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Letters to the Editor
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Coastal Agency: Live Oak Permit Parking Violates State Law
Editor’s Note: Santa Cruz County Public Works applied for permission to expand the summer Live Oak permit parking program to other coastal areas such as Opal Cliffs and Aptos. Here is the April 12 letter Susan Craig, California Coastal Commission Central Coast District Manager, sent to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, recommending the Live Oak parking program be halted.
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We understand that you will review and consider changes to the Live Oak Permit Parking Program at your meeting on April 13, 2021, and that you will also consider authorizing the County Department of Public Works to initiate the program for this year.
We have seen much attributed to us regarding the program that is inaccurate, including in County materials prepared related to this program, and we would encourage you to disregard any such attributed positions. Instead, we would like to provide the following comments for your consideration as you consider the program.
As an initial matter, we note that we very much appreciate DPW staff’s efforts to coordinate with us on this program. They have taken considerable time over the last few years to work with us in an effort to address existing violations associated with the program; to understand the Commission’s mission and objectives in regards to the program, including in relation to Coastal Act and Santa Cruz County Local Coastal Program compliance; and to attempt to address issues and concerns that we have identified.
At the same time, and as we have communicated to your staff, the program (including the permitted program, the program as it has been operated in recent years with unpermitted changes, and the proposed modified 2021 program) raises significant issues with respect to Coastal Act and Local Coastal Program requirements related to protecting and maximizing public access and recreational opportunities, particularly free and lowercost opportunities, and we do not support the permitted program, the unpermitted version that has been implemented in recent years, or the proposed modified program for 2021. Rather, in our view, the facts suggest that the program should be discontinued entirely.
At a very basic level parking fees inherently create an impediment to public access, and they can deter or make it prohibitively expensive for the public to visit and appreciate the coastline and all it has to offer. Such fees can also disproportionately adversely affect those least able to afford them, amplifying concerns about whether our beaches and shoreline areas can be accessed by all as is required under both the Coastal Act and Local Coastal Plan.
And in coastal Live Oak, where almost all visitor parking is provided on-street because the area lacks large parking facilities, those impacts are only exacerbated when visitors not fortunate enough to live there are forced to pay parking fees to park along public streets in order to recreate at the beach and along the shoreline. And now, the proposed transition to a smartphone app-based system only further reduces accessibility for those without smartphones or data, and/or without an efficient means to even purchase parking passes.
In short, we do not support any version of the program that includes parking fees for public parking on public streets in Live Oak.
In addition, and as we have consistently discussed with County staff, please note that the program has been operating for many years with a series of unpermitted changes to it, including most notably an expansion of the program area.
We do not support operation of the program inconsistent with the underlying coastal development permit; and we do not support making changes to it (as you are currently being asked to do) without a proper Coastal Development Permit amendment application and appeal process.
“Coastal Agency” page 9
City Leaders on Chauvin Verdict
Capitola Mayor Yvette Brooks emailed this statement Tuesday on the verdict against Derek Chauvin, found guilty of murdering George Floyd, a Black man, while arresting him last year:
Capitola Mayor Yvette Brooks, Watsonville Mayor Jimmy Dutra, Santa Cruz Mayor Donna Meyers and Scotts Valley Mayor Derek Timm, stand in unity with the family of George Floyd. We ask that our community join TOGETHER as we move toward justice and healing.
The heartbreaking murder of George Floyd and many other people of color has highlighted the systemic problem of racism throughout our Country. We are by no means close to ending the hundreds of years of injustices put on the shoulders of people of color.
As leaders in Santa Cruz County we have the responsibility to implement and encourage change in our region. We stand with all communities of color, including the very ones we represent here in our diverse county.
We urge our community to come together today and everyday in peaceful solidarity. n
What Capitola Wine Bar Owners Learned About Outdoor Seating
Editor’s note: On April 22, the Capitola City Council unanimously approved extending the temporary outdoor dining and other commercial outdoor activities in place due to the pandemic to Sept. 7, 2021, as proposed by public works director Steve Jesberg. Before that vote, Doug and Ann Marie Conrad, owners of Capitola Wine Bar & Merchants, 115 San Jose Ave., in Capitola Village, shared their perspective:
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First and foremost thank you to the council for permitting the use of the streets so quickly, without the outdoor seating our Wine Bar would not have been able to stay open.
In 2016, Capitola Wine Bar and Caruso’s Italian restaurant were the only participants in the Temporary Parklett program approved by the city council. We were very close to building the Parklett. At just over 500 square feet, we believe it would have added a special and unique ambiance that would attract not only locals back into the village but also bring a more affluent tourist dollar that village somewhat lacks.
The 2016 Parklett policy had already passed City Council, Planning Commission approval, and all our fees were paid. We were ready to build. Unfortunately, when came down the wire, we canceled at the last minute. The city charge of $3,220 per parking spot was too much, the risk too high in return for a “temporary” program.
So forward to today when we were oddly blessed to be able to do a “Parklett Lite” test with the outdoor seating the council approved. We learned a lot that we thought would be of value to share.
The biggest surprise was how not one single person complained about the loss of parking in the village during this, including locals.
Many locals and visitors commented to us how it pleasurable it would be if there were no cars in the village. The idea of closing San Jose Avenue to car traffic, like many forward thinking tourist towns have done, was a consistent suggestion, from locals and tourists alike.
There are good examples of this done in Los Gatos, that appear cost-effective with paint, movable large planters and string lights. Still allowing emergency access, many merchants share the street creating a very European feel with outdoor dinning, strolling, and mellow music.
San Jose Avenue could become a destination in our village. Closing San Jose Avenue would be the most cost-effective and safest way to achieve outdoor dinning in the village. We know there would be a lively discussion if that were to be explored, but forward-thinking elected officials will understand that we need to remove car traffic from the village to remain a relevant tourist destination for our future. Capitola would benefit by removing the “everything is based on parking and driving through the village” mentality of olden days.
