Hi Folks,

The front page article in today's Sentinel describes a motion on tomorrow's Council agenda to re-examine the library-garage plan. Kudos to Council member Donna Meyers, who campaigned in support of the library-garage, for noticing that things have changed during the last year. Much of the time, we humans aren't open to new information once we've made up our minds. And thanks to Council members Brown, Cummings, Glover, and Krohn, for noticing early on that there are other ways besides a garage to address our Downtown parking needs.

The biggest piece of new information is the results of the parking study conducted by Patrick Siegman while he was at Nelson\Nygaard. In 2016 the City signed a $100,000 contract with Nelson\Nygaard that was supposed to produce a Downtown Parking Strategic Plan. The study was supposed to be completed in 2017, but never came to the Council. In March of this year Siegman, now an independent consultant, presented the results that showed parking demand will remain flat over the next ten years---in spite of new development Downtown. UCSC Environmental Studies Professor Adam Millard-Ball also presented to the Council in March. He advised the Council to hold off on building new parking capacity while the impact of Council-approved parking rate increases and free bus passes and Jump-bike credit take effect.

The second piece of new information is that parking revenue can be used to bridge a gap in funding to renovate the Downtown Library to the specifications adopted by the Downtown Library Advisory Committee (DLAC). This information has not yet been understood by those who believe that the only way to get the desired library is to build a garage.

We're at the threshold of a win-win-win for the Farmers Market, Library, and the environment. Yet mistrust can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. That's why the Council needs to hear from you. Sign an email to CityCouncil@CityofSantaCruz.com.

Thanks!   -Rick Longinotti