From: Bob Mittelstaedt
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2025 2:31 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]>; John Stefanski <[email protected]>
Subject: Public Expression for 7/21 Meeting: Request for Review of Staff Decision to Impose Parking Boxes on Gerstle Park Neighborhood That Does Not Need or Want Them Dear Mayor Kate, Vice Mayor Bushey, Council Members, City Manager, and Assistant City Manager:
On behalf of the residents at 281, 285, 287 and 289 Makin Grade and the numerous Gerstle Park residents who hike here and signed supporting petitions, we request that staff be directed to pause its plan to allow parking on lower Makin Grade, pending further review.
Parking on the narrow, curvy San Rafael portion of Makin Grade will make it • less safe for Gerstle Park hikers, cyclists and dogs who regularly use it, • more difficult for fire engines to access the Open Space, and • more difficult for residents to evacuate.
The residents and hikers do not want parking here as indicated by our survey. It will be less safe from every perspective than the current No Parking rule.
The parking box program works for neighborhoods that need on-street parking. But nothing is safer than No Parking on narrow, curvy streets where the residents and users don't need or want on-street parking and where it would inevitably clog ingress and egress.
THE STREET: 281-289 Makin Grade
This is what the street looks like now. It is signed: “No Outlet,” “No Parking At Any Time” and “No Parking Fire Lane” signs.
The four houses between 281 and 289 Makin Grade have ample room for off-street parking, with garages, driveways and carports. As illustrated below, none of those residents want or need onstreet parking.
By contrast, this is what the street will look like if parking is allowed and a car is coming down the street with a hiker walking up.
It will be more difficult for fire trucks to access the Open Space and for residents to evacuate. It will be more dangerous for hikers, cyclists and dogs. Lines of sight will be blocked.
STAFF’S RATIONALE:
Quinn Gardner and Calvin Schrader have been open with us about their reasoning, which we appreciate. They acknowledge that no parking is currently allowed under existing law. In addition to the No Parking sign, the street is too narrow for parked cars to satisfy the 6 foot clearance ordinance. But they say that nonetheless parking in designated boxes should be allowed for three reasons:
1. They say that it will stop drivers from parking “illegally and likely unsafely.” True enough, if you legalize parking, it will of course be legal to park. But that begs the question of whether parking should be allowed. On-street illegal parking has not been a problem, so this is a solution in search of a problem. (It has been a problem in front of 293 Makin Grade but this isn’t offered as a solution for that). And trading unsafe parking in one spot for unsafe parking in another spot is not a positive selling point.
2. They say that parking will be allowed only in “areas with good visibility.” Not so. As this photo shows, the white van in the parking box blocks sight lines for cars coming down the street and endangers hikers, dogs and cyclists who will be hidden by the van in the parking boxes. Currently, these vehicles can park only off-street in driveways and carports. The parking boxes will encourage and permit them to park in the street instead.
3. They say that parking is necessary for "equitable access” to the Open Space. But access is already available on a non-discriminatory basis as evidenced by the heavy usage by walkers. And anyone who wants to drive has non-discriminatory access to ample parking on Clark Street, San Rafael Avenue and Grove Street, which are the access points closest to San Rafael. (Those familiar with the Open Space know that it's not the kind of "destination hike" that people drive to anyway).
When we pointed out San Rafael residents are unlikely to drive around to the Kentfield/Ross side to access the Open Space when parking is available on the San Rafael side, they said that parking will benefit Kentfield and Ross residents. But now we are getting far afield from wildfire mitigation, which is the staff’s mandate, and from San Rafael residents’ interests. And they admitted that no Kentfield or Ross resident has ever requested parking here.
Finally, the staff claims that the City’s Master Plan for Gerstle Park calls for improvements to “access from adjacent open space.” In fact, the Plan calls not for more parking, but for improving “walkways and paths” so as to “improve access from adjacent open space for hiking.” This refers to improving the dirt paths connecting the open space and park, not to providing supplemental parking. The City's money would be better spent on widening those paths and clearing underbrush. That's what the Master Plan is referring to; that's what would help mitigate wildfire threat; that would be a proper use of Measure C funds.
In short, for safety's sake and to mitigate wildfire risks, we request that the City pause the staff's proposal so that it can be reviewed above the staff level. Parking boxes should not be imposed on this or any neighborhood against its wishes. Thank you for your consideration and action.
From: Steve Krivit, PI
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2025 10:22 AM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]>; Eli Hill <[email protected]>; Quinn Gardner <[email protected]>; Fire Department <[email protected]>; [email protected]; Rachel Kertz <[email protected]>; Maribeth Bushey <[email protected]> Subject: Concern About Proposed Parking on Makin Grade
Dear Mayor Colin and Councilmembers,
I am concerned about the plans to establish public parking on a portion of Makin Grade.
Approximately 10 existing points of entry to the open space behind and surrounding Gerstle Park have nearby public parking. Despite this, I understand that the city intends to terminate the "no parking" restriction on Makin Grade where it meets the open space fire road, create several parking public spaces, and permit public parking there for up to 72 hours.
This section of Makin Grade is a short, quiet, low-traffic residential street on which four private residences are located. From the perspective of elevation, this street provides a connection to a fire road below it that is heavily trafficked by hikers.
Makin Grade then provides a connection to a road above it, called Upper Toyon Road. A that point, Upper Toyon Road is privately maintained, however, because it terminates at city open space, hikers are permitted access and it too, is heavily used by people getting exercise, fresh air, and enjoying the outdoors.
Thus, a person can walk, hike or jog, continuously from one end of the open space to the other end, enjoying a break from much of the stressors of our civilized world. The first image below shows the full scope of this trail. From one end of this overall path to the other, there is no public parking. The second image below indicates the two places where the city intends to establish public parking on Makin Grade.
It is not clear to me what specific advantage the city expects to gain by allowing parking here, particularly considering the existing 10 or so access points to the open space.
To the contrary, I am concerned about the negative impact on the quality of life for the people who enjoy the tranquility of this trail. I'm even more concerned for the fact that the open space is closed from sunset to sunrise, yet, unless I am mistaken, the city intends to permit overnight parking for up to 72 hours.
The reason this city has a Police Department is because of human nature. People will do what people will do. It is the same reason why this city has a parking enforcement division Therefore, I would ask you these questions.
Does the San Rafael Police Department have the capacity to respond to this remote, isolated location and enforce noise violations from parked vehicles? Open alcoholic containers? Littering violations? When I attended the SRPD Citizen Police Academy a few years ago, I was told by the PD that it does not have such capacity.
Does the San Rafael traffic enforcement division have the capacity to respond to this remote, isolated location and enforce parking violations? If not, this plan will likely adversely affect the quality of life enjoyed by many San Rafael residents. I would urge caution about proceeding.
Last, I will tell you that 18 years ago I moved to San Rafael from Los Angeles. Much of my decision was based on the nearby and tranquil open space.
Thank you for your public service,
--
Steve Krivit