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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-18 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING November 18, 2021 Chair McAllister called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Present: Chair McAllister, Commissioners Anderson, Bates, Glynn, Lepage, Rheinberger Absent: Council Liaison Junker Staff present: Community Development Director Gladhill, Zoning Administrator Tait, Parks Superintendent Grode APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of October 21, 2021 meeting minutes Motion by Commissioner Rheinberger, seconded by Commissioner ___________, to approve the minutes of the October 21, 2021 meeting. All in favor. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS Ice Rink in Parking Lot 4 Event Permit Mr. Tait explained that Chuck Dougherty has applied for a permit for a 40’ x 116’ public hockey rink in Parking Lot 4 from January 1-March 20, 2022 as part of Wintertime in Stillwater. When the rink is not being used for events, it will be open to the public. The applicant will pay for rink installation, maintenance, insurance, public bathrooms and heaters. They are requesting the City waive the fees for use of Lot 4. The standard fee would be $2,251. Staff recommends that because this is a community amenity, the City give them a reduced rate. Community Development Director Gladhill informed the Commission that the application to hold the World Snow Sculpting Championship in Stillwater at the end of January will be ready for the Commission’s next meeting, including a request to use the remainder of Lot 4 for that event. Though the current policy is to charge for use of lots used for private events, staff is working on a broader event policy for 2022. Chair McAllister asked what is the background on the ice rink approval process last year, as it did not come before the DTPC. The ice rink has already been promoted as part of Wintertime in Stillwater, yet the DTPC is seeing the application for the first time, which puts the Commission in a challenging position. Mr. Gladhill said he understands that the first year of Wintertime in Stillwater was born out of the COVID pandemic when the City moved quickly on measures to generate business downtown. Downtown Parking Commission Meeting November 18, 2021 Page 2 of 4 Chuck Dougherty, applicant, explained that Wintertime in Stillwater started in September 2020 with the Mayor leading the charge, including having an ice rink downtown. Originally, another restaurant was going to put it in their private parking lot but when that restaurant closed due to COVID restrictions, the Water Street Inn quickly picked up the idea with the thought they would do it for three years on a trial basis. Last year the Water Street Inn paid all expenses for the rink, and no fees were charged for use of the parking lot. Commissioner Glynn pointed out that downtown parking is free in the winter so revenue is not being lost. Commissioner Anderson noted the Commission has traditionally stuck to the pricing structure and let the City Council determine the discount if any. Commissioner Rheinberger asked Mr. Dougherty if paying the $2,251 charge would be a problem. Mr. Dougherty replied the rink is already costing him $13,000-14,000 a year and it is a free amenity for the public. Alex Eder, General Manager of the Water Street Inn, added that costs include his time coordinating with all the different schools, teams, hockey clubs to use the rink plus their own maintenance personnel setting up, tearing down, and maintaining the rink. Chair McAllister asked if closing Lot 4 would eliminate any handicapped parking. Mr. Gladhill said the two handicapped stalls in Lot 4 can be designated elsewhere if Lot 4 is closed. Commissioner Rheinberger asked if Mr. Dougherty would be interested in splitting the fee. Mr. Dougherty said he feels this is an amenity for the City and being charged a fee doesn’t feel right. Commissioner Lepage said because parking is generally not charged in the winter and this will generate business, it makes sense to waive the fee for use of the lot. Commissioner Anderson voiced concern that waiving the fee may set a precedent for other applications. Another consideration is the wear and tear of putting that much ice on parking lot. If the City Council wishes, the Council can waive the fee. Commissioner Lepage noted, besides costs, other considerations are what size crowds will be generated, and the impact of taking away prime parking and forcing people to park out further. Mr. Gladhill stated the World Snow Sculpting Championship is expected to bring 50-60,000 visitors spread out over a week. Staff intends to reach out to event organizers after the first of the year and study all these issues. The City wants to be more proactive but it is taking a while to catch up. Motion by Commissioner Rheinberger to waive the parking lot fee for the ice rink. Motion died for lack of a second. Commissioner Rheinberger stated the ice rink is an immediate opportunity for the City, and he does not want to hinder the project. There is always a need for exceptions to policy. Commissioner Glynn remarked, for what the Water Street wants to do, there is very little impact on the rest of the parking system compared to bigger events. He leans toward granting the request. Chair McAllister asked if there was consideration of placing this rink on the Chestnut Plaza instead. Mr. Dougherty answered Chestnut Plaza is owned by MnDOT and it must be open for emergency vehicles. Chair McAllister commented it would be interesting for the City to be able to take over the ice rink at some point so it would be truly City-run. Downtown Parking Commission Meeting November 18, 2021 Page 3 of 4 Motion by Commissioner Lepage, seconded by Commissioner Rheinberger, to recommend that the City Council waive fees this year for the ice rink for the reservation of Lot 4, in recognition of the ice rink being a community amenity. All in favor. Chair McAllister reminded staff to make sure there is enough handicapped parking. Proposed Mobile Sauna Request - Lot 4 Zoning Administrator Tait explained that the owners of St. Croix Sauna LLC have made a request to install a mobile sauna in Lot 4, from December 1, 2021 through May 16, 2022. The sauna is on a mobile hydraulic trailer that lowers to the ground. It will be available for groups to rent for 75-minute sessions from 9AM-8PM Friday-Sunday. It will be staffed at all times by an attendant. The request is to use either four parking stalls in the northeast corner of the lot (preferred by the applicant) or two parking stalls in the northwest corner of the lot. The applicants have been working with the Water Street Inn which they said supports the request in order to have this be an additional amenity nearby for their guests. The Water Street Inn’s private parking lot is unable to accommodate the mobile sauna since they have just enough parking for their guests. If Lot 4 is also used for the proposed ice rink, the Fire Department stressed the importance of two access points to the rink. Placement of the sauna could potentially jeopardize one of the access points. Since this appears to be a for-profit endeavor and less of an ancillary extension to Water Street Inn, staff recommends that the sauna is not located in City property on Lot 4, but rather on private property. Mike Murry and Jeff Freitag, owners of St. Croix Sauna, stated the sauna is fully capable of being on grass. Ideally they don’t want to move it every day but it could be moved if events conflict. Mr. Eder, Water Street Inn, said the Water Street Inn does not have a strong vested interest in seeing the sauna but would like to support it to help promote Wintertime in Stillwater. They also have had meetings with the Chamber of Commerce regarding all three of the uses proposed for Lot 4. Chair McAllister asked for clarification whether the City prefers to keep all of Lot 4 free of parking if the ice rink is going to be there. Parks Superintendent Grode replied even though the snow sculpting event application is not ready for review, there have been lot of moving parts with that event. They propose to use a portion of Lot 4 for a beer tent and would like to use the majority of North Lowell Park, Lot 5 and Lot 9. The application was received a month ago and staff is reviewing it. Lot 4 does not seem to be able to accommodate the sauna, ice rink, and the snow sculpting beer tent. Mr. Gladhill added that there would be no parking in Lot 4 during the snow sculpting event. At other times, the remainder of the lot may be open for parking if not encumbered by an event. It is a moving target and there is an area throughout the duration of the events that must be open as a fire lane. Commissioner Anderson asked if the sauna would fit on the Chestnut Street Plaza. Mr. Gladhill replied the Chestnut Plaza is where the light show is. He added that there is a charge for using the sauna and MnDOT prohibits use of its property for any kind of sales. Chair McAllister remarked if there is no parking allowed in the remainder of Lot 4, there is no reason not to collect the fee and allow the sauna there if people can’t park there anyway, as long as there is fire access. If Lot 4 will be partially open for parking, then she would recommend the sauna request not be approved and find another place. Mr. Murry and Mr. Freitag said they could put the sauna closer to ice rink to allow for easier plowing. They are flexible on placement and open to removing it the same date the ice rink closes. Motion by Chair McAllister, seconded by Commissioner Rheinberger, to recommend approval of the use of Lot 4 for the sauna in a location that works with all City needs, only if Lot 4 is determined to be closed anyway for parking. Downtown Parking Commission Meeting November 18, 2021 Page 4 of 4 Mr. Gladhill said he understands that the Council has shied away from allowing private business to use public spaces so there will be another layer of discussion at the Council. Chair McAllister amended the motion to state that the Commission recommends approval of the use of Lot 4 for the sauna only if Lot 4 is closed, with the exact location of the sauna to be determined by Public Works staff, and with the end date to coincide with the removal of the ice rink. Commissioner Rheinberger accepted the amendment. All in favor. DISCUSSION FYI/STAFF UPDATES Public Comments regarding parking ramp received since last meeting There were no public comments discussed. ADJOURNMENT Chair McAllister adjourned the meeting at 9:39 a.m. Heidi McAllister, Chair ATTEST: ________________ Tim Gladhill, Community Development Director