families cannot afford the full price of parking at the Civic Center. Clearly the parking structure is not being fully utilized and there are plenty of empty spaces throughout the day. Parents are not asking for anything free. We are willing to pay -- at a reduced, affordable rate -- for spaces for our children. Finally we, the residents, helped to pay for the structure with our tax dollars. Is that not enough reason to listen to us as an important constituency in the City of Santa Monica? Thank you very much for your consideration. Yours, Brianna Shepard SAMOHI Parent and Santa Monica Resident JAN 2 2 2008 1 .~JD/~ T® 8-A onia Ramos From: Lukk Tiiu [collegemaestro@mac.com] Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 8:17 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Support Student parking at 4th and Olympic Dear Council Members, I hope all of you support reduced fees for student parking at 4th and Olympic. My son is at Samohi until noon every day, then has to go to SMC to take two classes, including Italian, which isn't offered at Samohi. This spring he will have 15 minutes to get from Samohi to SMC for his classes there, and when he has to park a mile away, even sprinting won't solve the problem. I would like to see our city government support our educational mission, and to me, that means facilitating transportation for all students who attend school. When I was going to school in Minnesota, the school district, funded by the city, provided bus transportation for all students, and most of the kids lived £ar~away on distant farms. This was a small town, with a limited tax base, and they could afford it-- they had to--the farmers were not going to leave their fields to drive their kids to school. When I first moved to California, I couldn't believe that students were all expected to find their own transportation to school, that parents were suppose to be available as full-time chauffeurs, and that school districts, knowing there would be no bus service, didn't even provide parking or drop-off curb space for the students and parents when the schools were built.. Perhaps the city should fund and build a parking structure for the students right at Samohi, underneath the space where the Samohi parking lot is right now. It appears that the 4th and Olympic parking structure is empty much of the day right now. I hope you can see the value of making it available to students at reduced rates. If not, I don't think you should create a preferential parking zone near the school--then where are the kids supposed to park? If you can't help students with the parking, then you should fund buses to bring kids to school. Now that would be very expensive. Thank you, and I will be keeping track of how you vote. Sincerely, Tiiu Lukk 1211 Ashland Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90405 Samohi parent 1 onia Ramos From: Riya Zelcer [riyazelcer@yahoo:com) Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 8:24 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Parking for SAMOHI students Hello! I have 2 daughters that attend SAMOHI. They drive together to school each day and it is very difficult for them to find a safe and convenient place to park. Daily, they notice the LED sign at the new parking structure across from their school and it states that there are many many empty parking spaces. It would be wonderful for both the city and the students to allow 50-100 students the ability to park in the structure for a monthly fee ( $42/month has been mentioned). You could even require a letter of recommendation (from a teacher or employer) for each student before allowing them to park in the structure to assure that only the most responsible and committed students be given the privilege to park in the structure. If there is an important city event, you can inform the students (given enough notice) 'that they will not be able to park in the structure for a limited time. Thank you for your consideration. Riya Zelcer riyazelcer@yahoo.com Mother of Maya Zelcer 10th grade and Nina Zelcer 12th grade. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-a11 with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/; ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: Monica Hirschberger [mlhmedmgt@msn.com] Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 8:38 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Viable Alternatives for parking for SAMOHI Students Dear Members of the City Council, An issue of parking and access for available parking at The Santa Monica High School for our students has been raised by our PTSA since July 23, 2007. We have a freshman at SAMOHI who isn't driving just yet. It is. my unders#anding_that this issue is to offer an alternative for affordable student parking access to the underutilzed_ City structure near the school at 4th and Olympic. Per the PTSA, we were advised that there are only 40 parking spaces on the Samohi campus, provided on a lottery basis to seniors for $125 per semester. Despite the fact that many SAMOHI student's utilize the public transit, bike and walk to attend school, some Samohi students need to drive to school so they can get to after school jobs, early classes, or stay /ate for a sport or activity. Many need to drive siblings to and from school because their parents are working. The current Civic Center daily and monthly parking rate is too high for most high school students and our families. Dur PTSA is proposing