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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-16 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES March 16, 2017 REGULAR MEETING Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m. Present: Chairwoman Pelletier, Commissioners Anderson and Hopfe, Council Representative Junker Absent: Commissioners Glynn, Johnson and Lettner Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket, Zoning Administrator/Assistant Planner Olson-Williams There was no quorum, so no official business was conducted nor votes taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of February 16, 2017 meeting minutes Chairwoman Pelletier stated that she would like the minutes to include a statement that the Commission strongly encouraged Mr. Fabio to use his own lot for Cruisin’ on the Croix. SPECIAL EVENTS Airflow Club Community Development Director Turnblad explained that the Airflow Club of America would like to hold its Chrysler and DeSoto Club Meet in North Lowell Park on June 24. Their tents and cars would be located on the grass. If the park is flooded, they would like to use Lot 11. Staff recommends approving the use of Lot 11 for $135 as a backup plan in case of flooding. After discussion, the Commission’s consensus was to recommend approval. Bike Rodeo Community Development Director Turnblad stated that the Stillwater Police Department would like to host a Bike Safety Rodeo on Saturday, May 20 in Lot 12. Consensus of the Commission was to recommend approval. Downtown Parking Commission March 16, 2017 Page 2 of 3 NEW BUSINESS New revenue equipment Commissioner Anderson handed out a summary of the parking attendant’s data on gate errors broken down into various categories. Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket shared some of the user errors he has dealt with. Before spending any money on new equipment, he would like to bring Amano in, explain the problems the equipment is having, and ask if they can upgrade existing equipment to do what the City wants it to do. He feels there will always be the issue of operator error, for instance inserting the tickets backwards, upside down, demagnetizing the strip with a cell phone, etc. Community Development Director Turnblad suggested that rather than bringing in vendors, the City should hire a consultant to suggest what kinds of things the City should ask for in the equipment, then go out for an RFP. Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket said he would prefer to bring vendors in since it’s their equipment, tell them what issues are being dealt with, and see if they have a solution. Mr. Turnblad pointed out the equipment is 8 yrs old and will be dead in two years, so why repair it? It’s time to replace it. He said he would ask the City Council to move the budget item for new equipment up by one year. He would still like to bring in someone from the industry to help determine what capabilities the equipment should have. Commissioner Anderson said the Commission should prepare a list of the issues and have a good discussion about it first. Chairwoman Pelletier said the Commission isn’t asking for apps and so on, just for equipment that takes money and takes the ticket and lets people out without having to go to the County for help with malfunctions and errors. She and Commissioner Anderson said they are not really interested in paying a consultant for this. Council Representative Junker said a good vendor may know more than a consultant. He thinks Amano is a good vendor. Officer Pasket added that Amano wouldn’t be providing all the equipment in St. Paul and Minneapolis if they weren’t competent. Commissioner Hopfe said she would be in favor of inviting Amano to a meeting. Officer Pasket said he will contact the Amano representative and explain what the Commission wants addressed, and tell him to come prepared to discuss whether the current equipment is capable of solving these problems. Chairwoman Pelletier asked if the Amano representative would bring information on the pay lot machines. Officer Pasket responded that he could. He remarked that Minneapolis and St. Paul take credit cards only. He wishes Stillwater could take only credit cards. Cash is a pain. He could meet the representative at the ramp and explain what the Commission wants. The Amano person could then come back with results to present to the Commission. Downtown Parking Commission March 16, 2017 Page 3 of 3 Council Representative Junker said two residents had emailed him questioning the figure of $68,000 in parking ramp revenue discussed at a past meeting. He asked Community Development Director Turnblad to check the figures. Access to Mills Parking Garage Commissioner Anderson asked about the statement made in the Council meeting that the public was supposed to be able to access the Mills parking garage during evenings and weekends, but now cannot do so since a keypad was installed. Mr. Turnblad explained that there are two parking areas below the building: one residential and one commercial. A condition of approval was that the public could use the commercial side of it after hours and weekends. There are 75-78 spaces there in the commercial side. The complex was sold and the card system was installed. However it’s not like the public was locked out because the public was never using it - there wasn’t demand at the time. The question now is how will they meet that condition? There are two choices - somehow open it to public after hours, or go back to the Council and try to get that condition changed. Council Representative Junker remarked it’s interesting why the developer would ever agree to that condition. If he were a condo owner he wouldn’t want the public to have access after hours, even though the condo owners’ garages are separated from the commercial area. COUNCIL UPDATES The Crosby Hotel (aka North Main Hotel) Community Development Director Turnblad summarized progress on the hotel development and the two-story parking structure as now proposed. Meeting with Council Council Representative Junker thanked the Commission for its input at the joint meeting. Luna Rosa Hotel Commissioner Hopfe asked about progress on the south main hotel. Mr. Turnblad replied that developers ran into more structural difficulties than anticipated so they lost six months. ADJOURNMENT Chairwoman Pelletier closed the meeting at 9:40 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary