Restrictions to force parking solution

The Los Altos City Council reacted properly, albeit later than sooner, to three years of neighborhood complaints by instituting restricted parking during school hours around Los Altos High School.

Councilmembers on Nov. 29 took action after hearing resident complaints about an increasing parking problem due to 2002 high school expansion and a spike in enrollment. The loss of diagonal parking in favor of parallel parking and a bike lane addition also meant 50 fewer spaces. Traffic engineer Tom Ho estimated 30-35 cars each day were parked on streets around the high school.

Thirty-to-35 cars doesn’t sound like a huge overflow of vehicles. However, when you’re the resident who’s inconvenienced, it is a big deal.

We acknowledge the high school has tried to be a good neighbor. But it should be the high school trying to limit students driving to school, not the city trying to accommodate additional student drivers. In a time when elementary school students are encouraged to walk and bike to school, why should it be any different for the high school?

Granted, turning 16 and getting one’s driver’s license is one of the great milestones in life, but there are plenty of driving opportunities beyond going to and from school.

So who drives to school and who doesn’t? High school officials don’t want to determine who gets parking privileges but the restrictions could force their hand. A voucher system? Seniors only? The ball is in administrators’ court to determine a solution.

The council has appropriately punted this problem to the high school by establishing the restrictions. However, it remains a curiosity why it took so long.

Domanico leaves big shoes to fill

So it seems it wasn’t public scrutiny over Lee Domanico’s job performance and salary that drove the El Camino Hospital CEO to announce his resignation this past week - it was the lure of a new challenge presented by leading a five-hospital system, also a non-profit, public benefit corporation, based in Portland, Ore.

One might quibble over Domanico’s management style or his initial hesitation in revealing salary information despite the public’s right to know. But under his leadership, the hospital attained unprecedented profits and appears on the right track in a ambitious facilities renovation program. Best of all, patient care remains top-notch. His skill and leadership will be hard to replace.