Survey of Residents, December 1997, Barron Park (Neighborhood) Association

Index

• Introduction to Extended Version
• Introduction from original article (still relevant)
• Survey Questions Results
  • BOL PARK:
    • I/we visit Bol Park.
    • I/we visit the donkeys.
    • Mickey and Perry are very special to our neighborhood.
    • Other comments related to parks.
  • TRAFFIC:
    • Speeding is a problem in Barron Park.
    • Running of stop signs is a problem in Barron Park.
    • The speeding problem in Barron Park should be resolved through law enforcement rather than with more traffic signs.
    • Bicycling is safe in Barron Park.
    • Other comments related to traffic and streets.
  • LOCAL BUSINESSES:
    • The local businesses along El Camino Real (south) adequately serve the residents of Barron Park.
    • I would like to see the following business(es) on El Camino.
    • I patronize businesses on El Camino Real near Barron Park.
  • SENIORS:
    • More programs are needed for our senior residents.
    • I need a better public transit system to get to places within Palo Alto.
  • YOUTH:
    • There are enough recreation programs for young people in our neighborhood.
  • TREES:
    • I would like to see more street trees in Barron Park.
    • The City of Palo Alto does a good job of trimming our trees.
  • CITY RESPONSIVENESS:
    • The staff and city council of Palo Alto are responsive to the interests of Barron Park residents.
  • RESIDENTIAL ZONING:
    • I think there should be a neighborhood approval process for building large houses on small lots.
  • PALO ALTO POLICE:
    • I would like to see volunteers (businesses, motels, individual residents) provide sleeping quarters for our police officers who work overtime and have just a few hours between shifts.
    • I have a spare room in which I would gladly allow a PA Police Officer to sleep occasionally.
  • COMMUNICATION:
    • I am getting good information about Barron Park events and issues.
    • BPA e-mail list:
    • BPA World Wide Web site
    • I find the information in BPA e-mail and on BPA Web site useful.
    • I go by the kiosk regularly and it would be a good place for me to see Barron Park news.
    • I know about BPA's Emergency Preparedness activities.
  • BPA ACTIVITIES:
    • I/we come to the May Fete.
    • Information and ideas offered at the Annual House & Garden Faires aided our family.
  • LEAFBLOWERS
    • A leafblower is used on my property.
    • Leafblowers are an annoyance to me.
    • Leafblowing in neighboring yards blows things into my yard.
    • Weekdays (9-5), I am at home.
• bottom of page, copyright notice, ...

Introduction to this extended version of the report on survey results

Summary of extensions and changes:

• Expanded tables of results:
  • Totals: total number of respondents to each question was not included in the original article (space limitation).
  • Percentages: In the original article, only the number of responses was given. Here, we also provide the percentages for each answer to each question. Percentages are relative to the number of people who responding to that particular question, not to the total number of respondents for the survey.
    Note: In the "Total" row, the percentage is that of the number of responses to that question to the total number of responses to the survey.
    Note: Percentage may not add up to exactly 100% because of round-off.
  • 1987 Survey Results: Answers to similar questions in a similar survey conducted in 1987 (background info). These results are available only as percentages. 172 residents responded to that survey (1175 surveys were distributed, yielding a response rate of 15%).
    Note: Not all of the questions from the 1987 survey were used, and the order is different -- this can affect the responses people gave. Also, some of the questions were not reproduced exactly -- any differences are noted as part of the comparison.
• Links to related information:
  • Links labeled "intro" point to articles in Winter 1997 issue of the BPA Newsletter (the issue containing the survey). These articles provided introductory/background information for the survey (that respondents may or may not have read).
    Note: Some comments from the survey responses echoed issues raised in the introductory articles.
  • Links labeled "more info" point to additional information about the issues addressed by the survey question: typically articles in earlier issues of the newsletter or pages on the BPA Web site.
• Follow-up and other comments: Responses to comments on the survey have been added in italics within double square brackets: [[sample-response]].
  Other notes about the survey results added in this extended version are handled similarly.
• Minor reformatting for readability (Web vs the 3-column format used in the hardcopy newsletter).
• Note on comments from respondents:
  • Some survey questions had space for comments and there was a section at the end of the survey for comments.
  • The person who tabulated the survey attached comments from the open-comments section to appropriate questions in the survey.
  • Comments are reproduced here for those interested in what their neighbors said. If you are not interested, the format of this web page should make it easy for you to quickly scroll past them.
  • Comments in bold font represent multiple responses, (same or very similar). Some compaction was done in the original newsletter article and some additional compaction has been done here.
  • Most comments are reproduced without responses. Some echo issues covered in the "intro" link. Responses have been added when the information was deemed sufficiently useful to the likely readership and when it could otherwise be hard to find.

Response Rate

Members of the BPA Board of Directors were asked to submit their surveys separately so that they could be tabulated separately and those results compared to the general population. 7 of the 12 then-active Board members (58%) responded thusly. These 7 responses are not included in the counts given in the Residents columns in the tables below.

Introduction from original article

As one of the newer board members of the Barron Park Association, I took on the job of compiling the results of the survey to have a better understanding of our residents' views and interests with the questions presented. As you read over the survey tabulations, you too will note that we are made up of a diverse group of individuals with very conflicting views. I was pleased to see that the board members replies ran parallel with the population that responded to the survey, and is indeed a sampling of our neighborhood.

The local business related questions brought forth the key issue for Barron Park residents: The sadness and anger of the loss of our neighborhood grocery. The inconvenience is immense for many of our residents who walked to the market, or felt safe driving just a short distance from their homes to pick up their groceries. Even those of us who have transportation miss the ability to dash to the market and be back in less than 10 minutes when we are in the midst of preparing a meal. We ran the gamut from wanting just a place to pick up milk, bread and produce, a Milk Pail type store; to an Andronico's, Whole Foods, or a large Lucky Store like the one on Rengstorff and Middlefield in Mountain View. Many residents suggested a Starbucks, Sophies or Peet's as a neighborhood meeting and greeting place for our neighborhood.

You will note with the current emphasis on banning leaf blowers in Palo Alto, that 117 of our residents found them to be a minor or no annoyance, and 79 residents found them to be a major or significant annoyance. Solutions suggested regarding residents running stop signs, ranged from installing speed bumps, to removing all stop signs. Again, this points out our diversity of population. As diverse as we may be, the majority agree that Mickey and Perry are very special to our neighborhood.

[Editor's note: Comments have been lightly edited. Similar comments were not repeated. On the survey form, "no opinion" was an explicit choice, so that it could be distinguished from "no response." ]

BOL PARK:

"I/we visit Bol Park."

Times per month:

• 1-5 times: 25 responses
• 6-10 times: 9
• 11-15 times: 4
• 16-20 times: 5
• 21-30 times: 8

"I/we visit the donkeys."

Times per month:

• 1-5 times: 26
• 5 or more: 9

"Mickey and Perry are very special to our neighborhood."

Comments:

• Not critical but nice.
• It's a tradition for the neighborhood, but its significance is different for different people.

Other comments related to parks:

• Keep beer drinking out of Bol Park.
  [[ This problem is routinely raised at the monthly BPA-Police liaison meetings during the warm months. The police *do* check for the problem, but the configuration of the park makes it hard for them to spot such groups. ]]
• Need play equipment in Bol Park.
  [[ The BPA Parks Committee and a group of parents started on this task in Summer 1996, but other priorities intervened ... (more info) ]]

TRAFFIC:

Speeding is a problem in Barron Park.

Locations: Amaranta, Barron, Laguna, Los Robles, Matadero, Maybell, [[The preceding locations are well-known problem areas and are targeted by the police from time to time.]] Between Whitsell & La Donna on Barron [[This is a long-standing problem, which the BPA has made well-known to the city (no fix pending) and the police.]], El Centro, Encina Grande, Florales, Josina, La Donna, Military Way.

Comments:

• Especially bad on Barron Ave. 7:45-8:15 a.m.
• On rainy days, Los Robles from Cerrito Way to Gunn H.S. bike entrance.
• Is there a speeding problem, or are we turning into a bunch of kibitzers.
• Los Robles--race from La Donna stop sign to El Camino.
• It would improve matters to change timing on lights at Matadero, Los Robles/Maybell at El Camino has such short green cycle, that drivers race to make light.

