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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-09-21 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES September 21, 2017 REGULAR MEETING Audio recording was inaudible. Minutes are based entirely on the agenda packet and Zoning Administrator Olson-Williams’s meeting notes. Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Present: Chairwoman Pelletier, Commissioners Anderson, Hopfe, Johnson, Council Member Junker Absent: Commissioners Glynn, Lettner, Staff: Zoning Administrator/Assistant Planner Olson-Williams, Police Chief Gannaway, Parking Enforcement Officer Paskett APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of July 20, 2017 meeting minutes Minutes were accepted as presented. SPECIAL EVENTS Ice Castle (From staff report) Amanda Roseth and Ice Castles, LLC, have applied to locate their attraction in downtown Stillwater again this winter. The venue would be in the same location as last year at the east end of Myrtle Street near the riverside pavilion. However, the castle footprint would grow further south into Lowell Park this year. The organizers are requesting the use of Municipal Lot 5 for the entrance and exit to the castle. The wood frame and water pumping facilities would begin construction on October 16, 2017. The castle would be open to the public in January and February. Sometime in late February or March as the ice melts, it would close to the public and then melt away. Based upon a March 16 clean up date, Lot 5 would be reserved for 151 off-season days. The 151 day period would have a fee of $1,585.50. Staff recommends approval with a fee of $1,585.50. The fee should be paid prior to closing down Lot 5 on October 16th. After the ice castle melts and Lot 5 is cleaned up, the actual number of reservation days would be calculated and a refund made or additional payment required. (From Zoning Administrator’s notes) Soil testing eliminated Mulberry Point as an option. Downtown Parking Commission September 21, 2017 Page 2 of 4 Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to approve of the use of Lot 5 for 151 off-season days October 16 through March 16, for a fee of $1,585.50. All in favor, 5-0. Harvest Fest (From staff report) Summer Tuesdays, Inc. has applied for an event permit to host the 2017 Harvest Fest on October 14-15, using Lots 4, 5 and 9. Staff recommends that the Parking Commission recommend the Council approve the reservation for Lots 4, 5 and 9 at the off- season rate of $1.50/day/space for a total of $297. Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to recommend that the City Council approve the use of Lots 4, 5 and 9 for Harvest Fest, October 14-15, with a total fee of $297. All in favor, 5-0. NEW BUSINESS Second FT Parking Enforcement Officer (From Zoning Administrator’s notes) Police Chief Gannaway stated an additional officer is proposed to be hired. The position will be revenue-neutral. The position could be used for succession. Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket would pass on knowledge. Same salary as Pasket. Greater workload with second ramp. Position in place and hired by spring/summer 2018. Police Chief Gannaway will provide financial information later. Alternating shifts. LOLO Expansion (No notes or staff report on this item) Old Armory redevelopment concept and parking needs (From staff report) A local development team comprised of Mark Sweet, Mike Hoefler and Jim Boo have submitted a concept plan for a new municipal parking ramp on 2nd Street between Olive Street and Chestnut Street. As explained to City staff, the motivation for providing the City with the concept plan is to promote development of the next City parking ramp on this site in order to free up the City parking lot at the foot of Chilikoot Hill for a mixed use development. The site includes three parcels. Two are owned by Shorty’s Cleaners and one is owned by the City. (From Zoning Administrator’s notes) Concerns about design of concept ramp. Retail on ground floor. Downtown Parking Commission agrees this is ideal location for ramp. Concerns about free/pay parking ratio. Concerns about park users losing free parking. UPDATES New revenue equipment for lots 1 and 2 Downtown Parking Commission September 21, 2017 Page 3 of 4 (From Zoning Administrator’s notes) Smart to take possession of equipment now? Delivered this month, install in spring. Cam Murray: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (From staff report) Downtown resident Cam Murray has been interested in engaging the Parking Commission in a discussion on Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. A couple of years ago the Commission researched the stations, but decided not to pursue them publicly. Instead, private business owners were encouraged to provide them for customers. (From Zoning Administrator’s notes) The Downtown Parking Commission directed Mr. Murray to seek sponsorship. The Crosby Hotel parking (From staff report) The Downtown Parking Commission previously considered the parking arrangement and mitigation plan for The Crosby Hotel. The City Council approved the project with the conditions attached to the parking plan by the Parking Commission. However there are several changes since the time that the Commission reviewed the project. The changes are: The Crosby will own and maintain both the surface lot and the parking deck. The parking deck still must be made available to the public as stipulated by the Parking Commission. The City lot will be purchased by the developer. The number of guest rooms will be reduced from 66 to a maximum of 57. This changes the required number of parking spaces. Now, no mitigation will be necessary since more parking spaces will be constructed than are required. the number of rooms is now to be reduced to a maximum of 57 (perhaps as few as 55). Therefore, the required number of parking spaces is now only 97 during the high season. Since 101 spaces are to be provided, the parking standard is exceeded and no mitigation will be necessary. Downtown Plan Implementation (From staff report) In June of this year the City Council approved the draft of the new Downtown Plan. It is currently undergoing review by surrounding agencies and municipalities. That “jurisdictional review” will be completed by September 29, 2017. Then it will be eligible for submission to the Metropolitan Council for review and approval. However, rather than subject the Downtown Plan to a separate review by the Metropolitan Council, it will be included within the 2018 Comprehensive Plan. The consultants have been selected to help the City develop the 2018 Comp Plan. A contract for professional services is expected to be approved by the City Council on October 3, 2017. That will initiate about a one year process that will result in a draft of the new Comp Plan. That draft will be ready for a 6 month jurisdictional review to begin in about October of 2018 and submission to the Met Council in about April of 2019. Downtown Parking Commission September 21, 2017 Page 4 of 4 Implementation of permanent Downtown Plan elements could begin after review and approval of the plan by the Metropolitan Council in late spring of 2019. However, there are a number of low cost interim changes that can be made sooner than 2019. “Paint and planters” can be used in the near term. The “paint and planters” approach can effect immediate change, but not permanent change. That is useful not only to see quick change, but can allow some experimentation to see what works best. This in turn can be useful in designing the permanent improvements that will come later. To allow the community to experiment, and then eventually to construct the permanent changes, City staff and MnDOT staff have been holding a series of meetings. The purpose of the meetings is to create a “use agreement” that allows both the community and MnDOT to realize their needs and goals. Key points of the agreement include: 1. MnDOT will continue to own the right-of-ways for both Chestnut Street (east of Main Street) and Main Street (State Highway 95). 2. MnDOT needs to have access to the Lift Bridge for maintenance and lift operation. 3. MnDOT will work with the City to approve changes to the surface of Main Street (and to traffic signal cycling) according to our Downtown Plan as long as State through- traffic is accommodated properly. This includes both physical changes and striping changes. 4. MnDOT will work with the City to approve changes to Chestnut Street according to the Downtown Plan. This could include both physical changes and “paint and planters” types of changes. 5. The City will cover the cost of the interim striping changes on Main Street. 6. The City will assume maintenance responsibilities for Chestnut Street east of Main Street. It is hoped that a proposed use agreement will be submitted to the City Council for consideration in late October. Then interim changes could begin. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary