From: Jenny Blaker
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2024 4:50 PM
To: Laura Sparks <[email protected]>; Ben Ford <[email protected]>; Sylvia Lemus <[email protected]>; Kay Rivers <[email protected]>; Susan Harvey <[email protected]>; Henry Babits <[email protected]>; Craig Scott <[email protected]>; Kevin Patterson <[email protected]> Subject: City Council, November 26, Item 9A - Consent Calendar Laguna trail resurfacing CAUTION:EXTERNAL SENDER
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Cotati City Council meeting, November 26, 2024, Consent Calendar, Item 9A Dear Mayor Sparks, Vice Mayor Ford, and City Council members Leymus, Harvey, and Rivers
I respectfully request that item 9A be withdrawn from the Consent Calendar so that the issue of the resurfacing of the Laguna trail between E. Cotati Ave and Gravenstein Way can be discussed in context.
I know this section of the Laguna trail well, as when we bought our house, the City annexed 15ft of the rear of our property to complete the trail alongside the Laguna channel and install the pedestrian bridge north of E. Cotati Ave (1998).
I agreed that the asphalt surface is in need of repair or reconstruction in some places where there are cracks and fissures, tree roots pushing up the surface, and the creekside edge crumbling away in places. I question whether another layer of asphalt is the best solution. The staff report states that "the existing asphalt pathway surfacing will be overlayed or reconstructed..." If reconstructed, can another type of surface be considered?
Many years ago, probably around 1998-2000, the City planned to asphalt the Laguna trail from "Elderberry Bridge" (the pedestrian bridge at McGinnis Circle/Lincoln/Loretto) to Ladybug Park. Many residents resisted because they did not want to see an asphalt blacktop path there. They preferred something more natural-looking, "self-healing," lighter, cooler, that would encourage anyone on wheels to slow down to a suitable speed to accommodate pedestrians, dogs, children and others sharing the path. The resultant surface that was used - I'm not sure if it is called compacted dirt, hard-packed dirt, decomposed granite or gravel, but it is not asphalt - has for the most part worn very well. While there are a few low spots that could be topped up with gravel, there are no fissures or roots poking up through it, despite all the trees on both sides and despite sometimes being battered and completely inundated during winter storms. I took photos there today after the recent deluge and much of it looks as good as it ever did over the past 20+ years despite not having had any further resurfacing.
Asphalt surfaces by contrast develop cracks wide enough for a narrow bike tire to get stuck in them, or bumps and holes that are more problematic. However, if the surface is replaced with clean, smooth asphalt, this can encourage cyclists, skate boarders and others to go too fast to accommodate slower and more vulnerable users on a trail that is too narrow and constrained to do anything but require them to slow down. One person even told me that they avoid this part of the trail altogether for this reason.
I've put together an album of photos that highlight some of the trails around Cotati, problem areas and areas that seem to have held up well.
See https://photos.app.goo.gl/VvjCNj8rTEmrpm8Z9 - for the best view, please click on individual photos, then on right arrow to move through slide show.
I have also been speaking both to friends and to strangers on the trail and so far everyone I've spoken to has agreed that they prefer the self-healing, more natural look of hardpacked dirt or decomposed granite to blacktop asphalt which gets the general thumbsdown - for safety and aesthetic reasons.
I'm also wondering about the choice of E. Cotati Ave to Gravenstein Way as a top priority.
The quality of the asphalt surfacing is about the same there as from Gravenstein Way to Commerce. It is worse in Delano Park where an older friend of mine fell, breaking her glasses. So I think there might be useful discussion about which areas to prioritize as well as surfacing materials - before the Council approves a $45,000 contract without community input or discussion.
I'm very glad and grateful that the issue of trash cans has been brought forward, with garbage/recycling receptacles to be located where the franchise waste hauler can service them. The trash cans that have been placed and regularly emptied by a citizen volunteer make a huge difference to minimizing the amount of trash that ends up in the Laguna, so I'm glad that the City will be taking this on. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jenny Blaker