Running of stop signs is a problem in Barron Park.

Locations: Amaranta/Los Robles, Amaranta/Maybell, Georgia/Maybell, LaDonna/Los Robles, Laguna/Los Robles, Laguna/Matadero, Barron/La Donna, Barron/Laguna, Military Way/Magnolia.

Comments:

• Several stop signs are hidden by shrubs, especially Laguna/Matadero. (more info)
  [[A good example and reminder for residents. The problem is not on the corner lot, but on the next lot up the street. People who live near a sign don't need to see it to know it is there, so they don't realize that it can't been seen by other drivers.]]
• I exercise 3 miles/day on Barron Park streets, rarely fail to see 2 to 3 vehicles running stop signs per day.
• I feel monitoring at Juana Briones is excessive. I have not gotten a ticket.

The speeding problem in Barron Park should be resolved through law enforcement rather than with more traffic signs. (more info: enforcement, design)

Comments:

• Several recommended installation of speed bumps in strategic locations. One resident recommended sloping type used in Menlo Park.
• Resident recommended stop sign at El Centro at La Para intersection.
• Resident recommended 4/stop sign at Whitsell at Barron intersection
• Resident recommended no stop signs at all.
• How about neighborhood signs "slow down" at start and end of school day.
• I think "slow" signs would help.

Bicycling is safe in Barron Park.

Comments:

• Do not feel safe on major arteries.
• Biking two abreast is dangerous and obstructs traffic.
• It's not safe enough for children.
• Need painted bicycle lane on Matadero and Los Robles. (more info)
• Major hazard is cracked and uneven surface.
• Lack of sidewalks make bicycling & walking with children a problem.
• No lighting, no sidewalks, no bike lanes.
• Parked cars, narrow streets, and speeding make it unsafe.
• Bike path sometimes scary at heavy traffic times.
• Feel safe, bicycles daily.
• Feel safe, commutes to Varian 5 times/wk.
• Bicycling and walking would be safer, if there were not so much overgrown landscaping onto streets. (more info)
• Wonderful compared to everywhere else.
• Spouse has biked to work for the last 37 years, no problem.
• As an adult, I feel safe. However, I have seen children in unsafe situations often. This is a result of drivers not anticipating unexpected turns by kids.
• Too many cyclists not obeying traffic laws.
• Parent riding through stop sign with their children.
• Feel less safe walking or blading.
• Bicyclists don't stop at signs.
• Most young riders do not stop at signs.
  [[On occasion, the Traffic Team of the Palo Alto Police target this problem. In Spring of 1997, they set up at Los Robles and La Donna and ticketed many bicyclists (and some cars) for running the stop sign and for not having their bikes registered.]]
• El Camino is a lot worse.
• Bicyclists often do not follow safety practices, no lights at night, children and young adults riding 3-4 abreast.
• Very few bike lanes, only Los Robles. Cars park in bike lane. (more info)

Other comments related to traffic and streets:

• We need a cross walk at Los Robles/Orme.
  [[There is one crosswalk on Los Robles at Orme on the Laguna side. A second crosswalk over Los Robles has been suggested by parents, but the City (Traffic Planning) decided against it because: (1) there is a considerable volume of traffic turning in at Orme (to deliver children to Briones) and most of this is coming from El Camino. Putting a second crosswalk on the El Camino side would encourage children to cross where there is more traffic. (2) Having two crosswalks can be less safe than having one because it creates a second source of distraction for the drivers. ]]
• We need a cross walk at Barron/Laguna.
  [[There is a crosswalk on Laguna at Barron. The crosswalk situation here will be considered as part of the larger consideration of the changes in traffic pattern caused by a neighborhood elementary school replacing Hoover.]]
• Storm drain construction is currently a real hazard.

LOCAL BUSINESS:

"The local businesses along El Camino Real (south) adequately serve the residents of Barron Park."

