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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-21 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES August 21, 2014 REGULAR MEETING Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. Present: Chair Pelletier, Commissioners Hopfe, Junker, and Anderson, Council Representative Kozlowski Absent: Commissioners Helmberger, Johnson and Lettner Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, Police Chief Gannaway, Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket, Event Coordinator Eastman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Junker, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to approve the June 19, 2014 meeting minutes. All in favor, 4-0. SPECIAL EVENTS Fall Art Festival Community Development Director Turnblad reviewed the request. The Stillwater Chamber is asking to reserve Mulberry Street from Main Street to include Mulberry Point, Lot 9 and part of Lots 8a and 8b for October 3 (set-up day) through 5. River Market has agreed to the use of part of the lots for the event, but wishes to discuss long term use of lots and business impacts for the future. Staff recommends granting the request as proposed and charging the standard price of $526.50. Although construction in Lot 10 will coincide with the event, Public Works Director Sanders is comfortable with construction traffic and set up traffic sharing Mulberry Street while event set-up is occurring. Chamber Director Todd Streeter added that the event will use the area adjacent to River Market only if needed. Music will be in Frank Fabio’s parking lot. Commissioner Anderson expressed concern with the barrier leaving only one access point. Mr. Streeter asked if use of Lot 10 could be considered closer to the time of the event for artist trailer parking. Downtown Parking Commission August 21, 2014 Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to approve the request as proposed, adding Lot 12 for vendor trailer parking, and charging $526.50. All in favor, 4-0. Harvest Fest Community Development Director Turnblad informed the Commission that Summer Tuesdays is asking for use of Lots 4, 5, and 9, for October 10 (set-up) 11 and 12. Staff recommends approval with a standard fee of $297. Cory Buettner, Summer Tuesdays, explained the request. Motion by Chair Pelletier, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to approve the request as proposed, and charging $297. All in favor, 4-0. NEW BUSINESS Event Parking Community Development Director Turnblad informed the Commission that events this past summer generated more parking lot complaints than before. He led discussion of how to balance use of lots for events, businesses and other uses. Commissioner Junker commented that, for downtown residents, the number of events scheduled downtown can be overwhelming. The events are good, but too frequent. He suggested building on the four major annual weekend events and limiting the number of other events. Councilmember Kozlowski noted that the Council needs to determine an acceptable level of events. A parking calendar available online may help. Commissioner Junker said the Commission should notify event coordinators that the Commission is looking at possibly limiting events well in advance. Community Development Director Turnblad suggested having a series of discussions with user groups. Commissioner Junker requested a calendar detailing event parking lot usage over the summer to use as a tool for discussion. Commissioner Hopfe recognized that trail completion will also impact lot usage. Community Development Director noted that the suggestion was made that two way traffic should be allowed in and out of Lots 8a and 8b, so if the lots are leased for an event, temporary fencing should be provided along the perimeter with two people stationed to control the lot. Page 2 of 4 Downtown Parking Commission August 21, 2014 Event Coordinator Eastman recommended that the City take the lead on event parking, rather than event planners. She agrees with the idea of an online parking calendar. The City could invest in pedestrian barricade for use by events. The events could be charged for delivery. She encouraged Commissioners to draw on her past experience and tools created for use with a similar situation on Harriet Island. Commissioner Anderson noted that the boat slip owners are allotted parking spaces with their slip but prefer to park closer. This leads to complaints. Community Development Director Turnblad reminded the Commission that next year, all the lots east of Main Street will become pay lots, with a residential pass system allowing Stillwater residents to park for three hours. Boat slip owners will be able to purchase a monthly permit to park in certain lots, otherwise will be ticketed. Downtown Residential Parking Passes Community Development Director Turnblad said downtown residents have complained about the ordinance requiring them to move cars every 24 hours. This affects those who live on their boats in the summer, and condominium owners without on-site parking. The Council held first reading of an ordinance amendment granting authority to the Police Chief to allow parking over 24 hours not only in emergency situations but also to issue residential parking passes for downtown that would allow people to park more than 24 hours. However the Council did not come up with a program or policy to administer this, leaving that to the Parking Commission. Police Chief Gannaway stated it would have to be one location where parking over 24 hours would be allowed. The parking ramp is under-utilized. Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket remarked that the 24-hour parking regulation is enforced only on complaint. Staff does not have time to seek out violators. The ordinance change would complicate snow plowing and cause enforcement problems. He thinks the ordinance should be left as is. Councilmember Kozlowski stated that making residents move from one spot to another per the existing ordinance seems unnecessary as it doesn’t reduce overall impacts on the system. Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket replied that some residents park for 24 hours in the three-hour parking spaces. He doesn’t actively enforce 24-hour parking in the permit lots unless he receives a complaint, in which case he tries to give the owner a courtesy call. Councilmember Kozlowski said he would like the ordinance to reflect what residents are allowed to do in practice. He would like to be able to inform downtown residents who don’t have designated parking spots where they should park overnight. Page 3 of 4 Downtown Parking Commission August 21, 2014 Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket suggested the City could expand on the monthly permit to allow parking over 24 hours, but require the car be moved in the winter to facilitate snow But it would be hard to determine when it needs to be moved, after weeks or months. Councilmember Kozlowski said if parking over 24 hours is allowed, it should only be in Lots 16 or 17. The consensus of the Commission was to leave the ordinance as is, allowing downtown residents to park longer than 24 hours in Lots 16 and 17. Police Chief Gannaway stated this will have to be revisited after the lots are completed next year. OTHER BUSINESS Parking Ramp Directional Signs Chair Pelletier explained recommendations for signs directing users to the parking ramp. Signs should designate “Parking Ramp” with an arrow. The “P” signs should remain above. There are six locations. The arrows that direct drivers to surface lots should be eliminated as they are confusing. This will be sent to the Heritage Preservation Commission for review. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Hopfe, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to adjourn at 10:30 a.m. All in favor, 4-0. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary Page 4 of 4