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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-20 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES April 20, 2017 REGULAR MEETING Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Present: Chairwoman Pelletier, Commissioners Anderson, Glynn, Hopfe, Johnson, Lettner, Council Representative Junker Absent: None Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, Police Chief Gannaway, Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket, Zoning Administrator/Assistant Planner Olson- Williams APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of March 16, 2017 meeting minutes The minutes of the March 16, 2017 meeting were accepted as presented. NEW BUSINESS New revenue equipment - Amano McGann Community Development Director Turnblad stated that the City is considering replacing equipment in the lots and in the ramp. Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket explained that at the last Commission meeting, it was decided that before looking at new equipment, it should be determined whether the existing equipment is sufficient for the City’s needs. He reported that there have been only two ticket problems since the last Commission meeting. He and the Amano McGann representative cleaned the machines at the parking ramp, which helped somewhat. He feels there will always be operator error. The existing equipment is capable of providing revenue reports; the City just has never used this capability. Mr. Turnblad asked what length of serviceable life is left in the machines in the ramp and downtown lots. Nick Colianni, Amano McGann Sales Executive, replied that the typical lifespan is 5-7 years, sometimes much longer when properly maintained. Stillwater’s equipment is within the 5-7 year range. Judging by the number of service calls over the years, they’ve worked quite well. They do need regular maintenance and there are belts and sensors inside that need to be rebuilt from time to time. In his opinion, there is no need to replace it Downtown Parking Commission April 20, 2017 Page 2 of 4 unless there are operational changes or new technologies that the City wants to implement, such as purchasing passes online. Mr. Turnblad asked if other customers have annual maintenance agreement contracts. Mr. Colianni explained there are different types of maintenance agreements available. Mr. Turnblad stated that it has been challenging figuring out a way to let people exit the ramp when they have difficulty with the machine, especially after hours. The City had an arrangement with the Washington County Dispatch Office (911) but it became so frequent that the County said no more, then the City had to hire an attendant for those busy hours. He asked Mr. Colianni if this seems unusual. Mr. Colianni replied if there is an equipment issue that is preventing customers from exiting, the company need to be called to look at it. The City still needs to decide who will answer that intercom call and open the gate arm. The intercoms need to be answered 24 hours a day. The intercom system is telephone-based with a touch tone. Calls may be directed anywhere and that person can open the gate. Council Representative Junker asked if better quality tickets would help. Mr. Colianni responded it is a good quality ticket, but it is mag striped so a cell phone with a magnetic clasp can damage the ticket. Mag striped parking tickets have been around since the 1970s and are a pretty reliable medium in parking. Commissioner Glynn commented maybe the machines should not accept cash. Mr. Colianni replied there’s usually a cash option but sometimes this option is not in the exit lane, but at a pay station in the lobby. There are limitations to what the machine can accept for cash, for instance crumbled bills, the bin may be full, etc. Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket noted he has been emptying the cash box every three weeks. Mr. Colianni suggested cleaning the machine with compressed air monthly, and having technicians out once or twice a year to do pre- and post-season maintenance. Police Chief Gannaway recalled that previously when the City had an independent operator running the parking system, it did not go well. Councilmember Junker suggested asking one of the towing companies to respond to after hours calls, since they work 24 hrs. Police Chief Gannaway said he felt the City is better off paying a ramp attendant. The attendant currently works Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. till midnight. He suggested adding a second full time parking enforcement person who could take care of the ramp equipment, do parking enforcement downtown at night and take care of any issues in the ramp. Community Development Director Turnblad pointed out there is no booth for this person to be. They are out in the elements, in the lobby. The consensus of the Commission was to not replace the equipment at this time and to investigate other options for where to direct after-hours intercom calls for customers having trouble exiting the ramp. Downtown Parking Commission April 20, 2017 Page 3 of 4 Mr. Pasket remarked that the majority of customers leave after 2 a.m. when bars close, so the parking attendant hours could be from 6 p.m. - 2 a.m. Mr. Turnblad asked if the arm could be put on a cycle to open up at 2 a.m. Mr. Colianni responded that he talked to the Cardac vendor last week and told him what he needs to do to make that happen, but he needs to be directed by the City to do so. Regarding the surface lots, Mr. Colianni said Amano McGann works with a company called Metric that offers all types of options for payment: credit card only, credit card/coin, cash/credit card/coin or whatever combination is desired. Mr. Pasket asked that any new surface lot equipment be purchased from a local company to facilitate repairs when needed. Mr. Turnblad asked Mr. Colianni to provide an estimate for service agreements and for pay stations for surface lots. SPECIAL EVENTS Lumberjack Days Community Development Director Turnblad explained that The Locals submitted a special event permit application for Lumberjack Days 2017 with set-up Thursday, July 20, the event Friday, July 21 through Sunday, July 23 and clean-up Monday, July 24. All or portions of Lots 4, 5, 6, 8b and 9 will be reserved for the festival. In addition, Mulberry Circle and a portion of Water Street will be closed. The Locals also are asking to use 19 spaces on the east side of Lot 8b. The normal charge for the requested spaces would be $2,659.50. The Council has committed the parking spaces to The Locals as a City contribution to the festival. The Parking Commission should review the parking lot use proposal and make comments. The Commission found the planned use of public streets and parking lots to be acceptable. Criterium Bike Race Community Development Director Turnblad stated that Lee Stylos has applied for an event permit on behalf of Minnesota Bicycle Festival, Inc. for the 16th annual Stillwater Criterium Race to be held June 18, 2017. As in past years, organizers are asking the City to close each street in the course and reserve Lots 16 and 17 for their exclusive use. Staff recommends approval at the standard fee of $3 per space per day for a total of $516. Motion by Commissioner Lettner, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the use of the requested parking lots and on-street parking spaces for the 16th annual Stillwater Criterium on June 18, 2017, with a fee of $516. Motion passed, 6-0. NEW BUSINESS continued Krawczeski request to reserve Lot 17 Downtown Parking Commission April 20, 2017 Page 4 of 4 Community Development Director Turnblad reported that Jennifer Krawczeski is requesting permission to reserve Lot 17 (Teddy Bear Park lot) for her wedding reception which is scheduled to occur at the Grand Ballroom on Friday, June 9, 2017. Typically, the City does not allow municipal parking lots to be reserved for private events. If the Parking Commission approved this request, the cost would be $3/space or $291. Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to deny the request to reserve Lot 17 for Jennifer Krawczeski on June 9, 2017. Motion passed, 6-0. 2016 Parking Survey Mr. Turnblad stated that an inventory of existing downtown public and private parking spaces, as well as a building analysis of parking needs as required by the Zoning Code, is almost completed. It will track whether the need for, or availability of parking has increased or decreased in each area of downtown. Results will be brought to the Commission’s next meeting. ADJOURNMENT Chairwoman Pelletier closed the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary