HomeMy WebLinkAbout0417.094"
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City of Palo Alto
City Manager's Report
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: I'lfBUC WORKS
AGENDA DATE: &!plemiJer 7. 1994 CMR: 417:94
SUBJECT: Santa CllU'll VaHey Waler DIstrIcI's Maia<kro CredIEl Camloo
Real Project
REQITRST
On August 8, 1994, CcuncU requested thai staff prepare a 'report on U,e .I3Ns of !he Santa
Clara Valley Water District's (District) Mal3dero CreckiEI Camino Real nood conlrol
project and its impacts on adjacent busine.sses. Omndl also requested thai a leiter be senl
to the District Board addressing the resoluti(111 of outstanding busine-ss concerns.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that Council approve the .t,".ched letter 10 the Dilltici Board of
Direclors requesting its support for resolYing business related impacl< of the M'tadero
CreeklEl Camino Real proJecl.
l'.OLI.C);'JMl'UCATIONS
This report does not contain any changes to exisltng policies.
EXF.CJJTIYE SUMMARY
As part of its Matadero Creek Phase 4 flood control project, the Di,tricI is construCling
a 12·fool by 12·foot bypass box culvert across EI Camino Real, just north of !he natural
creek crossing, which will carry excess runoff during large storms, The design of the
project was coordinated wilb City staff, the Ilarron Park Association, atfecltd residents
and businesses, and Caltrans, which has flIlOl approval authority for parking restrictions,
construction area signing, 'Illd Jane closures on EI Camino RNL
Although lbe District mailed out I'tters 10 neighboring property owners prior to the start
of work in April 1994, some of the businesses were surprised by the large scope alld
duration of the project and its impaci on traffic and on-street parking. As a result Ctf
complaints. staff melon April 22. 1994 with repres<:ntatives from the Districl, the Palo
Alto Chamber of Commerce, and the businesses to discuss the project. The primary
concerns of Ihe business owners were tile potential Joss of cuslomers and diminished
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revenue re.sulting from on-street parking restrkt ions , impaired visibiHty of their
businesses, and the lengthy duration of the project.
As a result of the meeting with the business owner~. the Districi has taken slepS 10 address
the following issues:
• Customer~
In order to aU.viate customer parking difficullies. the District res(ored some of the on·
street parking and inslalled signs directing traffic to available off·'lree! parking locations.
On-street parking restrictions will remain in effect throughout the various phases of
conslruction, due to the limited roadway width. Some of the business owners complained
thai the contractor hasoccas;onally blocked access to their establishments by parking
vehicles in driveways or in front of their business signs. TI!e contractor bas been dire<:ted
to parI< all private vehicles in their off-Slre"t construction yard and to limit parking alollg
EI Camino Real to equipment needed for ongoing work. This provision is enforced by the
District's on-si!c inspector,
• Business Visibil~
In an attempt 10 stimulate clIstomer interest. the DislrLct funded a full page advertisement
for the bu,inesses in the June 22 Palo Alto We<:l<l~. The District has also pledged to pay
for banners to be placed along EI Camino Real publicizing lhat the busi=s are open
during construction. The inslaliation of Ihe banners should be completed within three to
four weeks. The District states that they are unable to fulfill the owners' requests for
financial compensation for losl business revenue, due to legal restriclions on the use of
public monies for such purposes.
• Duratjon of Constructioo
A1thougb the contraclor is attempling to expedite the work, Ule original projecl schedule
has been delayed by approximately two months due to the discovery of an abandoned
landfill site beneath tbe culvert alignment. 100 removal of the contaminated Jru\lerial has
been completed. It is anlicipated that the contractor will move to the next srage of lbe
work (construction of the culvert beneath the center portion of EI Camino Real) on
September 23. Traffic will be shifted during the nigbt of September 22, resulting in •
configuration of two traffic lanes in each directi on along fhe outer edges of EI Camh10 Real
with the oonstruct,on zone in the center ufthe roadway. It is anticipated Uml construction
of the cui vert across EI Camino Real will be completed by mid-summer 1995.
District staff has established an ongoing dialogue with the oosiness owners, meeting
biweekly or weekly. as needed, to keep them informed of the project status and Iislen to
their concenlS. They have also distributed an informational flyer addressing the most
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CQmmon questions about the proje<:t. In addition, City sraff monitor.> the proje<:t daily and
meets weekly with District personnel and their contractor.
In responsJ to Council's direction, staff has prepared a letter to the District's .Board of
Directors for signature by tile Mayor (see attachment), requesting that District staff
maiQlain active comrnurtications with local businesses, follow througb on its commitment
to fund publicity banners for tile businesses along El Camino, and continue to cooperate
.with City staff, the Chamber of Commerce, and business owners to minimize mlllre
in!pacts of tile Mlltadero Creek Oood control proje<:t.