Comments:

• We need a market.
• Miss AAM. [[AAM = All American Market]]
• No grocery store.
• Too many video stores
• Need a more complete market.
• Ugliness is detrimental. Hate strip mall look.
• Most atrocious strip of small businesses. We need good grocery, and a few small restaurants.
• Most of clientele not from Barron Park.
• Only know my needs.
  [[An excellent comment on survey methodology. We inherited this question from the 1987 survey and decided to leave it unchanged so we could have comparable results.]]
• Most are a disgrace
• Do not fill neighborhood needs.
• I want to see successful services, then service community.
• Who needs two liquor stores, when other things are missing.
• Most are not businesses we need.
• We need a supermarket and restaurants.
• More upscale to improve image.
• They do what they do fine, but there's no grocery, family restaurant and dentist.
• Don't put pink stucco narrow strip mall with chain stores at entrance of Barron Park.
• Get rid of liquor stores.
• A modern Lucky would be great.
• They are terrible and ugly.
• Vital services are being driven out by misguided planners.
• A real grocery with reasonable prices.
• Golden Slipper and adjoining hotels are a disgrace.
• Could the city help consolidate small commercial properties into larger ones. Not sure that it needs to.
• No market, not without AAM.
• Very little for us except Walgreens.
• Need Andronico's or quality market.
• Zoning to get a new market. [[Zoning is not the *primary* problem: (intro) ]]
• We do not need bars and liquor stores.
• Grocery was only store worth walking to.
• I think a boutique grocery could have made it at AAM site. But, AAM needed cleaning up and better marketing.
• More interested in property being maintained.
• They took our only store on which we seniors counted.
• No AAM & Rudolfo's lost focus on Barron Park.
• A recent visitor said South El Camino isn't much better looking than South Central Los Angeles.
• Wish a developer would put together mini-mall like El Monte & Foothill.
• We need a place to meet and shop.
• Would like a common plaza as planned for Midtown.
• Several respondents persist in the (false) belief that the BPA forced Rudolfo's to close (see intro) and could have forced AAM to stay open.

"I would like to see the following business(es) on El Camino."

Other: (includes items from the "Comments" section at the end of the survey)

• We need a real grocery store.
• A JJ&F type market most welcome with some of JJ&F family.
• Milk Pail.
• Store like DeMartini's or Sigona's
• Small restaurants, coffee shop, in place of Goodwill trailer.
• A good vet.
• Shoe Repair.
• Hardware
• Bookstore
• Book/newspaper store
• Coffee shop/bookstore.
• Italian Restaurant
• Farmers Market
• Legal, accounting, real estate offices.
• Health food store with organic produce.
• Bank
• Cleaners
• Non-chain pharmacy
• Hardware
• Seafood
• Bookstore
• Office Outlet
• Coffee shop/not donuts
• Branch of Post Office
• Combination of 3 listed.

Comments:

• No more housing apartments
• Corner like San Pablo in Berkeley--Acme bread, Alice Waters, Cafe Fang & Kermit Lynch wines.
• We desperately need a market.
• Want quality services and businesses.
• Nearby grocery for older people.
• Need replacement for AAM
• Coffee Cafe: re: Coffee Cafe or Creme de LaCreme, Sophies
• Peet's, Starbucks and Juice Club.
• Excellent restaurants
• Premiere grocery
• Produce stand, quality grocery, bread bakery, bank, ice cream.
• No Tijuana colors.
• Ice Cream Parlor, post office, coffee shop, hardware, convenience store
• Gymnastic, or karate studio or after school program.
• Drugstore, hardware, cafe.
• Attract produce/grocery to El Camino property, hardware.

"I patronize businesses on El Camino Real near Barron Park."

Comments (summarized):

• Many residents no longer patronize businesses since All American Market closed.

SENIORS:

"More programs are needed for our senior residents."

Comments:

• Prefer multigenerational activities.
• Much is already available. Plenty elsewhere.
• I would like to meet other seniors in the neighborhood.
• Palo Alto Senior Center is exceptional.

"I need a better public transit system to get to places within Palo Alto."

Comments:

• Need more cross town access, i.e. University Avenue/Midtown

YOUTH:

"There are enough recreation programs for young people in our neighborhood."

