Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-18 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES December 18, 2014 REGULAR MEETING Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Present: Chair Pelletier, Commissioners Helmberger, Hopfe, Junker and Lettner, Council Representative Kozlowski Absent: Commissioners Anderson and Johnson Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, Police Chief Gannaway, Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Commissioner Helmberger, seconded by Commissioner Junker, to amend the agenda by adding two items: 1) Sather update on Main Street event site; 2) Council action update. All in favor, 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Junker, seconded by Commissioner Helmberger, to approve the November 20, 2014 meeting minutes. All in favor, 5-0. NEW BUSINESS Concept discussion of alternate site for JX Event Center Community Development Director Turnblad updated the Commission on progress of the proposal. The applicant, Judd Sather, recognizes the City's concerns about traffic flow and safety with the proposed location. While continuing forward on the Main Street site, he is also exploring an alternate site that may be less concerning to the City. The second site that Mr. Sather is interested in is the former Connolly Shoe Factory building, specifically the upper level. A maximum occupancy load of 750-850 people (averaged to 800 for discussion) has been calculated. This would require one parking space for every three persons, or 267 spaces. The increased parking deficit is 224 spaces. With the parking ramp directly across the street, valet parking would not be needed. Commissioner Junker remarked the location directly across from the parking ramp seems very appropriate for an event center. Downtown Parking Commission December 18, 2014 Police Chief Gannaway stated from a public safety standpoint, there are zero issues with the Connolly site. A traffic study would not be needed. It’s 100% better than the Main Street site. Community Development Director Turnblad noted that the applicant estimates 75% of the customers will probably use the ramp on their own; for the estimated 25% of customers who would not use the ramp, a mitigation number of 56 spaces has been calculated. Commission consensus was that mitigating 56 spaces may be a high number. Mr. Sather stated that regarding the original Main Street site, the cost for valet parking would be $8,000 per month, and the traffic study would cost $2,000-$5,000. He can submit the application tomorrow for the Connolly Shoe Building. SPECIAL EVENTS Brine’s Bocce Ball Tournament Community Development Director Turnblad stated that Brine's is planning its 23rd Annual Bocce Ball Tournament for Saturday, February 21, and would like to reserve the 22 spaces on Water Street that lie north of their rear entrance and Chestnut Street from 6 am to 10 pm for setup and the event on February 21. Cleanup would be February 22 from 6 am to 10 am. Motion by Commissioner Helmberger, seconded by Commissioner Junker, to approve the use of parking spaces and charge $25.50 per day for the reserved parking spaces. All in favor, 5-0. NEW BUSINESS continued Permit Parking in 2015 Community Development Director Turnblad noted that, with reconstruction of all the municipal parking lots between Nelson and Mulberry Streets, the Parking Commission has recommended to the City Council that all of the municipal lots east of Main Street should become pay lots. The Council conceptually agreed with the recommendation. The parking permit policies will need to be amended to take into consideration the planned fee change. Commissioner Helmberger remarked he is concerned the $5 charge for all-day parking may be too high and bring in too much revenue. Perhaps $4 would be more reasonable. It is confusing to charge a different amount for weekend parking. Police Chief Gannaway stated he gets few complaints about how much the City charges for parking. Better quality machines are needed. This is another reason to charge $5. Community Development Director Turnblad agreed to re-examine the $3, $4 and $5 scenario in terms of potential revenues. He will be initiating a Request for Proposals for equipment for the pay lots. He would hope to get the machines in place by May 1. Page 2 of 4 Downtown Parking Commission December 18, 2014 Council Representative Kozlowski asked if the City could consider hourly machines like those used in Minneapolis, where time can be added. Community Development Director Turnblad acknowledged there are many types of systems available. Consensus was reached on the following: 1)Stillwater resident passes would be valid in all public lots except Lot 8a. In Lots 13, 18 and 19, the passes would be valid after business hours and on weekends. 2)Business permits (day use permits) would be valid in Lots 4, 5, 8b, 11, 12, 16 and 17. For Lot 12, only the west row of spaces may be used with this permit. 3)Downtown resident permits would be valid in Lots 3, 4, 5, 10, 12, 16 and 17. In Lot 12, only the west row of spaces may be used with this permit. 4)Hour limits for Lots 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 will be set at 4 hours. Hour limits for Lots 12, 14 and 20 will be set at 24 hours. Monthly rates will be discussed at the January commission meeting. OTHER BUSINESS Parking Ramp Signage No update. Event Parking Community Development Director Turnblad initiated discussion on event parking. The City has several policies that together allow private event producers to use downtown public spaces (parking lots, streets, parks, trails and the pedestrian plaza) with very few limitations on that use. One consequence of these policies is that other customers who rely on the municipal lots, and who invested money to buy or lease property in close proximity to those lots, are inconvenienced whenever the lot they typically use, is reserved for an event. Another consequence is that retail customers have to search longer for parking spots if the lot closest to their destination is used for an event. Commissioner Junker noted this will be the first summer that the newly reconstructed lots will be visible. To look at parking supply is crucial. He doesn’t think there are that many new events but everyone needs to visually assess, what do our parking lots look like right now? Chair Pelletier commented when the bridge is closed, Stillwater will be even more attractive as a venue for promoters. The City should be ready to deal with more event requests. Council Representative Kozlowski noted the Council will have to work on an event strategy. He would prefer to see events on the grass rather than taking over a parking lot. Page 3 of 4 Downtown Parking Commission December 18, 2014 Commissioner Helmberger remarked, what if there were no more events allowed in parking lots? He can see that the City is getting overwhelmed with events. Commissioner Junker reminded the Commission that flooding is frequently an issue. Commissioner Hopfe commented that the people who are hurt the most when events take over all the parking lots are the property tax payers, downtown businesses. Council Representative Kozlowski suggested parking lot use could be “Plan B” if flooding forces events onto the lots, but the default should not be putting events on parking lots. Police Chief Gannaway confirmed there are a lot more events, and traditional events are expanding. Charging for the use of lots weeds out some of the requests. Commissioner Hopfe asked what is wrong with saying no to event requests? The number of bikers downtown will increase with the opening of the trail. The downtown will be significantly changed. Council Representative Kozlowski noted that looking at an event strategy will be a focus for the Council in 2015. Parking Fine Forgiveness for Foodshare Month (March) Council Representative Kozlowski mentioned reading about another city that forgave outstanding parking fines for those who brought in items for the food shelf. March is Foodshare Month. Perhaps this could be done in Stillwater. Police Chief Gannaway noted that outstanding fines are handled by Washington County. Council Representative Kozlowski suggested trying the program with any parking citation issued in March. It can be discussed more after January 1. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Helmberger, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to adjourn at 10:15 a.m. All in favor, 5-0. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary Page 4 of 4