FISCAl. (MpACf
This report has no flSCal impacts to the City.
ENYIRONMFNTAL ASSFSSMENT
There is no environmental assessment required in conjunction with this report.
ATTACHMENTS
I -Draft letter to District Board of Direr.tors
2 -Letter from Santa Clara Valley Water District
PREPARED BY: _-..bU?~ ..-' ..
George Ba~on, Assis pirec1~ ,
DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL: . lL. . __
GJenn S. Roberts Director of Public Works
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
cc: Susan Frank, Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
Ron &au, Sama Clara Valley Water District
D*R*A*F*T
Mr. lames J. Lenihan, Chainnan
Board of Directors
Santa Clan Valley Water District
S7SO Almaden Expwy.
San lose, CA 95118
Dear Mr. Chairman and Members of the Board,
On bebalf of tbe MoAllo City Council and the local business communit)',
I am writing to request !he District's continued cooperation on the
Matadero Creek Pha.-e 4 flood control proj~t. As you know, the
construction of the bypass culvert across EI Camino Real has resulted in
the loss of on-street parking and reduced visibility of the businesses, which
has hampered customer access and contributed to a decline in revenue.
The District staff has established an ongoing dialogue with the business
owners 10 address their concerns and have worked with City staff and the
Palo Allo Chamber of Commerce to mitigate construction impacts by
casing parking restriclions, signing off'street parking locations, and
funding newspaper advertisements.
As the Matadero Creek Phase 4 proj~! will continue 10 aff~1 businesses
along EI Camino Real for the next year, I ask that District staff remain
attentive to me concerns of me business owners and keep mem fully
informed regarding the project starus. I also specifically request that
District staff periodically distribute written project updates 10 the affected
businesses and that the District follow through on its commitment to fund
banOttll publicizing tl)at the businesses are open during construction.
You have my assurance that City SfJlff will do its part to assist you in
«lmpleting the projecl with the least amount of disruption to the local
business conununity. We loole forward 10 the successful completion of the
Matadero Creek projecl and the resulting reduction in flood risk.
Sincerely,
Liz Kniss
Mayor
cc, Susan Frank, Palo Allo Chamber of Conunerce
Ron Esau, Sanra Clara Valley Water District
\,
Santo Cloro ~ Wder Distrid (:)
Au"", 15, I 994
Mr, 01..., S. Rob<ns
Diteetor
City of Palo Alto
MIIoWotb~
P.O. BQ, 102SO
Palo Alto, CA 94lGJ
Dear Mr, Roberts:
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Subjf'.Ct: Matadero Cr~k. Phs,,", IV, £1 CamiOoJ R~.u lo Su.nford Chil'lnel Confluen.;e, Contlal1
No. C0369, File No, lOll
Re(er~ce i.5 made to your :etter d/i.ied Augwt..f. 1994 regu..1ins .. rn('roorAAdum from }'O';r CilY of Pi!o
Alto ClJundl Members rtqlOeslmg informJ:iol1o on ll'.e ~uhJ~1 proj~t.
The followi!'l.8 is oor r~ponre:
Or. Juno 6, 1994, our tonlu.;wr disoo\letod a IJhdfUl under Lhe SiuJer PUKtog Jot in the cJwmcl just
_ of oM ill c.mJoo Reo!, Tho IWf~1 ",,,,isle<! of ,I", Oo<tl .. , W parts, "0" and .. ll&!_ed
to be old warer-tinks~ lJ(ilh~e uboest.."'S. M art$~tlort.~isd~·et}·,lhc.~r WI.$
d_ to ,.",.,.,. ~ ,equired portions of the Imc!ml and th, tonurnln><ol _. This additionll
work ha$ delayod the ","""'CIioG ~ by appro.lmately 6 w..t., AI this time, the a)"..mjnatod
....naJ has been mnovod ...s ~ """"""'" Is apln ~ 00 the sp«ifiol ooctr.><:t, [t Is wiciplled
!hal the 00lIIracI0r will """,,10(0 tho Stop D d<tow wort on '!be EI C..uoo R..J In I ... A_ and ~
""" .. to the su,. m detour Is p4Doo4 rot T....s.y 111gbI, S<p«mber 6, 1994. AI tIliI time, th,
..... _ IIId COII$Il\ICIioo of the box <'liven Itt the onWJ. Mdion Of m Camioo Reo! wUI begin aIld
_', fi>r ljlpI'Ol<lmItdy 90 days, Coo.Iructloll of the SWlfOl'd CbmneI box <'II,'ert upsttWIl of EI
c.mJoo R..J along V.mn property Is C<l<lClnuJng wi1!Ioul dcl.j'S, for forth" information, ! have
enclos.:d the contractor's tatesl o:.:mstru~ion scbedul~.
