20-0721_C.S. LEGACY CONSTRUCTION, INC._Agenda Report_Correspondence_1July 21, 2020
City of San Juan Capistrano
City Council Members/ Ben Siegel, City Manager
RE: 7/21/2020 City Council Agenda Item F2A
San Juan Capistrano City Council,
I reside at , SJC – with full view from my bedroom and bathroom of the “temporary”
city over flow parking lot on Ramos St. On July 15, 2019 I sent you a letter (attached) outlining the
issues that myself and other Los Rios residents had with vehicles parked on Ramos St as well as other
issues regarding no safe egress for pedestrians leaving the park to return to our neighborhood and the
difficulty with obtaining enforcement of the “no overnight parking”. I have not received any outreach
or notification of any city progress on resolving these issues. So, imagine my surprise yesterday when
reviewing the city council agenda, I find the agenda item titled “Award of contract for the Paseo
Adelanto Parking Lot Expansion Project”. How in the world did this get to awarding a contract without
any input from the residents most affected by the expansion?!
The city afforded the Los Rios residents a lot of opportunity for input and collaboration on the Los Rios
Park project. It turned out as a great addition to the historic district. When it was clear that there was no
funding available for “stage 2” of the park (no surprise) the city approached the residents regarding
using the space as a “temporary” small gravel, overflow parking lot. We agreed with the caveats that it
not have overnight parking which would also mean it did not require lighting that would shine into our
homes. This lot with 26 spaces has worked out fine for many years, until the shoulder of the road long
term parking made walking home from the park difficult; the overnight parking became a problem; and
flood lights were installed shining on my neighbor’s porch.
Now the city is adding over 75 new parking spots, a paved sidewalk for A.D.A egress, $78,000 of new
lighting ………but still no safe pathway for pedestrians leaving the park – we will still be on the street at a
curve in the road with cars parked on the north side of Ramos across from the lot and on the north
curve. Yesterday I spoke with Paul Meshkin who was gracious enough to answer some of my questions
and listen to my concerns. He verified for me that the project did not address the parking on the
shoulder of the north side of Ramos or parking on the curve or a pedestrian pathway on the north side
of the parking lot.
So even though you didn’t ask, here are my questions/concerns/suggestions:
1)$78,000 worth of lighting in the parking lot is not going to make the employees feel safe walking
from downtown to their cars at night. The trees, shrubs and vegetation along the southern end
of the proposed lot is a perfect hiding spot for the homeless and the lack of any kind of
enforcement of the drug and sex trafficking that occurs nightly in Los Rios park does not make
that feel like a safe route. And where exactly does that 271 ft A.D.A. paved sidewalk go- to
Ramos St where there is no sidewalk?
7/21/2020
F2a
2) Moving the driveway will be a positive change for the residents if it encourages people to park
on the southern end of the lot rather than the Ramos northern end. That way if a large number
of restaurant/bar employees depart after midnight/ 2 AM the noise of conversation, car door
slamming, engines revving will not wake up the residents
Cons: See #1- what is the safe path from the parking lot to downtown employment?
The removal of a beautiful Oak tree
Horse back riders/ bikers/ pedestrians will need to compete with cars
I am not convinced that it will necessarily decrease the volume of nonresident drivers
through the district. While some of the traffic is people looking for parking, much of the traffic
is because of drivers picking up condo residents on Mission St.
3) The problem with 3am-5am no parking is that is makes for very confusing signage and puts the
onus for enforcement on the residents. When we see cars parked at midnight, we have to set
our alarms for 3am to see if they are still there, then call the Sheriff and hope they can break
free from crime fighting in the next 2 hrs. to come and be parking enforcers.
4) Please figure out a way to add to the existing 9’ DG path that leaves the park on Ramos St so
kids on bikes/ scooters and old folks on Tricycles are not forced out on the street at the spot
drivers are turning the corner. If the fence is being moved out the path could be in that space
but gravel will be difficult to ride a bike or scooter on- DG would be preferable. I understand
from Mr. Mishkin that this is not in the current scope of work but it was one of the things on the
resident wish list. He has advised me that we could possibly work with the contractor to work
out a suitable path but I would prefer your support for that option.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Davidson
San Juan Capistrano, CA
July 15, 2019
City of San Juan Capistrano
City Council Members
RE: City Council Agenda Item # E9
San Juan Capistrano City Council;
I am writing to express my views regarding the proposed resolution establishing “Tow away No parking
3am -5am” on portions of city owned property ….abutting Ramos St. I reside at - in full
view of the vehicles parked on Ramos from all the windows and yard on the west side of my property.
{Also, in full hearing from my bedroom of the car alarms that go off at all hours and are not responded
to because the owners are nowhere around)
While I appreciate the city taking steps to address the Los Rios residents concerns regarding this issue, I
am not in favor of the resolution. Instead, I am advocating for a complete NO PARKING ban on the dirt
shoulders of the road along Ramos St. There are several reasons for my request:
1) There are no sidewalks along Ramos St. When walking to or from Los Rios Park pedestrians are
forced to walk in the street. This is at a point where there is a curve in the road, which becomes
a blind curve with cars parked on both sides of the street. Add to that the speeding problem at
that curve (which is another discussion). I have seen many parents/ grandparents and kids
walking in the middle of the street at that dangerous curve. Add bicycles/ scooters and frisky
kids and it becomes harrowing – I have experienced it with my grandsons!
Vehicle parked today on curve Ramos/Adelanto
2) The parking along the dirt shoulder is taken up by the same long-term vehicles that are there
EVERY DAY/ ALL DAY. Some of the trucks are moved in the morning and replaced by an auto that
is driven to the truck. In the evening the truck returns and the auto is driven away. Some of the
autos are moved every few days to another spot by a gentleman with a large rink of keys.
Making this a no parking zone would not impact the available parking for residents and visitors
to Los Rios as these spaces are being utilized by the same few numbers of stored vehicles.
This is the city parking lot on Ramos this afternoon at 1 pm- lots of available spaces.
This is dirt shoulder of the road on Ramos st at the same time today- 1pm. Same vehicles
That are here most days, including week ends.
3) The problem with 3am-5am no parking is that is makes for very confusing signage and puts the
onus for enforcement on the residents. When we see cars parked at midnight, we have to set
our alarms for 3am to see if they are still there, then call the Sheriff and hope they can break
free from crime fighting in the next 2 hrs. to come and be parking enforcers.
When the city met with the Los Rios residents to discuss making this area into a parking lot, we were
promised that there would not be any overnight parking- hence no parking lot lights. The area between
the split rail fence and the road was never intended for parking, it was always utilized as a pathway to
stay out of the street. There were landscape poles along the way and they were somehow moved and
cars started parking there just a year or two ago. My suggested resolution would be to make this dirt
area a NO PARKING zone and make it a DG pathway to and from Los Rios Park.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Davidson
San Juan Capistrano, CA