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Written CommunicationWhitney Zeller From: Deborah L. Feng Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 4:25 PM To: Liana Crabtree; Steven Scharf Cc: G wong; Amanda Wo; Whitney Zeller; Kim Calame Subject: RE: Library Parking Problem Hi Liana, All really great questions. The short story is yes. City Staff is encouraged to take the Via Shuttle, bike to work, and/or take other alternative modes of transportation to and from work. We do this by having alternative work schedules so they don't physically come into work every day. We provide incentives for people who bike to work, or take any alternative mode of transportation, by providing them a monetary incentive of up to $4/day. We also have a transit fee reimbursement program, and a guaranteed ride home program for people who have come in on one of these alternative modes of transportation in cases of emergency. We have ebikes to utilize during the day for work purposes. They can also borrow a bike to try out the commute to and from home before they invest in a bicycle of their own. Lastly, they can use a pre-tax savings for transit purposes. We have the best library in the County, and have been noted at the national level as well, due to the library programs, which I thank the Commission for the work here. Library Field is also well utilized. We need to find some parking solutions. Hope this helps, Deb Deborah L. Feng City Manager City Manager's Office DebF@Cupertino.org (408) 777-3250 c5iwrI Na 0000000 From: Liana Crabtree <Irabtree@cupertino.org> Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 3:26 PM To: Steven Scharf <SScharf@cupertino.org>; Cupertino City Manager's Office <manager@cupertino.org> Cc: G wong <ge168@live.com>; Amanda Wo <awo@cupertino.org>; Whitney Zeller <whitneyz@cupertino.org>; Kim Calame <kimc@cupertino.org> Subject: Fw: Library Parking Problem Honorable Mayor Scharf and City Manager Feng, Gladys asks a good question regarding parking in the shared library/civic center lot: "(I)s the city council also telling city employees to walk or take public transit instead of driving? I guess they don't have to consider this because they have dedicated parking spots. They don't have to fight for parking spots like us. Sorry if I sound cynical but I just feel that library visitors are expected to compromise, and it's not right." I am reminded that someone told me the City now has some off -site parking spaces for employee use. But, that's different than what Gladys is asking. Is the City offering any incentives to encourage transportation that is not in single occupancy vehicles? Are City employees encouraged/compensated for taking VTA or for traveling to the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station and then traveling by Via Cupertino Shuttle to the Civic Center or Quinlan? (I take VTA in the morning with a couple of Stanford employees; I have learned Stanford has a comprehensive program to motivate its employees to commute by public transit.) Thank you, Liana Crabtree library commission From: G wong <ge168@live.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 2:52 PM To: Liana Crabtree <Irabtree@cupertino.org> Cc: Amanda Wo <awo@cupertino.org>; Whitney Zeller <whitnevz@cupertino.org>; Kim Calame <kimc@cupertino.org> Subject: RE: Library Parking Problem Hi Liana, Thank you for taking the time to share with me your thoughts and benefits of using alternative (public) transportation and walking. I agree with you to a certain extent. I do walk a lot myself for exercise and I find it relaxing. I also use public transit like Caltrain whenever I go to SF. There are situations where using public transit is a huge benefit. However, I must say I am not convinced that walking or public transit is for me when I want to use my library. Let's say we agree to disagree. One more question: is the city council also telling city employees to walk or take public transit instead of driving? I guess they don't have to consider this because they have dedicated parking spots. They don't have to fight for parking spots like us. Sorry if I sound cynical but I just feel that library visitors are expected to compromise, and it's not right. Please try your hardest to find more solutions to this issue. Thanks Gladys Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Liana Crabtree <Irabtree@cupertino.org> Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 1:39:07 PM To: G wong <ge168@live.com> Cc: Amanda Wo <awo@cupertino.org>; Whitney Zeller <whitneyz@cupertino.org>; Kim Calame <kimc@cupertino.org> Subject: Fw: Library Parking Problem Dear Gladys, Here's my 2nd attempt to reply to you and to share your comments with our wonderful library commission support team so that they can share them with commissioners this evening. Thank you so much for your comments. We are living in a time of tremendous change. Persistent and awful traffic congestion is one place we are all feeling very pinched by change. I used to drive quite a lot. It seemed the more I drove, the less I liked driving. got a Clipper Card and now, mostly (60% of the time), I travel by public transit. I recognize that it is a luxury to be able to take public transit because buses don't run often enough and there aren't enough buses traveling from where people are to where people want to go. Also, transit riders need stamina. If I need to bring heavy things with me, I have several carts (different sizes) for that purpose. In general, I am much happier as a non- or less than -driver. I encourage folks who are able to give VTA or the Via Cupertino Shuttle (https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/public-works/transportation- mobility/community-shuttle) a try for short local trips that can be served by a bus/shuttle and a moderate walk. Bonuses: easy exercise, no trolling for parking, no worries that your car will get broken into while it sits unattended in a commercial lot. I flat out won't drive to Valley Fair/Santana Row anymore; VTA is a much more pleasant way to reach those destinations. All the best and Thank You again, Liana Crabtree library commission From: G wong <ge168@live.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 12:57 PM To: Liana Crabtree <Irabtree@cupertino.org> Subject: RE: Library Parking Problem Dear Liana, Thank you for your email. It's reassuring to hear that know that our library commissioner take our feedback seriously. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend tonight's meeting. But I still care very much and I hope the commission can review my comments and suggestions. I do want the commission to address my 2"d point, which is why so many parking spots are dedicated to city employees (not like this before). Is this a parking lot for public use, or employee parking? Personally I do not feel employees should take priority over taxpayers and visitors. Please address this point in your meeting. Thank you for your suggestions for alternative transportation. It does not make sense for me to have to walk to the library with books in hand (which could take more than 30 min each way). The shuttle also represents an additional cost to me. I should not have to give up use of my car just because the city cannot find solutions to this issue. Thanks Gladys Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Liana Crabtree <Irabtree@cupertino.org> Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 12:44:50 PM To: ge168@live.com <ge168@live.com> Cc: Amanda Wo <awo@cupertino.org>; Whitney Zeller <whitnevz@cupertino.org>; Kim Calame <kimc@cupertino.org> Subject: Fw: Library Parking Problem Dear Gladys: I was reviewing messages in advance of tonight's library commission meeting and as best as I can tell this message (forwarded below) that I had intended to send to you on 10/3/2019 was sent to me by mistake. I am so sorry for the confusion and my apparent error. The library commission meets at 7 pm tonight, 11/6/2019, in the Think Tank (2nd floor of the library behind the elevator). We will continue our discussion of the parking situation at the library/civic center plaza. I hope you can join us and share your concerns during public comment. If not, we will reference your comments during our discussion. Please find the agenda for tonight's library commission meeting here: https://cupertino.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=23089&GUID=82144D6A-94F6-4207-6502- D8C42E4E1C41&Search= Thank you for sharing your challenges related to accessing the library with the library commission. Liana Crabtree library commissioner From: Liana Crabtree <Icrabtree@cupertino.org> Sent: Thursday, October 3, 2019 1:11 PM Cc: City Council <CityCouncil@cupertino.org>; Cupertino City Manager's Office <manager@cupertino.org>; Roger Lee <RogerL@cupertino.org>; City Clerk <CityClerk@cupertino.org>; Clare Varesio <cvaresio@sccl.org>; Kim Calame <kimc@cupertino.org>; Whitney Zeller <whitneyz@cupertino.org> Subject: Fw: Library Parking Problem + City Council + City Manager + Public Works Director + City Clerk + Cupertino Community Librarian + Park and Recreation Staff (Library Commission support) - Fellow Library Commissioners Dear Gladys: Thank you for sharing with the Library Commission your concerns about the parking situation at the Cupertino Civic Center. I agree! Parking in the lot adjacent to the civic center and library is frustrating and has worsened in recent years. If anyone is tracking complaints related to the civic center parking lot, I am not aware of the effort. However, I do know that community members speak openly and regularly to commissioners and City Council Members about their challenges finding parking near the library and community hall, especially during peak use times. For the Library Commission's 2019-2020 Work Program (approved by Council on 9/3/2019), we have identified "Address Library Parking Space Shortage and Safety Issues Affecting Library Patron Drop-off and Pick-up" as a commission priority. We have shared our concerns related to patron safety and and parking shortages with representatives from Public Works and Code Enforcement. The Library Commission will consider its next actions during its Wednesday, 11/6/2019, Library Commission meeting (Cupertino Library, Think Tank Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 7 pm). I encourage you and anyone you know who feels strongly about the parking situation at the Cupertino Civic Center to attend the November 6 meeting and share your ideas during the public comment window for this agenda item. In the meantime, please consider these suggestions for less exasperating visits to our beloved Cupertino Library: To the extent you are able, consider alternative forms of transportation to the Cupertino Library. Are walking or cycling reasonable options for you? Alternatively, VTA Routes 323/23/55/53 all have stops within a half -mile of the Cupertino Library. Is a bus ride + a half -mile or less walk a reasonable option for you? • To the extent you are able, consider parking on nearby residential streets, including Whitney, Silverado, Clay, Pacifica, and Farallone, and walking along Torre or across library field to the library. • Consider traveling to the library using the new on -demand Via -Cupertino Shuttle, which will begin offering ride share services later this month. For more information about the Via -Cupertino Shuttle, see: https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/public-works/transportation- mobility/community-shuttle Thank you again for sharing your suggestions for improving patron access to the Cupertino Library. I hope you will be able to join us for our parking discussion during the November 6. 2019 Library Commission meeting. Sincerely, Liana Crabtree Library Commission REFERENCE + City Council Agenda Packet, 9/3/2019, see PDF pp 383-389 for the 2019-2020 Library Commission Work Program: http://records.cupertino.