We weco CCIl('..emed wh~ the-council commented t.~. "While CLty of PAl.) Alto (City) staff and the
Charnb« of Commerce have beta worl:ing with ~ busine:su:s to minimize. thme. impacts, projro
delays and lack of commurucation with SCV\VD have h.amperN those efforts." Some delays hz'w'e. heen
uC\4voidab!e a3 previously mentioned. Neo.'erthe-Ies.s, the DiStriC1 is doing the roli()wing Wilh r~pet.1 to
~rng liHe5 of communication opi'f1, r~nsi.ve. and prompt:
,
Mr. OleonS._ 2
RespoodiJIs to all ~irles repn1 ilIg rl!e project in • tim<ly manner.
M..w., with tho OOllltId!>r and rho City of Palo Alto Public Works Dop.."".,., mtr wool:ly to
provide iDformatIo~ cootdlnate5¢hedulcs, &nd. resolve ptoblenu. At the$¢-l'l1ettings, the. co~r
ODd Dbtrict staff baY< been wod III limit their paiD'" along EI CamillO Real to miniml" any
JmpI<tJ to th. bus_. AoIdlllooally. our Co",truction Division ...... ~i",ooI:ly Of wool:ly. as
_. with local buslnems 10 dim" .. ><bodules and problems.
Provided beYr' itps a.nd street fWtIipioj. beyond what is required In our construction renttact.
In _ with tho busi".....· ODd City" r"lues''' at • ",,,,Ide,,ble ",,110 tho Di<lrkl.
AJteod that Mr. S ...... PLayer (Pr"ldeat) of th. C11tmbe! of Commetcc WO<lld d"=> filW>cial
impacts to businesses and the Di.sUict's ~powibilitie:s witl) ~istrict'!. Qm.ual CO'JnseJ. Aq!;h()B)"
BeMetti, Thts has been done..
Working wi[h the Chamber QfCommer<'"~ in producing infonnalionaJ m~teriaJs for the b'J.)ine.~lS-
updating them on construction aCli'o'ifies,
. Our Public Informatior1 Office and CONtruction Di."ision have met with the Chamber (lr Commf:'fce
aM II representative of the Mayor's Office to discuss informaliomJ flyen. new~pilper
adyertlsements. and hannen: for bus(nes.st-S. lhe Dislrict ~,ro\,jded funding for .a full'}1&ge
newspaper ad\lertisem~nt. The District negolia.too with and provi.ioo COllum with CaltlaI1S
officials f~r approvaJ of a OlamtN:t of Comm«~e banner across EI Camino ReaL In addilio:l. the
Di.suict bas offl!'red to fu.NI the banner.
In addition to our biweekly meetio,glO ..... e met with Mr. Da:',e Sev~' {owner of Qual iCy Tile) lU'Id
bi.3laodJ(lrd, Mi. Lappe, to provide information regarding t'l)e project and t.o ansWet Ul)' qUeslions.
Re:eardin& the contractor's work hours, there was only one evening th~1 the Distri,rt is aware.of
!:hat our contractor was w..>rki:lB outside the ipproved construction hours. The contractor's
rnalntenaDC«! truck: ~ working after-hours to repai! a piece of equ ipmenl. The contrai.tQr was PUI
CD writtea ootice tbaI this work: wa.o; outside the contract' r.eq-Ill rements and tba! any furtll et after
how1 work would bave to be .opproved by the City and th. Diltrict.
Nooe of the CUy staff, to whom the DLuriCl has been directed to communi~e with, bas ind tcaud ttw.
the Distrtct~s communicaOOns have been inadequate Qr have hampered any oftbeit dfoN. Neverthelw,
if the. City's Deeds for infonnatlon are oot being met, the District will comply wtth an)' reasonable request
for _ 1OS1sUnce.
The only' outstanding request from the busines.ses that the District has been unable to oomply with
is to provido Mr. Patel with • Jarg. pmonal busin= lb=) siill.
As)'0\1 are. aware, construction of a large pubtic worb proj~ along a Vet)' busy thoroughfare, which
imp&;ts several busl.n.esse:s. is always difficult. However. the District is worling with, and wlll oontinue
to work-with, the City, Cbamber of Commerce,local husinesses, and the p.uhlic to resolve any issues an.1
m!nlmil.e the lmpacts of this projet.:t.' A District repres:ntalivC' ... iII plan to anend the City Council
me«ing all<! be available 10 address any Council question.
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Mr.GI...,S._ 3 August IS, 1994
lfwe COlI booftlutber lSSisIIIIce, pi .... call Mr. D<>. And"""" Jl (408) 265·2601, ext ... lon 2344, or
Mr. Ralph BWr II _10. 2579.
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