Good afternoon, Ms. Liekhus-Schmaltz.
The engineering department posted temporary no parking signage in the location your vehicle was parked on Monday, August 27 for
upcoming construction activity. The notices prohibited parking from August 27 through August 31. The public notice that was
provided was not sufficient nor in accordance with existing policy or state law. I apologize and agree this could have been better
communicated to the residents of your neighborhood. I have requested your citation be dismissed.
You indicated in your email that you currently have a permit to park on the street. Your parking permit only exempts you from the
municipal code regulating overnight parking within the city.
In the future, if you need to leave your car parked on the street for an extended period of time, please be aware that there is
existing state law that prevents parking on a public roadway in excess of 72 hours.
If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me directly.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Chelsea Schmaltz
Date: August 28, 2018 at 4:45:47 PM PDT
To: city.council@menlopark.org [city.council@menlopark.org]
Subject: Recent Parking Interaction
Hello Menlo Park City Council,
I am writing you to inform you about a very upsetting interaction I had regarding parking enforcement.
I live in an apartment on Roble Ave. I have a parking permit to park on the street. I left my car parked on the street for less
than a week while I have been on vacation. Today, the person who lives in the apartment below me informed me a police officer came
by to give me a ticket and that my car would get towed today at 5:30 pm.
I would really appreciate it if the city would consider giving residents one week's notice before closing off areas of the street
to parking, except of course due to an emergency, in which case I would expect that no tickets or fines would be issued. If I have
been given a week's notice, I wouldn't have parked there. No problem.
As well, I am very confused that I am learning about this through my neighbor. Thankfully she was able to have my car moved, and
keep it from being impounded. But the police office has my phone number attached to my license because I bought a parking permit.
Why was I not called?
Third, when I purchased my parking permit, I wish I had been warned that things like this can happen. Or that I was given some
maximum time that I should expect to be able to park my car in the street with no worry. If I had realized this was a possibility,
I would have left my car in someone's garage or left it at work. Something like that.
Listen, I don't make a lot of money. I cannot afford to buy a house in Menlo Park and have my own driveway. As such, I am not the
kind of person who can just afford to deal with a ticket and getting impounded. This has a real impact on my life. But I still
live here, and you are my council people. I need you to look out for me. I will always obey the law and park my car where I am
supposed to. If a sign comes up that tells me to park somewhere else, I'll do that. But I need to know ahead of time.
I think what I am saying is fair. What do you think?
Thank you,
Chelsea Liekhus-Schmaltz
831 Roble AVE, apt 3,
Menlo Park, CA 94205
William A. Dixon
Police Commander
Police Department
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6300
menlopark.org [http://www.menlopark.org/]
