Santa Teresa Boulevard


Dear Red Phone, Thank you for your help with getting Waste
Management to clean the debris in traffic lane portions of bicycle
lanes. There still is plenty of debris left in sections of bicycle
lanes. The heavily traveled sections from Highway 152 to Sunset
Drive are of most concern. A recent glance of Santa Teresa
Boulevard to and from Gavilan College is not so friendly to
bicycles. Not sure if this route is maintained by the city of
Gilroy or the county.

County responsible for sections

“Dear Red Phone, Thank you for your help with getting Waste Management to clean the debris in traffic lane portions of bicycle lanes. There still is plenty of debris left in sections of bicycle lanes. The heavily traveled sections from Highway 152 to Sunset Drive are of most concern. A recent glance of Santa Teresa Boulevard to and from Gavilan College is not so friendly to bicycles. Not sure if this route is maintained by the city of Gilroy or the county.”

Dear Punctured Again,

Red Phone contacted General Manager Phil Couchee at South Valley Disposal and Recycling – which we assume is the company you are referring to (it’s not Waste Management). He said they do not sweep Santa Teresa from Gavilan College to First Street.

So, Red Phone contacted Carla Ruigh, operations services manager, who agreed with Couchee. South Valley Disposal & Recycling sweeps from First Street/Highway 152 to Sunrise Drive once a week. They DO NOT sweep from First Street/Highway 152 to Gavilan College. Sections of this area are maintained by the county and the others have been determined to be a safety hazard to sweep because of the high speed of traffic and the narrow lanes.

“The potential for accidents is high since cars would want to swerve around the street sweeper and could drive into oncoming traffic or over the median,” she said.

Red Phone is still waiting to hear back from the county on what sections they are responsible for and when they schedule sweepings, so stay tuned.

Too many inconsiderate drivers

“I was thoroughly chastised by a driver (sadly with a young boy in the passenger seat) for pulling out too slowly for him onto Monterey Road (at commute time). These drivers are all over town.”

Dear Unfairly Chastised,

Red Phone feels your pain. A motorist has no right to berate you just because you were turning too slowly, especially in front of a child, who as we all know, learns from watching. If his parents are good, patient and courteous drivers, then he’ll likely become one as well. But if his parents are impatient, horn-honking, speeding, in-a-hurry, get-out-of-my-way drivers, he’ll likely mirror their habits. Problem is we have a bunch of wanna-be NASCAR drivers out there on public roads, creating hazards for us all. Some people just have no patience. Please, everyone slow down and enjoy life on the road. That way you make it home safely and can enjoy life.

What’s up with all the trash?

“Red Phone,I saw information in a recent paper about filthy trash on the corner. What is going on with the house (on the 7500 block of Wren Avenue)? There’s so much garbage on the left side of the driveway and I live across the street. I can’t understand why people can’t clean their yard. It is a fire hazard. Let us know what’s going on. Thank you.”

Dear Can’t Understand,

Red Phone contacted Code Enforcement Officer Scott Barron, who again reiterated the need for a formal complaint. He said Chapter 12 of the municipal code contains numerous sections that regulate the handling, storage and disposal of garbage, refuse and debris. In addition, Section 5C.07 of the Residential Blight ordinance prohibits the accumulation of solid waste in an area that is visible from a street or public way unless it is enclosed in an approved container, or stored in a manner that would prevent the material from being transported by the wind. Section 12.18 requires that all garbage or rubbish produced or accumulated on a premise be deposited in an approved container and placed for collection as directed by the director of public works. With regard to storing other types of household items or waste in the front yard area, Sections 5C.08-5C.10 provides additional guidance that includes a list of items that may not be stored in the front yard area of any residence. The list includes such things as a washing machine or household appliance and a wrecked or dismantled vehicle or part thereof. Storing any of the listed items in the front yard area constitutes blight and is enforceable under the guidelines of the ordinance.

So good caller, there you go. Call Barron at (408) 846-0264 to file a complaint. Then, if things are not taken care of to your liking, give Red Phone another holler.

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