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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcclc.min.09041996 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION SEPT.4, 1996 COMMISSIONER COMMENTS ................................................................................................................ 1 EXTENSION OF PAID PARKING...~ ......................................................................................................... I COMMISSIONER COMMENTS........] .................................................................................. : .................... 7 9 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION SEPT.4, 1996 Meeting was called to order by Vice-chairman Don Swales with Bill Dinsmoor, Warren Ryan and John Starr present. Excused were Jon Busch and Jack Stanford. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Bill Dinsmoor Stated that the first meeting of the delivery trucks is schedule t~or Sept. 18th, 10:00 a.m. Don stated that he thought it appropriate if some of the other CCLC members attended the meeting. EXTENSION OF PAID PARKING Tim Ware, Parking Operations Manager stated that it was requested that his department look into the aspects of extending the paid parking time in the evenings. Paid parking is 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. but it is not enforced until 10:00 a.m. In that way it gives locals 3 hours to get errands complete. Warren inquired about the number of ticket officers employed. Tim stated six officers until five o'clock and two officers until 6:00 p.m. All do enforcement. John Starr asked if there was a regular schedule of residential vs. the core area. Tim stated that each zone is covered three to four times a week. Warren stated that he was told Main Street is HWY 82 and therefore the city doesn't have jurisdiction. Tim Stated that the first two hours on Main Street are f~ee. If you park for three you can get a ticket. In the residential area there is two hour parking but if you have a permit you are exempt. He also stated right now if you COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION SEPT.4, 1996 have a business in a residential zone you get a free permit at this time but that might change in the future. Tim also stated if you have a business in the commercial core you can get a permit for $300. every six months and park in the residential. You still have to pay if you are at a meter as they are for quick turn over. Warren asked if there was a permit available for a person to park at any time. Tim stated no. The only permit is for residential and that is controlled by what zone you are in at the residential areas. Warren asked what happens if you have a party. Tim stated that residential areas are not enforced on the weekend, only Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. The commercial core area is enforced Monday through Saturday during the peak season. Tim stated that a trial run could occur next summer for extending the ticketing until 8:00 p.m. There are a few concerns such as over flow that would occur in the residential areas because enforcement does not occur in that area after 5:00 p.m. Additional staff would have to be added. Also another concern is the impact on the garage. Right now there are 180 to 200 spaces available after 6:00 p.m. in the garage and that is an alternative for parking in the core. The Police Dept. would have to change their scheduling around to accommodate. Staffing would be a concern as it is their turn over time. Possibly more calls would occur to them. Don stated that the movie theaters start at 8:00 and most drive in at twenty of and are they safe. Tim stated that the churches are a concern with evening services and the theaters are not safe. 1997 Main Street from Spring to Aspen Street will be included in paid parking. 2 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION SEPT.4, 1996 John asked what the difference would be from two hours to an one hour increase. Tim stated that they could do either but they felt to be effective 8:00 p.m. would be a good time. Don stated that the restaurant owners/employees check in by 5:00 p.m. Warren stated if it goes to seven p.m. they get their by five p.m. and pay and stay all night. If it is 8:00 p.m. they can't be running back and forth. John said it seems that we are hitting on the other end, the public user with the 8:00 p.m. time. Warren stated that if you come into town to go to a movie and dinner if you come in at 6:00 for dinner and a movie at 8:00 your time is covered. It would stop the employees from parking in front of their place of employment. Bill stated that individuals would rather have a place to park and not pay but the parking space is critical even if they have to pay. John asked about the Winter services~ Tim stated that they are not prepared to do that at this time. One concern is lighting. If the tourist can't see the meters that is a problem. Tim did state that he is looking at meters that can be lit up. Uniforms would have to be reflective. Randy Ready, Assistant City Manager stated that this a unique type of parking system with iow lighting and most individuals are not familiar with it. We have non-reflective signs to be unobtrusive. All of that would have to change, more signs, bigger signs, reflective signs, more lighting and officers with flash lights looking at receipts. Bill Dinsmoor stated that the manufacturer would have to retrofit the face of the meters. He also stated illumination of the area near the poll would need to occur. 3 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION SEPT.4, 1996 Randy Ready stated that American pier cities are starting to use different ticket meter systems. Bill inquired where would a parking officer bein danger to need reflective clothing. Tim stated in the street as people traditionally are putting their receipts on the drivers side. John asked if there is a revenue cost on changing the time etc. Tim stated cost is not an issue as there is no doubt that we can make money. If this is done in the summer only, signs would have to be changed for fall. It is difficult to educate people at the beginning and ending of each season. He also stated that 25 tickets per officer will probably be issued in the beginning and that would slow down after individuals understand the system. A ticket is $15. and the officers would like to go in two's. It would take four officers in the beginning. John stated that he is still concerned that we are not having enforcement in the residential areas as this will exacerbate the problem in residential areas which is already happening. If you do not get your car out there by 6:30 there are no spaces until 11:00 p.m. A resident cannot park in front of his or her own space. He also stated that he lives in that red zone. Randy Ready stated that it is a displacement issue if you move someone from the core they have to go somewhere else. Tim stated that in the residential area the officers tickets drop dramatically. Bill inquired how it would be mitigated if we displaced those parking in the core to the first blocks outside of the core. Randy Ready stated that Staff is looking at better ways to utilize the 200 parking spaces in the evening in the garage. Possibly institution of a night - owl program after 6:00 to make it low enough to stay all night. Possibly increase the Galena Shuttle hours. The parking garage cost .75 hr. and $5. 