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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-19 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 19, 2017 REGULAR MEETING Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:36 a.m. Present: Chairwoman Pelletier, Commissioners Anderson, Glynn, Hopfe, Johnson, Lettner, Council Representative Junker Absent: None Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket, Zoning Administrator/Assistant Planner Olson-Williams ELECTION OF OFFICERS Motion by Commissioner Hopfe, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to appoint Aimee Pelletier as Chair. All in favor, 6-0. Motion by Chairwoman Pelletier, seconded by Commissioner Glynn, to appoint Daren Anderson as Vice Chair. All in favor, 6-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of December 15, 2016 meeting minutes The minutes were accepted with one addition. Council Representative Junker suggested that the motion approving the hotel recommendation should be clarified by adding under condition #1 that “the Commission understands that the public parking may not be free.” SPECIAL EVENTS Cruisin’ on the Croix Zoning Administrator Olson-Williams explained that Frank Fabio has applied for 2017 Cruisin’ on the Croix vintage and hot rod car show from 3 to 8 p.m. on 15 Wednesday evenings from June 7 to September 13. This represents an increase in event dates. Last year, 14 event dates were requested and eight were approved. Staff recommends approving the reservation of Lots 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11, for a total of 159 spaces, at a fee of $238.50 per event date for no more than eight dates. Commissioner Hopfe pointed out that 2017 will be an unusual year with construction of two downtown hotels bringing up to 100 workers to each site daily. It would be irresponsible to Downtown Parking Commission January 19, 2017 Page 2 of 4 shut down an entire downtown parking lot for a whole day for the car show. She suggested that the show move out of downtown for this year if possible. Council Representative Junker noted that 159 spaces accounts for over 50% of the spaces north of the bridge. He receives calls every year from building owners saying they don’t want any more event dates added. Mr. Turnblad noted the City has not received any calls from car show participants asking for more event dates. Commissioner Glynn said he had talked to Mr. Paradeau who told him there is a meeting next week about the possible purchase of the former Zephyr property by the theater group and he was confident that would go through. The former Zephyr lot only has 2” bituminous and Mr. Paradeau was concerned about trucks ruining the lot. If the theater deal falls through and the City can ensure there would no damage, or reimburse for any damage, he would be fine with the City renting that lot for construction workers. Commissioner Hopfe pointed out that construction workers may not want to park as far away as the former Zephyr lot and carry all their gear to the construction site. She agreed with the suggestion that the car show move to the fairgrounds or elsewhere this year due to the tremendous stress on downtown parking because of the hotel projects. Council Representative Junker said he realizes the car show brings people to town but he thinks 15 dates is way too many. Four to five dates would be okay. Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Chairwoman Pelletier, to approve four event dates: June 14, July 12, August 9 and September 13, and the use of Lots 4, 5, 9, 10, and 11. If the North Main Hotel is not approved by the City Council, or if it does not begin construction this summer, the Commission would support up to eight event dates. In that case, the event organizer should bring the four additional dates back to the Commission for approval. All in favor, 6-0. The Commission also agreed that no on-street parking spaces should be used by the event, only reserved parking lots should be used. NEW BUSINESS Parking ramp: help call update Community Development Director Turnblad reported that the County dispatch office notified the City that their office can no longer field the calls from the ramp. ITT people have tried to develop ways to send the calls elsewhere, and to create programs that would automatically open the gate on pressing the button, with no success. He presented two options: leave the gate open after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends, which would result in a loss of revenue; or hire a parking ramp attendant temporarily. The decision was jointly made to hire a parking ramp attendant on a temporary basis, until new equipment is purchased later this year. The cost is $96 per shift for the attendant. Downtown Parking Commission January 19, 2017 Page 3 of 4 Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket reported that from 4 p.m. to midnight last weekend there were 15 cars, and one had a problem with one exiting. On Saturday there were 110 cars, and seven had a problem exiting. Commissioner Hopfe wondered if the ramp attendant should be there until 1 or 2 a.m. on Saturday nights. Mr. Turnblad replied that the number of vehicles exiting after midnight is so low that paying for the attendant is probably not worth it. Mr. Pasket added that hiring the attendant is the only temporary solution that will keep the complaints down. CONTINUED BUSINESS 2017 construction season: parking options Chairwoman Pelletier noted that she and Commissioner Hopfe did a drive around and found the parking lot behind the former Zephyr to be in tough shape. Community Development Director Turnblad said the theater’s proposal is to tear it out and build another lot. Council Representative Junker acknowledged that lot could be cleaned up to create more spaces. Commissioner Glynn asked if the area across from the Oasis Cafe (Bridgeview Park area) could be used for construction worker parking. Mr. Turnblad responded that he thinks Mr. Anderson’s lease covers the entire area. Additionally, workers probably would not want to walk that far to the construction site. To improve the area would probably be very difficult, requiring a variance from the State. He will look into what it would entail to temporarily improve it for construction parking. Community Development Director Turnblad said perhaps the City could investigate having some type of shuttle from a satellite lot. Council Representative Junker noted the ideal spot for a satellite parking lot would be Fury Motors at Highway 36 and Osgood. The question would be how to fund the shuttle service. The Commission discussed the following possibilities: getting sponsors to pay for a shuttle, collecting advertising revenue, asking the IBA to help figure out how to pay for it, or raising the rate on the river lot. The consensus was to get bids on having a shuttle service. Zoning Administrator Olson- Williams agreed to investigate costs for a shuttle from Fury Motors, and/or the Stillwater Area High School parking lot, to downtown. The recommended hours would be Thursday and Friday 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday 12 noon to 12 midnight, and Sunday 12 noon to 6 p.m. The Commission also would like to gain approval for a sign on Highway 36 about the shuttle, if possible. Parking mitigation totals Community Development Director Turnblad provided data on the number of parking spaces that have been approved for downtown business mitigation plans. 217 spaces or 12.12% of the total public spaces downtown have been approved in the off-season; 275 spaces or Downtown Parking Commission January 19, 2017 Page 4 of 4 15.35% have been approved in the warm season. When the North Main hotel opens, 76 of the 248 parking ramp spaces will be associated with mitigation plans, bring the percentage up to 30.65% of total downtown spaces. March 7 work session with City Council Mr. Turnblad reminded the Commission of the 4:30 p.m. March 7 work session with the City Council. He asked the Commission for ideas on what to discuss with the Council, for instance, whether it is time to put a moratorium on mitigation plans. He explained how the parking mitigation process was developed. Council Representative Junker said he would like to gauge the appetite of the Council for parking fee increases or for making more of the lots pay lots. This has been controversial in the past. Community Development Director Turnblad suggested including the need for another parking ramp. Commissioner Glynn added that part of the discussion would be paying for a new ramp via user fees versus having the businesses pay for it. Council Representative Junker requested financials on total parking revenues and expenses for the February meeting, to have a good understanding for the March 7 work session. He added that another factor will be the development of the Aiple Park property which will create more pressure as the City determines what to do with the shoreland, how people will get to it and where they will park. Commissioner Anderson suggested the Commission could also discuss events with the Council. ADJOURNMENT Chairwoman Pelletier adjourned the meeting at 10:12 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary