City, SPUSD hoping designated
parking will be used for first home game
September 02, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
With the first home football game of the season Friday residents of the Santa Paula High School neighborhoods should see some relief from parking and traffic issues.
According to Leticia Austin, SPUSD PIO, there will be more parking for special events starting with the first home game between Port Hueneme and SPHS.
Parking, or rather lack of, has been an issue that has caused dissension among residents living closest to the historic “Campus on the Hill” for about two years, since a major construction project displaced a parking lot and brought dozens of contractors to the campus.
The new Science & Technology Center is complete, parking spaces have not only been restored but also expanded. The city and the school district are coming to the end of a consultant’s study launched to address the issues and make recommendations, which in turn will be presented to the City Council and Santa Paula Unified School District Trustees for possible adoption of policy.
Interim Public Works Director Brian Yanez said the consultant, Stantec, gave the presentation to the joint SPCC/SPUSD subcommittee August 24.
At the meeting between City Councilwomen Jenny Crosswhite and Ginger Gherardi, SPUSD President Michelle Kolbeck and Trustee Chris Wilson and City Manager Jaime Fontes and SPUSD Superintendent Alfonso Gamino, “We went over the findings,” and after “some suggestions from the school district” Yanez said recommendations are forthcoming.
“One of the things we did look at were these large events,” and Stantec consultants attended the June graduation, the largest draw to the campus.
Yanez said the crowd and parking was videotaped, data collected and traffic studied.
“Graduation is agreed to be the largest single event, even larger than the Fillmore game,” when the famed century-plus football rivalry brings a huge crowd.
The residents, said Yanez, “have really been patient,” as the issue has wound through channels.
With work done at the campus and alternatives offered there are now “at least” 100 parking spaces at the school, “More than before...”
Austin said the Jim Colborn Baseball Field would be open Friday: “There will be lighting and signs to direct the public on where to park.”
Those attending home games — September 4, September 11 and September 18 — will be able to enter the baseball field parking at the 5th Street campus entrance.
Austin said parking would also be available in front of the Science & Technology Center, on campus on 5th Street and along Virginia Terrace.
Santa Paula Police will erect barriers to block the general public from entry and parking along Palm Court during home games although “Residents of Palm Court will be able to have full access to the street.”
The same parking opportunities at the baseball field and on campus will be available for Saturday youth football games September 5 and September 12.
Yanez said study results are expected about three weeks following the September 4 home game, which will also be monitored for data purposes.
“Then we’ll all take it to the council and the school board for recommendations,” that could be adopted, “and then stick to the game plan” for parking.
Also studied was non-school events held at the campus and steps to be taken for users, “Including the city,” said Yanez.
“We only use the facilities for youth basketball, eight Saturdays starting January but we feel the parking at the school will be more than adequate...”
The school and the city Yanez noted, “Have collaborated to look for resolutions for parking and traffic around the high school and we’re close to getting it resolved.
Both the city and the school asking game attendees to respect the neighbors and find the parking specified...the school is trying to be good neighbors.”