Comments:

• Game nights for all.
• Keep beer drinking out of Bol Park.
  [[ This problem is routinely raised at the monthly BPA-Police liaison meetings during the warm months. The police *do* check for the problem, but the configuration of the park makes it hard for them to spot such groups. ]]
• Want list of potential babysitters in neighborhood.
• Need play equipment in Bol Park.
  [[ The BPA Parks Committee and a group of parents started on this task in Summer 1996, but other priorities intervened ... (more info) ]]

TREES:

"I would like to see more street trees in Barron Park." (intro, more info)

Comments:

• "This is Santa Barbara"

"The City of Palo Alto does a good job of trimming our trees."

Comments:

• They don't trim for us.
• Strongly Disagree. I have paid for own trimming for 25 years.
• Except for tree maintenance.
• Only around utility wires.
• Massacre on Amaranta. They over prune. They hack.
• Need to care for trees better.

CITY RESPONSIVENESS:

"The staff and city council of Palo Alto are responsive to the interests of Barron Park residents."

Comments:

• Not the city council.
• City not interested in BP.
• More, now that BPA is active.
• They care less than for University Ave.
• We need storm drains that do not include curbs.
• Clean up along Los Robles, paper, cans, bottles.
• Strongly disagree.
• Flood control fiasco.
• We need curbs and drains.

RESIDENTIAL ZONING:

"I think there should be a neighborhood approval process for building large houses on small lots."

Comments:

• I would rather see one house on a small lot rather than 30 apartments on a small lot, i.e. Rudolfo's.
• Agree, all house, all lots, not just small lots.
• City standards should be sufficient.
• There should be no large houses on small lots, keep in proportion.
• We need family housing, if it can be developed in Barron Park.

PALO ALTO POLICE (intro) :

"I would like to see volunteers (businesses, motels, individual residents) provide sleeping quarters for our police officers who work overtime and have just a few hours between shifts."

Comments:

• No awareness of this problem, needs visibility, if an issue.
• Motels and businesses should provide.
• Could be over Ernie's Liquors.
• City should provide quarters or use fire stations.

"I have a spare room in which I would gladly allow a PA Police Officer to sleep occasionally."

COMMUNICATION (intro) :

"I am getting good information about Barron Park events and issues."

Comments:

• Wonderful newsletter, but not often enough.
• More information on activities of board.
• Would like to know pros and cons positions on BPA issues.
  [[Good suggestions. Board needs to pay more attention to this. The problem with a quarterly newsletter is that it is often difficult to strike the proper balance when describing past events. Focus tends to be on ongoing and future events. ]]
• Only through newsletter and neighbors.
• Sent my dues in 97, did not receive newsletter in one year.
• I think BPA does what pleases them.
• Newsletter gives good info about BP.
• Not enough info re: Stanford Industrial Park Building Plans.
• Newsletter should go to residents more than once a year.
• There is place for improvement.
• Too much emphasis on side issues, not enough on development, businesses, community issues.
• How about column in Palo Alto Weekly.
• More mailings of upcoming events.
• Recommend TV Channel 6, ask for "grid".
• Sometimes newsletter is excellent.
• We moved here one year ago in Oct. No welcoming committee, we've really had to draw our neighbors out to visit.

BPA e-mail list (intro) :

Comments:

• Receive too much e-mail.
• Would rather have hard copy.
• Will join after re-activating e-mail.

• Overall = 13% (214 responses out of 1600 distributed)
• Members of e-mail list = 26% (26 of roughly 100)
  [[There was a substantial increase in the membership of the e-mail list during the two months following the distribution of the newsletter containing this survey: from roughly 100 in mid-December 1997 to roughly 140 in mid-February 1998. We do not know how the people who joined in this period marked their surveys. ]]

BPA World Wide Web site (intro) :

Comments: none

"I find the information in BPA e-mail and on BPA Web site useful." (intro) :

Comments:

• Could you have two categories, use one for emergency only, flood/earthquake.
• Probably 90% of BP residents don't use a computer.
• Great info on creeks/flood risk.
• Lists get overused for narrow topics.
• Like print. Have e-mail, seldom look.
• Why not e-mail the newsletter to the 100 on e-mail.
• Site down when attempted to access.
• BPA should come up with a better way to disseminate info.
• A lot of residents don't know what's going on, and what representation is being made in their behalf, because they don't have e-mail.
• We have representation without input by e-mail process.
• The leaf blower issue has become "over blown" of late.
• Flood Control great on website.
• e-mail good way to ask questions and get replies.
• It could be better.
• I like Mickey's web site.
• I don't try to get news via Web usually.