that 200-400 monthly permits_at the Civic parking structure_be reserved for Santa Monica High students at a rate of $42/month or $4.25/day Since Samohi students start school early (my son is one of these individuals) and are generally out of c/ass at 3:30 or 4, many spaces used by students can be used again in the evening. Please consider this reduced rate to be instituted as soon as possible, on an interim bases as the School District and the City move forward on joint use opportunities for Samohi and the Civie Center. Please consider this a priority prior to the preferential Parkdng Zone " U "mill be institzted. We arnderstand that the parking demand and circulation analysis will address long-term solutions but in the meantime, the City may earn revenue from spaces that are currently unused and students will have a parking alternative that provides a safer pedestrian crossing to school and does not impact residential neighborhoods. Sincerely, Monica L. Hirschberger RN, l3SN, CCM Ted L. Hirschberger, Esquire Disability Case Manager 1/22/2008 onia Ramos From: Lynn Sturgis [lasturgis58@earthlink.net] Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 9:12 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Samohi Parking Council Members: Let the kids park in the almost unused but beautiful civic center lot for the amount the PISA has proposed to you - limit it until 6pm if you really want to. Thanks. Lynn Sturgis age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: lyehia@aol:com Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:04 AM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Reduced Civic Center Parking Rates for Samohi Students Dear City Council Members: Item8A on the January 22 City Council agenda recommends reduced weekend parking rates for both the Civic Center and downtown Library parking structures and the continuation of granting free parking for up to 25 Samohi events a year. However, the staff report does not address reduced rate monthly parking permits for Samohi students, which have been requested for the past six months. Samohi's PTSA has sent three letters to the City Council since July 23 requesting viable alternatives for parking for Santa Monica High School students including affordable student parking access to the underutilized Civic Center structure near the school at 4th and Olympic.This issue is extremely important not only to Samohi parents and students, but to the community at large, as it affects the safety and welfare of the neighborhoods around Samohi. Simply prohibiting parking around the school without offering alternatives to students is not a responsible option. Reduced rates for students would provide at least an interim solution, providing relief to students and revenues to the City, while Samohi undergoes renovation with Measure BB funds and the School District and the City move forward on joint use opportunities for Samohi and the Civic Center. . Currently, there are only 40 parking spaces on the Samohi campus, provided on a lottery basis to seniors for $125 per semester. The City Council approval of preferential Parking Zone "U" in the neighborhood southwest of Pico and Lincoln Boulevards, which will exacerbate this lack of parking for students. Meanwhile, the City's Civic Center structure remains underutilized. ~m,•o~em. =~~x~ o~em.• ^x~ •e~nm.^e •o~^•~e s•m.9 ~t~~~^~, ~^n •`r~~~E^v}, •^ •lik~^^~~ •^Oiil, •~O^,~lE •1~S'm,se• ^m,iiLn- •^ s?03E :•ITI, •^ •11p,~^^• •^ e~i11.O ITk~^ vklil• e^ ~~'eiil.^ •tlk,~^^• et'^d2•~ iil,~0~~ Ilp~~••pl.•~ ^^ •e°.9O s~eitl, ~'^O s •^^O• ^^ sitke3E•3E1Oc~ `'~^~^ ^1>Lm,n •^ s'-^3Ed•lil, •jEdZ~3E^~• •^ ~^S? ~7'O^O •li~~.^^• S211l.Clk~.•ill. •-'~'111,~E^ O~sOlil,^e• ~Oill, •^Oc~,3f^~~ The current Civic Center daily and monthly parking rate is too high for most high school students and their families. •~O^.'~ ~ ~~~ DO^~^•in,• •.'~'~• ~[~~m~~6 O^^e~~~ ~l11,003Ee• ~• ..Mill, ~3E•3Eilk ~~O~jE^~o •e0011p•.Dill. 42111. Oill,•ill,0:•Til,j'- ~'^O ~~^1°=0 ~^^3Ellko~ ~3E~M •e~1'-ill,^e• ~• 6s o~em, ^~' ca•~~~0^^eM ^O e~~l~~Bo'~S'-~O~ Since Samohi students start school early and are generally out of class at 3:30 or 4, many spaces used by students can be used again in the evening. This reduced rate should be instituted as soon as possible, and certainly before the Zone U restrictions begin. While the parking demand and circulation analysis will address long-term solutions, the City can earn revenue immediately from spaces that are currently unused and students will have a parking alternative that provides a safer pedestrian crossing to school and does not impact residential neighborhoods. Please take action to support the safety and welfare of Samohi students and the Santa Monica community by offering these proposed reduced Civic Center parking rates to Samohi students. Thank you for your consideration and support. Sincerely, Laurie Yehia Co-Editor, Samohi Viking Voice Legislation Co-Chair, Santa Monica -Malibu Council of PTAs More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail! 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: NIROOMAND [niroomand@msn.com] Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 6:51 AM To: Council Mailbox Dear Council member, Please conceder how important and helpful will be when a student can park her/his car next to SMH. It helps them to commute to their job and school and home with affordable expense. Sincerely H. Niroomand A sophomore parent 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: Rosemary Zera [rosemary.zera@verizon.net] Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 9:29 AM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Monthly Parking Permits for SAMOHI Students/Revenue for the City of Santa Monica Please consider and pass the PTSA's proposal for parking permits at the rate of $42.00 monthly for SAMOHI students. Santa Monica should value it's students who are making a difference and working hard to keep their grade averages up in order to receive good student insurance discounts that enable them to drive the cars that they are working, both inside and outside of school, to buy, run and use. The council recently doubled the bus pass rate for students, taking from the poor once again. Please consider giving something to these students who have earned the priviledge to drive. Sincerely, Rosemary Zera Resident of Santa Monica for 32 years and Owner of Main Street Travel 2518 1/2 Main Street Santa Monica CA 90405 310 392-4588 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: Joy Abbott poyabbott@roadrunner.com] Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:46 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: City Council Meeting Jan 22 -Agenda Item 8A We are parents of a SAMOHI senior writing to express our disappointment regarding the Staff Report for Item 8A. on the upcoming agenda. In spite of our repeated requests for consideration and a promise from the City Manager to review our students' needs, the related staff report does not address reduced rate monthly parking permits for SAMOHI students. We are requesting the city council immediately consider issuing monthly parking passes for a limited number of SAMOHI students to use the City structure at 4th and Olympic at the cost of $42 per month or $4.25 per day. As noted by our PTSA, issuing student permits would enable the City to earn revenue from spaces that are currently unused, and it will give students a parking alternative that would provide a safer pedestrian crossing to school without impacting surrounding residential neighborhoods. Please consider using monthly parking permits for SAMOHI students, at least on a trial basis. Thank you for your consideration, Joy and Ken Abbott 1745 Sunset Avenue 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: NancyCreates@aol.com Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:11 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Civic Center Parking for SAMOHI Students Hello, 1 am a parent of a student at Santa Monica High school and support that the Civic Center lower the cost for student parking. I vote that there be lowered rates for the Santa Monica High School sudents to park during the day in the Civic lot. Sincerely,. Nancy Choate Nancy's Creations 1158 26th Street, Suite 660 Santa Monica, CA 90403 310-453-5916 nancycreates@aol. com www.nancycreates com Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay. n_shape in the new year. 1 /22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: ITEAC H U 107@aol. com Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:41 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Parking for SAMOHI students Dear Councilmembers, I strongly urge you to consider the fact that there needs to be more parking available to SAMOHI students. The new parking structure across the street would be a good solution to the shortage of parking and should be available to students at a reasonable rate. This is especially important now that street parking in the area will be on a permit basis only to residents. Thank you, Cheryl Diamond Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCI D=aolcmp00300000002489 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: Alison Buell [a.l.buell@verizon.net] Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 8:37 AM To: Council Mailbox Subject: samohi student parking Dear Council Members, Please consider some accommodation for Samohi student parking at the Civic Center. Even if it is just for a short term; non- permanent solution, it would signify a valuable collaboration between the city and our high school. What better model could there be For our student citizens to see us working together to solve problems? My kids take the bus, and will continue to do so. Many kids do not have that option, stay late, drive carpools with siblings, etc. What if the city provided parking was reserved for students who carpool? It seems that there can be some progress made if the city would share the same of urgency that the school recognizes. Thanks for your time, Alison Buell 1/22/2008 age 1 of 2 Sonia Ramos From: Tootaah@aol.com Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 11:17 AM To: Council Mailbox Cc: MeisterJR@aol.com; alison@kendallplanning.com Subject: URGENT request for viable parking for Samohi students Dear Santa Monica City Council members, I am a concerned Samohi parent, and per the Samohi PTSA correspondence sent to the City Council over the past six months, I am urgently requesting viable alternatives for parking for Santa Monica High School students including affordable student parking access to the underutilized City structure near the school at 4th and Olympic. I have been very impressed by City Council support of the public schools and our children and urge you to act positively on this request for the benefit and safety of our students. Your support of this request would alleviate untold stress on our young student drivers trying to calculate where to park early in the morning; tardiness due to those who are late to school as they were unable to find parking distraction during the day due to the need to change parking throughout the day in timed parking areas, as well as inconvenience to local residents. Importantly, this measure will promote safer student driving with a known destination, and safer and more centralized pedestrian crossing. As you know, there is extremely limited parking on the Samohi campus. Parking Zone "U" in the neighborhood southwest of Pico and Lincoln Boulevards exacerbates this lack of parking for students. We propose that 200-400 monthly permits at the Civic parking structure be reserved for Santa Monica High studentsat a rate of $42/month or $4.25/day. Since Samohi students start school early and are generally out of class at 3:30 or 4:OOpm, many spaces used by students can be used again in the evening. This reduced rate should be instituted as soon as possible. Implement the program on an interim basis as the School District and the City move forward on joint use opportunities for Samohi and the Civic Center. The parking demand and circulation analysis will address long-term solutions but in the meantime, the City may earn revenue from spaces that are currently unused and students will have a parking alternative that provides a safer pedestrian crossing to school and does not impact residential neighborhoods. Thank you for your consideration, Teri Zakzook tootaah@aol.com 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: Winter Hoffman [winterh@adelphia.net] Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 11:35 AM To: Council Mailbox; alison@kendallplanning.com Subject: Parking for SM High School Students Dear Santa Monica City Council members, [ am a concerned Samohi parent, and per the Samohi PTSA correspondence sent to the City Council over the past six months, I am urgently requesting viable alternatives for parking for Santa Moriica High School students including affordable student parking access to the underutilized City structure near the school at 4th and Olympic. I have been very impressed by City Council support of the public schools and our children and urge you to act positively on this request for the benefit and safety of our students. Your support of this request would alleviate untold stress on our young student drivers trying to calculate where to park early in the morning; tardiness due to those who are late to school as they were unable to Snd parking; distraction during the day due to the need to change parking throughout the day in timed parking areas, as well as inconvenience to local residents. Importantly, this measure will promote safer student driving with a known destination, and safer and more centralized pedestrian crossing. As you know, there is extremely limited parking on the Samohi campus. Parking Zone "U" in the neighborhood southwest of Pico and Lincoln Boulevards exacerbates this lack of parking for students. We propose that 200-400 monthly permits at the Civic parking structure be reserved for Santa Monica High students at a rate of $42/month or $4.25/day. Since Samohi students start school early and are generally out of class at 3:30 or 4:OOpm, many spaces used by students can be used again in the evening. This reduced rate should be instituted as soon as possible. Implement the program on an interim basis as the School District and the City move forward onjoint use opportunities for Samohi and the Civic Center. The parking demand and circulation analysis will address long-teen solutions but in the meantime, the City may earn revenue from spaces that are currently unused and students will have a parking alternative that provides a safer pedestrian crossing to school and does not impact residential neighborhoods. Thank you for your consideration, Winter and Fred Hoffinan 23614th St. Santa Monica, Ca 90402 (310) 393-3458 H 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: JLandonSM@aol.com Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 1:44 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: No Subject I am writing to support the proposal before the board in regards to increasing parking at the civic center parking garage for SAMOHI students. The proposal is reasonable and would also aid in creating a positive relationship between the students and their government while also reducing the stress caused by traffic congestion around the school to community members and the families doing "drop offs". Please move now to offer parking spaces at a reduced rate for SAMOHI students. Janet Landon 1549 Centinela Ave. Santa Monica, CA 310-828-0168 Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol. com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCI D=aolcmp00300000002489 1/22/2008 RGENT request for viable parking for Samohi students Sonia Ramos From: fred hoffman [fredhoffman@adelphia.net] Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 8:27 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: URGENT request for viable parking for Samohi students Dear Santa Monica City Council members, I am a concerned Samohi parent, and per the Samohi PTSA correspondence sent to the City Council over the past six months, I am urgently requesting viable alternatives for parking for Santa Monica High School students including affordable student parking access to the underutilized City structure near the school at 4th and Olympic. I have been very impressed by City Council support of the public schools and our children and urge you to act positively on this request for the benefit and safety of our students. Your support of this request would alleviate untold stress on our young student drivers trying to calculate where to park early in the morning; tardiness due to those who are late to school as they were unable to find parking; distraction during the day due to the need to change parking throughout the day in timed parking areas, as well as inconvenience to local residents. Importantly, this measure will promote safer student driving with a known destination, and safer and more centralized pedestrian crossing. As you know, there is extremely limited parking on the Samohi campus. Parking Zone "U" in the neighborhood southwest of Pico and Lincoln Boulevards exacerbates this lack of parking for students. We propose that 200-400 monthly permits at the Civic parking structure be reserved for Santa Monica High students at a rate of $42/month or $4.25/day. Since Samohi students start school early and are generally out of class at 3:30 or 4:OOpm, many spaces used by students can be used again in the evening. This reduced rate should be instituted as soon as possible. Implement the program on an interim basis as the School District and the City move forward on joint use opportunities for Samohi and the Civic Center. The parking demand and circulation analysis will address long-term solutions but in the meantime, the City may earn revenue from spaces that are currently unused and students will have a parking alternative that provides a safer pedestrian crossing to school and does not impact residential neighborhoods. Thank you for your consideration, Page 1 of 2 1/22/2008 URGENT request for viable parking for Samohi students Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape <http:J/body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exerase? NCID=aolcmp00300000002489> in the new year. End of Forwarded Message Page 2 of 2 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: NKearsley@aol.com Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 9:03 AM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Parking at Civic Center Dear Council Members, We respectfully request that you discuss and move in favor of allowing Samohi students to obtain reduced rate parking permits for the Civic Center lot. My husband and I are both Samohi graduates and never faced the parking issues that our three (two now graduated) Samohi students have faced. Our youngest is now a junior and very involved in Samohi sports. It is unsafe for her to park in the neighborhoods surrounding Samohi when she leaves practice after 5:00 PM -and now with impending permit parking only -she will have no where to park! Yes there is the Big Blue Bus, but I urge you to take the bus on any given morning -the number of SMC students on the bus often causes the bus drivers to pass up any students waiting along the route -thus causing Samohi students to be late for class. Also, after practicing a sport for three hours after school -practice starts with. 6th period and continues until after 5:00 PM, catching a bus a block or two away, in the darkness, and with a very interesting group of homeless, etc (have you ever taken the #7 Pico bus?) -not something I desire for any student! Why not allow Samohi students, and more selectively, those Samohi students who actually reside IN Santa Monica, the privilege of purchasing a reduced rate parking permit at the Civic lot? The lot sits nearly empty on any-given school day. I think the residents of Santa Monica whose students attend Samohi would. appreciate this privilege - in light of the fact City Council/SMMUSD has permitted a movie production company to come in to our school and disrupt the daily activities of our school - and I certainly do not recall being asked if we agreed to that! Thank you for your consideration and action on this issue. NRwci~. awd Chucle IC2gYSl,e~ Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape in the new year. 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: Heidi & Kenny Fields [edgetoedge@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 9:31 AM To: Council Mailbox Cc: Kenny Fields Subject: SAMOHI student parking Dear Councilmembers, As parents of two SAMOHI students, business owners and residents in the city of Santa Monica, we would like to ask you to consider the PTSA's proposal of allowing reduced-rate student parking at the Civic Center parking lots. As we're sure you are aware, the parking and drop-of/pick-up situation at SAMOHI is quite challenging. There is very limited parking in the SAMOHI parking lot, which is distributed by lottery to 40 seniors each semester. Thus, many students never actually get an opportunity to park on campus. The availability of street parking in the vicinity of the school is extremely limited as well. Both of our children are on school sports teams and must stay late after school. They have heavy loads of books and gear to carry, making bus transportation difficult, if not impossible on most days. Increased access to parking, through availability of the Civic Center lots, would be greatly appreciated and utilized by manyfamilies. As long as the parking structure is not being used to its full capacity, it would make sense to allow student parking at an affordable rate. We hope you will take this proposal into consideration. Sincerely, Heidi and Kenny Fields 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: Jane Weber [JaneWeber@ThibiantSpa.com] Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 10:11 AM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Student Parking To All Council Members, Please consider granting affordable student parking at the SM Civic parking structure for SamoHi students. A Concerned SamoHi Parent 1/22/2008 onia Ramos From: Inese Verzemnieks [iverzemn@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 11:11 AM To: Council Mailbox Cc: meisterjr@aol.com; alison@kendallplanning.com Subject: Support SAMOHI student Civic Parking Dear Honorable members of the Santa Monica City Council As a resident of this city and a "parent alum" of Samohi, I urge you to support the recommendations of the Santa Monica High School PISA: open unused parking spots in the new parking structure at Olympic and 4th, charge students a reasonable fee. This can be reassessed regularly. My daughter graduated in 2004 and during her high school years this was a recurring issue. I participated in meetings with community members as well as the school, trying co deal with the parking (and serious drop off) issues. Students even approached the Council about the parking problem and suggested adding spaces to the lot in question for students as long ago as 2004. But students graduate and move on, while successive groups of studentsare left with the same issues. While most of us agree it is better to not drive to school, that is impractical: students have late athletic practices, rush off to work or volunteer efforts, lessons, other classes. When I asked a few years ago, I was told that CITY EMPLOYEES paid NOTHING for parking :oefore the current structure was built. Is that still true? If that is the case, or if they pay a small fee (and I doubt they pay more/much more than $42/month if they pay anything?), then the proposal for an equitable monthly fee of $42 seems reasonable in light of the unrealized revenue with the current empty spaces. And this would help the residents in the U-zone area. Students waste a lot of gasoline "searching" for available parking. Giving them access to the structure would be more environmentally sound as well as improve our air quality and traffic congestion. Thank you for your consideration. Inese Verzemnie ks, RN, PhD Santa Monica Resident Samohi alumna "mom" Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php? category=shopping _ 1 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: Kathy Besinque [kbesin@pharmacy.usc.edu] Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 12:26 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Reduced rate parking for Santa Monica High Students Dear City Council Members, The traffic and parking surrounding Santa Monica High School is terrible. The availability of affordable parking in the new structure would greatly reduce traffic congestion during the morning and afternoon near Santa Monica High. Drop off trips to the high school are an unnecessary waste of energy and time that result from the inability to park on or near campus. The district does not provide transportation to students (or this would not be an issue) and the distance is too far to walk or safely ride a bike for many students. Please consider allowing the use of the parking structure -possibly with limited hours (7-5pm) during regular school days (no summer parking) as a mechanism to reduce traffic and unnecessary car trips. After all a city that closes city services every other Friday as a means to reduce energy consumption should be thinking about the residents they are supposed to serve with the same consideration. Thank you Kathy Besinque Santa Monica 1/22/2008 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: Carol Alverson [carol@aronowitzmd.com] Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 2:51 PM To: Council Mailbox Can the council please address the dicounted parking permits for SAMOHI students? The requested fee is $4.25 per month. And how many permits per month will be issued? 200 400? Some due diligence needs to move this forward. Certainly not every student needs to drive a car to school. But out of a campus wuth 3000 students 200 to 400 per month sounds reasonable. Thank you, Carol Koncan 1/22/2008 onia Ramos From: pseastman@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:38 PM To: Council Mailbox Subject: Let Samohi Students Park Page 1 of 1 J,~~' ~ ? 2GG8 A®® T® 8°A I am writing to urge you to take the necessary steps to provide reduced-rate parking for Samohi students in the new City Hall Parking structure across 4th street from Samohi. This will allow students to park in a safe area and to be good neighbors to residents in the area by not parking on their streets. Thank you, as always, for your support of our schools. Patricia Eastman President, Samohi Orchestra Parent Association 310-433-6326 pseastman@aol.com More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail! Q /~ LIi1P' _A~_L~/J~V 1/22/2008 ~~~/ T® ~+ 77 age 1 of 1 Sonia Ramos From: shgomer@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:57 PM To: Council Mailbox We are in support of the Samohi PTSA proposal for the use of 200-400 parking spaces in the new parking structure to be used by students at a reduced rate. Steve and Jane Gomer More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail! r= 1/22/2008 Reference Resolution No. 10271 (CCS).