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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-19 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES February 19, 2015 REGULAR MEETING Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. Present: Chair Pelletier, Commissioners Helmberger, Hopfe, Johnson, Junker, Lettner Absent: Commissioner Anderson, Council Representative Kozlowski Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, Police Chief Gannaway, Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket Consultant: Damon Noga, Denison Parking APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Commissioner Helmberger, seconded by Commissioner Junker, to approve the agenda. All in favor, 6-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Helmberger, seconded by Commissioner Junker, to approve the January 15, 2015 meeting minutes. All in favor, 6-0. OLD BUSINESS Parking Lot Revenue Discussion Community Development Director Turnblad provided a brief summary of the proposal to convert Lots 3-11 east of Main Street to pay lots. On average over the past five years, the shortage has been about $25,000 per year. In order to make the budget balance for the surface lots, the Commission has been looking at revenue streams including monthly parking passes, permits, and parking fines. The Council supports converting more lots to pay lots if needed, but suggested an hourly rate instead of the proposed $5 flat rate. The Parking Commission is gathering comments as part of the process of determining an appropriate rate structure. Lollie ______ urged the Commission to postpone converting to pay lots until after the new bridge opens. Whatever the solution, it must work for all businesses downtown. She has talked to other business and property owners downtown. No one is happy about the proposal. All of the people working so hard to make downtown a positive place hear so much negative from residents who go downtown once or twice a year. A more positive attitude toward downtown is needed. She questioned why the proposal was not brought to the DRC or the IBA. Downtown Parking Commission February 19, 2015 Page 2 of 5 Randy Gutzmann, Northern Vineyards, noted that the bridge and bike trail are positive changes. He would like to postpone the proposal, to have a couple of years to grow into these changes without immediately capitalizing on revenue from parking. Corey Buettner, Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop, agreed with the above comments. He urged the Commission to let the summer play out before deciding whether to convert the lots. The downtown doesn’t need any unwelcome signs out for customers. He thanked the members for their work on the Commission. Andy Malone, Stillwater Marina, expressed concern about the impacts of pay parking on customers. He agreed that the Commission should wait to convert to pay lots. Todd Streeter, Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, expressed appreciation for everything the Commission is doing on behalf of downtown. He acknowledged that the parking issue won’t go away, but requires a constructive solution as a collective group. There may be different ways of looking at the issue to reach an outcome that is beneficial in the long run. He urged the Commission to take more time to reach a decision with the businesses’ input. Kurt Kohl, resident, asked about the $100,000 surplus in the past year. Community Development Director Turnblad responded that the City also invested $800,000 in its parking lots. A good year doesn’t eliminate the bad years. Lollie ______ asked about enforcement of the business parking permits. She suggested all businesses be required to purchase parking permits for their employees. Community Development Director Turnblad replied that the request for a parking mitigation plan usually comes in with a special use permit application. It is being enforced. Chair Pelletier assured Ms. ______ (Lollie) that the Commission understands that the businesses need their customers. Ms. ____(Lollie) asked about downtown property taxes as she has understood that it partially pays for parking lots. Commissioner Junker pointed out that downtown Stillwater has never looked better. The amount of parking has never been greater and has never looked better. There is a fair amount of parking downtown, though more is still needed. If business owners complain to their customers about parking, it will have negative impacts. It’s important to maintain the attitude that Stillwater is a great place to visit. The City and business and building owners all have to work together. If some lots are pay lots, it will still be important to maintain a positive attitude. The recommendation is that 269 out of 1,842 become pay spaces. Chair Pelletier thanked everyone for their input. Downtown Parking Commission February 19, 2015 Page 3 of 5 NEW BUSINESS Valley Outreach Tracy Maki of Valley Outreach requested that the Parking Commission partner with them during the month of March on their “Fill This Plate” campaign. The specific request is to allow individuals who receive parking violation citations during the month of March to pay for them with the donation of ten non-perishable food items. A slip of paper could go with the ticket explaining the program. When people come in to pay their ticket, they could bring in their donation to the City and the ticket would be forgiven. Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket said it isn’t practical because Washington County is also involved and there is a lot of paperwork. He would rather see a donation out of the enterprise fund made directly to the Food Shelf instead. Police Chief Gannaway said it’s a great idea but he isn’t sure logistically how it could be done, and he is unsure if March is a good month because of the snowfall which could be a big issue. Also, more lead time would be helpful. Commissioner Junker remarked that the program would be publicized and many other community organizations could request the same thing. Community Development Director Turnblad cautioned the Commission that any donation to the Food Shelf would have to come out of the general fund, and cannot come out of the enterprise fund. A typical March revenue from parking violations is about $3,000. Police Chief Gannaway said if the ticket is paid in the required timeframe, the canned goods could suffice but if the ticket goes unpaid, they should still be required to pay the fine in dollars. Motion by Commissioner Helmberger, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to approve the request to allow individuals who receive parking violation citations during the month of March to pay with ten non-perishable food items, provided that it is paid within 15 days. The ticket would then be voided. All in favor, 6-0. OTHER BUSINESS Permit Parking and Rates (2015) and Parking Equipment RFP Community Development Director Turnblad stated the number of units needed is unknown. He is concerned about proceeding with the RFP until the Commission knows how many machines are needed. Downtown Parking Commission February 19, 2015 Page 4 of 5 Damon Noga, Denison Parking, stated that there would be a fluctuation in cost based on number needed. He asked if the City has ever looked at a business improvement district for the downtown in order to decrease costs to visitors? Commissioner Junker acknowledged that 2014 was a very good year for parking revenues, but he is really tired of hearing about waiting because 2009, 2010 and 2011 were brutal financially. There is something that comes up every year whether it’s flooding or some other issue. Chair Pelletier noted that business owners have asked, why aren’t you writing more tickets? Police Chief Gannaway replied the reason for tickets is to correct behavior, not to boost revenues. He cannot tell the staff to write x number of tickets. The businesses should appreciate tickets because it turns over the parking spaces. Commissioner Junker said he would like to look at converting Lot 3 or 4 to pay parking - which would generate more money than a flat rate for 11 lots. Chair Pelletier replied that may put an undue burden on the south end of the City. With all the changes coming, it may not be a bad thing to wait until the bridge is constructed and the bicyclists start coming and see the impacts to downtown. Commissioner Junker said he is not sure the present Council would approve fixed rate parking at other lots. He thinks it would have to be hourly. One potential solution is to convert Lot 9 to a $3 lot just like Lot 2. Commissioner Helmberger stated he doesn’t disagree, but he thinks a lot of the reason the south lots fill up is that they are the first lots people see. 80% of the traffic comes in from the south end. Chair Pelletier commented that the impact of the bridge is still unknown. We don’t know if visitors will come back. Community Development Director Turnblad stated perhaps the solution is to raise monthly permit rates to help the shortfall. Based on the input gathered over the past week, there is some willingness to pay a higher permit fee. He will look at what monthly permit increases could generate and bring back this information for the next meeting. Motion by Chair Pelletier, seconded by Commissioner Helmberger, to 1) table the purchase of parking lot equipment for pay lot conversions to some future year; and 2) recommend increasing the cost of monthly business parking permits from $10 to $15; and 3) recommend increasing the cost of downtown resident parking permits from $10 to $20 per month; and 4) recommend increasing the fine for parking violation citations from $15 to $20. All in favor, 6-0. Acquisition of new vehicle for Parking Enforcement Officer Downtown Parking Commission February 19, 2015 Page 5 of 5 Chief Gannaway requested approval of a five-year lease for a small pick-up to replace the current eight-year-old vehicle. The estimated total lease cost is $16,643.40. Motion by Commissioner Helmberger, seconded by Commissioner Lettner, to approve the purchase of a small pick-up for the Parking Enforcement Officer at a lease cost of $16,643.40. All in favor, 6-0. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Helmberger, seconded by Commissioner Hopfe, to adjourn at 10:42 a.m. All in favor, 6-0. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink, Recording Secretary