pages: TransportationCommission/2008-02-27.pdf, 5
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TransportationCommission | 2008-02-27 | 5 | Ms. Robin Hewitt echoed Ms. Hanson's comments and frustration. She expressed concern that about growing congestion in the Tube, and noted that Alameda was losing parking spaces as it continues to grow. She noted that apartment buildings have fewer vacancies and more cars as the housing market crisis continues. She believed the parking enforcement at schools should have stronger enforcement. She has observed illegal U-turns, double parking and no place for children to cross the street except at the intersections of Central at Fourth and Fifth Streets. Close public hearing. Commissioner Krueger noted that Ms. Hanson's letter, parking counts and photos showed many empty spaces. He inquired why it would create a hardship if the other spaces were taken away in that case. Ms. Hanson replied that from the hours of 8 to 3, she demonstrated that there was ample parking. She inquired why there would be limited parking spaces during a time there was ample parking. She noted that in the event she did not have to leave her house until 9 a.m., she would have to get up earlier to move her car during the school drop-off hours before it was 8 a.m., when the limited parking started. She did not believe the neighbors should be subjected to that inconvenience. Commissioner Krueger inquired about the issue of special needs children, and whether it was a different scenario from a handicapped parking zone. He further inquired whether those children must be escorted to school, and whether the staff parking lot could be used for that purpose. Staff Khan replied that the handicapped parking inside the parking lot could be used. The school previously had two disabled parking spaces (blue and green lots on the overhead map), and they allow the children to be escorted to school without leaving the car unattended on the street. Staff believed this addressed the needs of the parents and the school. Commissioner Krueger inquired about the appellant's suggestion of creating more space within the off-street parking lot in order to create temporary parking for people going into the school without taking street parking spaces. Staff Khan noted that the parking lot was configured for employees or people who would be there a long time. Chair Knox White indicated that he understood the concern about having the drop-off zone just prior to the entrance to the school, and asked if the spaces could be converted to on-street parking. Staff Khan replied if the spaces were not occupied, that this area would continue to function as a drop-off zone, and could lead to double-parking in that area. Chair Knox White stated that did not make sense to him, and was concerned that the Police Department enforces parking restrictions inconsistently, including near schools, and that having specific designations for each section of curb may lead to further problems if it can't be enforced. Since both the staff report and Ms. Hanson's survey seem to indicate that there is sufficient parking in the area, he did not believe it was necessary in this case to carve out so many specific uses for each part of the right of way, and believed that the need for parents accessing the school should not be prioritized over residents accessing their houses. He was surprised that so much staff time was available to address parking issues outside of schools, but not for walking and biking issues around schools, and that a majority of the students live within 5 | TransportationCommission/2008-02-27.pdf |