Gilroy
– Downtown workers who monopolize Monterey Street parking have
at least a few more months before they have to worry about parking
tickets.
Gilroy – Downtown workers who monopolize Monterey Street parking have at least a few more months before they have to worry about parking tickets.
Officials have postponed discussions of long-term parking enforcement until after April, when a consultant will monitor how quickly spaces turn over in the area.
A similar study in 2005 found that parking was most heavily used between Fourth and Sixth streets along the main drag, where the core of downtown businesses are located. The city has added spaces since then as part of a major sidewalk and street renovation, though a number of new businesses and residences have also cropped up.
“We really need to go back and evaluate it again and find out where our parking congestion spots are,” City Transportation Don Dey said. “The monitoring will look at how many parking spaces are being utilized, and for how long. Are they being occupied for an hour, less than two hours, greater than four hours?”
In the meantime, city leaders could get started on a parking enforcement plan for when the area gets over-packed with cars.
The magic number is 85 percent, Dey said, explaining that cities usually resort to parking regulation – whether in the form of meters or timed spaces – when only 15 percent of spots are free during peak hours. The busiest time of day in downtown Gilroy is around lunch, though cars pack the block between Fifth and Fourth streets throughout the day.
Many of the 60-plus women who work at The Rickenbacker Group, a collection agency, have refused to park on side streets and in lots due to safety concerns. The installation of new lighting along alleys and side streets has not eased the parking crunch on Monterey Street, and officials fear the problem will grow worse as a mix of new housing and businesses bring more cars to the area.
At a day of informal policy talks last month, Councilman Dion Bracco called for the city to start cracking down.
“We have a couple employees down there that don’t care if merchants have a place for customers to park,” he said. “I think it’s time we make a decision to start enforcing parking.”
Mayor Al Pinheiro had his reservations.
“I’m torn on it because I don’t think downtown yet is getting … enough people down there to be flourishing where we would not hinder some of the folks,” he said of enforcement. “On the other hand, I want to do it. There’s a black Lincoln that sits there all day and never moves. I’ve asked this person why he can’t park over (somewhere else) – we’ve spent $20,000 upgrading the alleys with lights.”
Later this month, council will discuss whether to re-install two-hour parking limit signs removed during last year’s downtown construction. They plan to hold more in-depth discussions by summer, after the parking study is complete.
