2023.01.24 City Council meeting - Item 20 - parklets
Council members: each week you make decisions which affect the city, some fairly routine and simple, but others which have significant and long-lasting impact.
Your decisions should be informed by timely, accurate, and complete information from city staff and other sources. I am concerned that you are not receiving the guidance you need to make the best decisions.
Last week, you approved several changes to the ordinance governing parklets. There was minimal discussion of these changes, or of the many concerns expressed previously at these meetings by citizens.
One such concern is the ongoing blocking of bus stops on second street by delivery trucks. Councilwoman Duggan asked for information from staff, including this:
"regarding deliveries which have become a problem sometimes with parklets".
Public Works Director Eric Lopez responded as follows: "Regarding the deliveries blocking potential parking lanes and I've heard bus stops. That is not allowed. We do have some inspectors that work with our police department making sure that our delivery trucks are using the designated areas".
This was not a complete or useful answer.
First: what "inspectors"? I am on Second Street almost daily; I have never seen an inspector. I hear a report from a Police Department officer every month. When asked about traffic, parking, and bus stop violations, he has never mentioned an inspector or enforcement.
Second: there are no "designated areas" for delivery trucks on second street. NONE. All loading zones were removed years ago by the Belmont Shore Parking Commission.
Ironically, they were converted to parking spaces because of the severe shortage of public parking.
The blocking of bus stops is ongoing. these violations occur daily and frequently and for twenty minutes or more at a time. I have provided several examples, images of trucks parked at bus stops, in your packet. As you can see, these are all recent.
These violations prevent bus access by someone in a wheelchair, and at times, by anyone, because a bus will not stop if they cannot reach the curb.
The city is at risk by not correcting this. Already the city is spending millions of dollars to remedy ADA access violations mandated by a court settlement. Will this be the next ADA violation to cost the city money? Please deal with these violations now, rather than wait and cost the taxpayers more by the failure to enforce the law.
Jeff Miller