4 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION SEPT.4. 1996 max. I£you are a commuter it is $3. with a sticker and a monthly user of $100. per month. Tim stated that there are 330 spaces in the garage. Warren stated that 180 spaces are vacant after 6:00 p.m. so 60% of the lot is empty. He suggested lowering the rate at night. Bill stated extending the shuttle hours and promoting the garage would be a good benefit to restaurants. There are a lot of women who will not use the garage as they state it is not safe or patrolled and feel extremely vulnerable and they want their car close in a bright lit area on the street. Don suggested that surveillance cameras be installed. Bill suggested transferring funds from parking to police for the garage in the evenings. He also asked if we displace people within that three hour period to the residential area what is the plan. Randy stated there is a concern about dinner parties and people coming home with their guests after 6:00 p.m. Presently we have crafted the hours and individuals calls us and let us know it is happening and no one tickets that block and it works quite well. If we start patrolling after 6:00 p~m. we will ad&ess that issue. Warren stated that the residential time could be raised one hour. John stated that a significant amount of cars will move further out. His problem is whether there is a connection between the proposed response and success. He is hearing that the time change is not on top of their priority list and' not the most wonderful idea they have ever heard. They are trying to accommodate us in the summertime but forget the winter. His concern is whether this proposed change is really worth it due to displacements and costs etc. Will we get the success the CCLC is hoping for other than just revenue. 5 COMMERCIAL CORE & .LODGING COMMISSION SEPT.4, 1996 Warren stated that he is representing the community not the government. The government works for the people and if the people want this, that is how it should be done. Don stated that he is not convinced that the people want this. They come down for dinner and see a movie and do they want socked for another two dollars. He stated that he always finds a place to park after 6:00 p.m. Warren stated if you would have available more customer parking at night how would that effect retail establishments. Don stated that the obvious solution is to get employees off the street and into the parking garage. Warren stated that restaurateurs need to relate to their employees that the parking garage is safe and it has to be convenient in the winter with heavy snow fall. Also increase the Galena Shuttle. Randy stated that the shuttle cost $50. an hour to operate. Don thought a program could be implemented for restaurant owners giving them a sticker for their employees at .50 a night. That cost could be split between the employee and owner and they would get free parking. Bill Dinsmoor stated that he would bring it up at the next meeting. It could be done first come first serve. Randy stated that the concept is doable and not that costly. It could be tried during the ,vinter season. Increased incentives to use the parking garage through the restaurants. Warren stated that retail shops should be given the same incentive. Don suggested that the shuttle time changes could be changed to accommodate the restaurant employees so that they know exactly the time that the shuttle will pick them up for the garage. 6 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION SEPT.4, 1996 Warren suggested for the next meeting that Randy and Tim think about incentives for parking at night whether it be reduced fares or whatever and look at the Galena Shuttle concept. If that can be put in place for the winter then we can monitor ,it for next summer. John stated that he is still not convinced about the extension of parking regulations from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tim stated that the business owners will get the impact and the Board needs their approval to go forward. A plan in place will help them make that decision. Bill reiterated that his only concern is moving the problem from one area to a residential area where it may be even more difficult to monitor. The benefit for the downtown is clear. Don stated that the garage needs to be used and increased lighting needs to Occur. Don stated that an update can be presented at the next meeting. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Bill state~ that he had company over the weekend and he was taken back by the trash in the alleys and boxes around the compactors. Mounds of boxes and stuff everywhere exists in the alleys. It was the Friday before Labor Day and all the city employees were off. What do we do about this. I gave a tour about how the alleys are cleaned up and it was disgusting. We need to do a walk around. How do we get in contact with Lone or someone on the weekend When no one is available to answer the phone at city hall. People are not using the compactor. John stated that the city is complaint driven. Barbara Umbreit stated that Lonnie has a dispatcher 5080 and ask that he be sent out. 7 COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION SEPT.4, 1996 Bill stated that no one is available in their office before a holiday. There is no one to do it, cops aren't available. It is very frustrating. John stated that he did not know why it couldn't be enforced. Barbara stated that if it is a health problem Environmental Health can be called. Bill stated that historically they~do not issue tickets. People who are flagrantly dumping their trash should be fined. MOTION: Bill moved ro adjourn; second by John. All in favor, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at I0:00 p.m. Kathleen J. Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk 8