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Home My WebLink About2024-05-16 DTPC MIN216 4th Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-430-8800 • �Wa ter www.stillwatermn.gov The Birthplace of Minnesota J DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES May 16, 2024 Chairman Glynn called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Present: Chairman Glynn, Commissioners Bates, Havir, Kaufer, Lentz, Lepage, Rheinberger, Councilmember Dunker Absent: None Staff: Community Development Director Gladhill, Police Chief Mueller APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of March 21, 2024 meeting minutes Commissioner Rheinberger pointed out two corrections regarding seconders of motions, and Chairman Glynn said the corrections have already been made. Motion by Commissioner Rheinberger, seconded by Commissioner Lepage, to approve the March 21, 2024 meeting minutes as corrected. All in favor. Possible approval of April 18, 2024 meeting minutes Motion by Commissioner Rheinberger, seconded by Commissioner Kaufer, to approve the April 18, 2024 meeting minutes. All in favor. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA There were no items on the Consent Agenda. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. APPOINT CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR Motion by Commissioner Rheinberger, seconded by Commissioner Lepage, to keep Glynn as Chair and Rheinberger as Vice Chair. All in favor. NEW BUSINESS Strategic Plan Workshop Mr. Gladhill led an exercise to craft a purpose statement, answering the question, "Why does the Commission exist today?" Commissioners offered the following points: • sufficient for needs, user friendly, adequate revenue, flexibility for use • community connection, great communication, ease of access with flexibility and ability to change, public safety, revenue, fiscally responsible, encourage tourism, develop commerce Downtown Parking Commission Meeting May 16, 2024 • serve the community, solve problems, support local usage of parking, engage local businesses, promote productive tourism • alignment, find balance, include everyone in decisions, collaborative effort, develop financial aspects • expand revenue stream, enforcement, stay relevant with types of parking and technology, safe parking, keep a percentage of free parking • revenue, accommodate all types of parking, enforcement, communicate, collaborate especially with downtown and residential community • financially sustaining, support businesses, accommodate residents, handle tourism, easy to navigate • revenue, balance needs of both tourism and residents, keep day to day requests aligned with vision and framework, new and future parking opportunities, best in class solutions Mr. Gladhill asked what would be the top three to five items, and the following were stated: Revenue, alignment of downtown businesses - community - visitors, communication, enforcement, access, balance, inclusion, having some free parking along with convenience parking, flexibility and adaptability, ability to react as changes occur, consistency, safety - people should feel they will have a good experience. Enforcement Discussion Given the new pay parking system implementation, Police Chief Mueller stated that consistency is needed for enforcement. The many longstanding anomalies and unusual parking agreements need to be phased out, while at the same time promoting confidence that enforcement isn't targeted or unfair. Officers who have been doing things a certain way for years are now being asked to do something different. The system is very easy; good signage is key. Officers will really start enforcing the new system this summer. Commissioners pointed out the importance of better signage and empowering businesses with information and understanding that things are changing, to create a better experience for customers. Mr. Gladhill stated City staff is working with MnDOT for more 30 minute parking signs on Main Street (State Right of Way). Staff is also working on a proposal for other additional signage after an inventory of existing signs through geo-tagging, and recommendations on the content and layout of additional signs. The City does not have a dedicated staff member just for parking. He also will talk to the GIS tech in the engineering division about some assistance. Chairman Glynn asked if the DTPC can do anything differently to increase public safety. Chief Mueller replied that he appreciates the efforts toward consistency and standardizing the parking anomalies; and also the Commission's support for shutting down lots during events. He realizes that it loses revenue but people will find spaces to park for events. His biggest fear is a vehicle pedestrian accident. So when the Department asks to shut down a street, for instance Chestnut at Water for public safety to staff police, fire and EMS downtown, support from this Commission is important. Commissioners also voiced support for lighted lots for workers who work late at night, and enforcing the yellow curb areas for safer intersections, particularly at Mulberry and Main Streets. Strategic Plan Workshop continued Mr. Gladhill led an exercise on vision, asking, "In 10 years where do you want to see the Commission and the Downtown Parking System?" The following were listed. • expanding a broader scope - consider the Commission having a wider vision on how downtown parking impacts the residential areas Page 2 of 4 Downtown Parking Commission Meeting May 16, 2024 • communications - how to further increase dialogue with the public, businesses and shareholders • innovate - are there alternative parking solutions outside what we're thinking about? • enforcement - continuing to have a backbone and clear set of rules • continue to bring best in class solutions, looking at what other cities are doing and keeping on top of technology changes • new parking ramp, consistent with the long term plan for Stillwater • no cars east of trail • public understanding that goes with communication • user fee -based • rideshare accommodations • clear boundaries, revenue and communication • a second parking garage • hoping there is still a working functional Downtown Parking Commission in 10 years • real time online availability for parking • enforcement • Stillwater should set the standard for what good looks like - not following but leading • adequate, easily understood parking • communication • self sustained • revenue generating parking • go beyond downtown, i.e. uber relay station • great Commission engagement • technology that works • parking alternatives i.e. uber, shuttles • creating a balance for locals, tourists and businesses • consistency and clarity • organic collaboration • contemporary forward thinking • for the DTPC to have overall positive optics in the Community, exceeding the expectations of the community and visitors • revenue positive • fewer complaints • community acceptance • a modern parking system whatever that is • a viable downtown • a system that has full flexibility for needs Page 3 of 4 Downtown Parking Commission Meeting May 16, 2024 how to accommodate party buses and group transportation Mr. Gladhill summarized key themes: capacity expansion, full spectrum of parking opportunities, innovative ways to address parking needs in coming years, long term financial planning, facilities maintenance. Staff will bring this back in document form and discuss ways to reach that vision. Lumberjack Days Mr. Gladhill showed a map of the parking areas being requested by event organizers. The organizers also want the City to waive all event fees (parking fees are about $200/lot/day, about $10,000-20,000 parking fees total). The DTPC is asked to make a recommendation to the City Council on the request to waive parking fees. Commissioners discussed prior history of Downtown Parking Commission recommendations to collect parking fees per event policy, and the Council's history of waiving fees. Summarizing the discussion, Mr. Gladhill suggested the Commission could give two options, either have the event pay the standard fee, or meet in the middle, maybe $5,000 with the understanding that all the other pay parking that is not being reserved would go to $10 per vehicle. After further discussion, Mr. Gladhill suggested a potential motion could be to recommend the event pay the current fees with openness to negotiate as data is collected on event parking. Motion by Commissioner Lepage, seconded by Commissioner Rheinberger, to recommend that the Council see the fee as it exists under current event policy with the asterisk for negotiation that the Council may negotiate and the Downtown Parking Commission will retain the right to escalate other parking fees on available paid spots during this weekend. All in favor. Parking Permit Module Update and Fee Schedule Discussion Mr. Gladhill noted that with the new permit module there are credit card fees of approximately $5 per transaction. He would like to try to have the permit holder pay the same amount that they pay now when the new system kicks in rather than pass convenience/credit card fees to the user, in an effort to promote economic development. The City would then indirectly absorb the convenience fees because the new system is a huge benefit to staff. Commissioners voiced disagreement and felt that user fees are generally accepted by credit card users and should be passed along to the customer rather than absorbed by the City. If the permit holder pays for an entire year, the merchant fee will be charged only once, thereby saving them money. FYI/STAFF UPDATES Financial Updates Discussed above. COMMISSIONER REQUESTS There were no Commissioner requests. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Glynn adjourned the meeting at 10:30 a.m. Brad GiTli AT Tim Gladhill, Community Development Director Page 4 of 4