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=779653&dbid=0&repo=CityofCupertino&cr=1 From: G wong <ge168@live.com> Sent: Thursday, October 3, 2019 8:46 AM To: City of Cupertino Library Commission Group <LCG@cupertino.org>; Amanda Wo <awo@cupertino.org>; Christie Wang <cwang@cupertino.org>; Qin Pan <QPan@cupertino.org>; Rahul Vasanth <RVasanth@cupertino.org>; Liana Crabtree <Irabtree@cupertino.org> Subject: RE: Library Parking Problem Hi Rahul, Thanks for your message explaining to me what is in the works to resolve this problem. I would like to add a couple of specific suggestions/comments to the library commission: 1 am curious how long have you been aware of this problem, and how many complaints have you received? I understand city planning and budget considerations take a long time to get completed and I am concerned that there is no relief to this problem for years and years If I recall, there weren't so many parking permits before. A few parking permits have turned into a full wall of parking permits, which literally take away visitor parking. My question is: is the parking lot for library & city hall visitors, or employee parking? I personally believe the parking lot should be for the community, not for employees. Employees should find parking further away. I don't think this is too much to ask from city employees. I don't think people will quit their jobs just because they have to walk further to get to their jobs. • The few EV parking spots are a waste. A lot of time they are not being used. Remove the charging stations and open up those few spots. • Adding fines to the drop off spots are not helpful. It just helps people who return items, not library goers who stay, which most people are. If I go to the library, I intend to stay for 30 min to an hour, and some people stay there for hours. What about us? I am ( and I'm sure for many Cupertino residents) frustrated and impatient about the situation. As a taxpayer, I feel I have the right to use these facilities, and yet I am discouraged to do so and I just get upset every time I go to the library. Please take some urgent moves and make something happen. Thank you for your attention. Gladys Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Rahul Vasanth <RVasanth@cupertino.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2019 6:01:28 PM To: G wong <ge168@live.com> Subject: Re: Library Parking Problem Hi Gladys, Thank you for your message. We've been discussing this matter as a Commission as well as in a working group formed between city staff, two Commissioners, the Cupertino Library Foundation, a Councilmember, and a few other involved parties. As you may know, we will be having a community room expansion for community events in our library. This would require more parking space to meet the increased capacity; our library is the most utilized in the entire county and many residents have requested additional space; the Cupertino Library is the only library in the county without programming space and recently, our Council allocated about five million dollars to the project. The city also intends to construct a new City Hall. At the meeting I mentioned, the Council decoupled the program room expansion from the City Hall project which is important as parking was tied to this before. Currently the permit parking is allocated, but city staff have explored the possibility of constructing new parking slots by going into Library Field, adding underground parking, or a parking structure. Losing parkland right next to the library would significantly impact residents that use the field. Green space is incredibly scarce in East Cupertino while a new parking structure or underground parking would cost millions of dollars. In our previous Library Commission meeting we discussed the book drop off slots which are temporary but seem to be occupied over a much longer duration. The fine will be increased and and a new sign will be added. This should alleviate some of the concerns over the cars near the book drop off area as library patrons including children frequently walk through it. Rest assured, this matter is on our mind and we have gotten a lot of feedback from residents on this matter. We're going to continue working towards a good solution that is financially feasible. Best regards, Rahul Vasanth Get Outlook for iOS From: G wong <ge168@live.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2019 2:19:51 PM To: City of Cupertino Library Commission Group <LCG@cupertino.org>; icrabtree@cupertino.org <icrabtree@cupertino.org>; Amanda Wo <awo@cupertino.org>; Christie Wang <cwang@cupertino.org>; Qin Pan <QPan@cupertino.org>; Rahul Vasanth <RVasanth @cupertino.org> Cc: G wong <ge168@live.com> Subject: Library Parking Problem Dear Library Commissioners, I am writing to you out of concern for all Cupertino residents who visit the library. The lack of parking problem at the Cupertino Library is getting worse. Every time I visit the library, I dread about the parking. It is almost guaranteed that the parking lot is full during the day, and you will see numerous cars circling around the lot or simply stop their cars and wait for anyone leaving. Often I end up circling for 15 — 20 min without finding a spot and leave out of frustration. This kind of bad traffic is unsafe and asking for trouble. The parking problem is not new and I have observed this problem getting worse by the day. Parking spots were limited in the first place, and with half of them assigned to permit parking, visitors have even less to work with. Can you do something about this? I hope other concerned citizens have also complained to you about this issue. We need to find a solution or at least start a conversation about potential solutions. I am sure your goal is to encourage more residents to use the library. But this problem turns residents away, unless they get a ride or walk to the library. This is not right. Thank you for your attention. Gladys Wong Sent from Mail for Windows 10