"I go by the kiosk regularly and it would be a good place for me to see Barron Park news." (intro) :

Comments:

• Not adequate, need better coverage in Palo Alto papers, Mercury & Chronicle, prefer Weekly.
• I go by each day, I no longer look because it changes so slowly.
• Go once a month.
• Put up notice, "pedestrian should walk facing traffic".
• Put up kiosk at All American Market site or along Los Robles.
• Not comfortable reading there.
• Don't need real estate ads.
• Out of the way.
• Don't know where it is.
• I rarely pass the kiosk.
• Should be a grocery store bulletin.
• Too far from home.
• Sometimes I glance at display.
• Should have alternate site between Bol and Briones Parks.
• Not updated enough.
• Material needs to change more often.
• Not convenient or visible for all residents in Barron Park

"I know about BPA's Emergency Preparedness activities." (more info)

Comments:

• What is this?
• How about letting block captains have info, and let everyone know who block captains are.
• My own fault.
• Not visible.
• Vaguely aware.
• A little.
• Bad question.
  [[Again, a good point on survey methodology: the question was too vague, but we decided to have only a minimal change to allow some comparison to the 1987 survey. ]]
• Would like to know more in future newsletters.
• Want e-mail to alert to flood conditions that I can retrieve at work.

BPA ACTIVITIES:

"I/we come to the May Fete."

Comments: none

"Information and ideas offered at the Annual House & Garden Faires aided our family."

Comments:

• We enjoyed the tours.
• Can't go, its always on Saturday. Do it on Sunday once in a while.

LEAFBLOWERS (intro, more info) :

"A leafblower is used on my property."

Estimated minutes per week (residents): [[In the original version, this table was mispositioned: it was placed after the subsequent question.]]

• 5 minutes or less/wk: 11
• 10 minutes/wk: 12
• 15 minutes/wk: 15
• 20 minutes/wk: 8
• 30 minutes/wk: 5
• 60 minutes/wk: 1
  [[total of 52 responses above.]]
• Seasonal use only for many residents.
• Electric blowers only: 9 residents

• 10 minutes/wk: 1
• 30 minutes/wk: 1
• occasional/fall only: 1

"Leafblowers are an annoyance to me."

Estimated minutes per week (residents):

• 10 minutes/wk: 12 responses
• 15 minutes/wk: 1
• 20 minutes/wk: 1
• 30 minutes/wk: 1
• 60-90 minutes/wk: 1
• 150 minutes/wk: 1
• 200 minutes/wk (reported from Roble Ridge section [[Might be related to the much larger lots there.]])

• 15 minutes/wk: 1
• 20 minutes/wk: 1
• 30 minutes/wk: 1

Comments:

• A necessary evil due to large sycamores along Amaranta.
• Help to keep BP attractive, a simple look at yards with a leaf blower tells a sorry tale.
• If other neighbors trimmed trees and cleared up their yards, I would not have to use mine.
• Almost impossible to rake leaves out of ground covers.
• Can't rake with drip systems.
• I would support a total ban.
• Wants more neighbors to use leaf blowers or buy a rake and cleanup once in a while.
• Some days I pass 6-8 leaf blowers fouling the street.
• Annoyance in principle.
• I think the leaf-blower issue is "overblown" Most gardeners -- in my neighborhood at least -- use them responsibly (minimum power necessary, careful direction of debris, and only visit every other week). Leaf blowers save a considerable amount of time over raking and sweeping, and are what make it possible for me to afford a gardener.
• There are better ways of dealing with nuisance problems than the knee-jerk "ban them from the face of the earth" reaction, which some people in Barron Park seem to be making. Quiet hours are reasonable, as is speaking to gardeners and/or neighbors about using the machines quietly and carefully.
• Some use two on property at once, noise high level.

"Leafblowing in neighboring yards blows things into my yard."

"Weekdays (9-5), I am at home." (information confidential -- for statistical analysis only)