SPUSD Board Member Chris Wilson said he did not like the thought of the city spending $30,000 on signage and “pouring concrete” for something the district expects to get better.
“We’ve attempted to have joint meetings,” with joint school and city subcommittee members Councilmen Ralph Fernandez and Bob Gonzales, “and I think those could be productive,” but Wilson said such meetings have not taken place.
“We are hemmed in and there is no other place to go,” but Wilson said once construction is finished the parking issue “won’t go away completely but it will be far less than what it is now... “
Fernandez said as a parent and SPHS pool user he was “on both sides of the fence” because he can appreciate the frustration of the residents while still needing to access the campus.
He suggested diagonal parking be studied for Pleasant Street and Virginia Terrace as a way to provide more spaces.
Councilman Martin Hernandez questioned why it had taken so long for the issue to be finalized: “It’s been the same old thing,” with staff reports asking for direction on options including a parking district.
Councilman Bob Gonzales agreed that diagonal parking on Pleasant Street “is a good idea” that should be studied and that police presence for parking enforcement during special events should continue.
Mayor Rick Cook said the city offered the high school property for a baseball field near Harding Park if they wanted to turn the campus facility into a parking area, but the idea was rejected.
Several motions of boundaries were proposed and rejected by the council and Hernandez said the parking district should be far reaching: “Every street was in favor... maybe the school board is not but I was voted in by the residents if that’s what they’re asking for,” Hernandez said, “I’m not going to second guess our taxpayers... “
The council approved the boundary with 3-1 Hernandez casting the nay vote. Councilman Jim Tovias has recused himself from the issue because of the proximity of his home to the high school.
City Manager Jaime Fontes said the boundary would be implemented “as soon as possible... we are cognizant about school starting,” August 13.
Yanez said later that “With the modification we have approximately 69 residents that will be part of the Parking District,” as defined by the following boundaries: All of Palm Court (with the exception to possibly leave the area adjacent to the pool and in front of the stadium entrance open with no residences there); Santa Paula Street north side from Olive to Palm Court; Santa Paula Street south side from Olive to 6th Street; and 6th Street the east side, from Santa Paula Street to Virginia Terrace.
