Council Talks Gilroy Speed Limit, Hotel Tax

With June beginning on a Friday this year, the Capitola City Council was afforded a nice break from its meeting schedule. But back together for the first time this month, the council made forward progress on a handful of key issues.

Here are the top five moments from Thursday's meeting:

1. The council heard a report from Police Chief Rudy Escalante on the ongoing traffic and speeding issues on Gilroy Avenue. While residents are unhappy with the 25 MPH speed limit, a study of 1,738 cars traveling on the street showed that the average speed there is only 13.5 MPH, with just 12 driving too fast.

Since Gilroy is over 25 feet wide, Escalante said that the city can't legally reduce the speed limit under 25 MPH. However, as Councilman Dennis Norton pointed out, they can still re-sign the area as 15 MPH, even though it can not be enforced in court.

"We have a history as a city of creating laws that we have no intention to enforce," Councilman Kirby Nicol said. "And I think there's merit to that."

The council moved to allow Escalante to continue exploring possible solutions to the speed complaints on Gilroy.

2. The agenda called for a discussion about putting an increase on the Transient Occupany Tax — taxes on hotel rooms — on the November ballot. After protest from local hotel owners, the council moved to continue the discussion to its next meeting so city staff can meet with local hotel owners and management in the interim. 

3. Nicol announced that the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission has approved in concept a $10 vehicle license tax for the November ballot. The tax would bring $115K directly to Capitola to fix local streets. 

4. Two public commenters made note of the severe parking issue in Capitola Village. Nels Westman argued that since meters were installed 30 years ago, the city has made $10-12 million on parking fees, but still can't afford to build a parking garage. An appointee from the Capitola Parking and Traffic Commission asked that the council discuss building a garage in the Pacific Cove Parking Lot and putting a lot in the mobile home park at the July 26 meeting.

5. Mayor Mike Termini proclaimed June 17-24 as Amateur Radio Week in Capitola to recognize the huge contribution that volunteer radio operators have made to the community. Radio operators are often first reporters during disasters including earthquakes, floods and fires.

What do you think of an informal, unenforceable speed limit on Gilroy Avenue? How about the hotel tax? Any other thoughts? Tell us in the comments!

Want Patch in your inbox every morning? Subscribe to our free newsletter. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.