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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Oshkosh Parking Analysis - final CITY OF OSHKOSH PARKING ANALYSIS JULY 2024 Jessi Balcom, Management Analyst City of Oshkosh Transportation Department 1 | P a g e City of Oshkosh Parking Analysis Council members requested information regarding the City’s overnight parking regulations. This analysis provides an overview of the City’s current parking regulations, the overnight parking regulations of comparable cities and the benefits and drawbacks of potential overnight parking regulation systems. Ancillary questions have also been brought forward and are briefly discussed below. Some of these questions have expanded into other regulations such as off street parking lot time limits. Should the Council wish to further explore other aspects of the City’s parking system, further analysis will be needed, following direction from Council. Current Conditions/Regulations On street overnight parking (from 2-5AM) is prohibited year-round. While on street parking is not permitted without a permit anywhere from 2-5AM, residents and their guests have a number of options for overnight parking within the City. Residents may request permission to park on the street overnight from the Police Department, such requests are generally made to accommodate overnight guests or due to temporary construction. For convenience, there is an electronic request form on the City of Oshkosh Police Department’s Parking page. 2 | P a g e Typically, such requests are granted for up to 3 nights in a 30-day period. Requestors must follow the *alternate side parking rules. Permission does not exempt drivers from following all other parking regulations (posted “No Parking” areas, time limited parking areas, declared snow emergency rules, etc.) Residents and guests frequently utilize this request system. On average, approximately 20 (weekday) to 60 (weekend) requests are made per night. Permits to accommodate on street parking are also available on a first come, first served basis for most streets within the City. A permit is available for all streets that allow parking on both sides of the street, this requirement accommodates the *alternate side parking rules. Additionally, the number of permits issued on some streets is limited due to the space available. The chart to the left shows the number of permits available on the streets that have a limited number of permits. Permit holders must display their permit and follow the *alternate side parking rules. 600 Amherst ⃝ ⃝ ⃝300 Melvin ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 500 Amherst ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝200 Melvin ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 400 Amherst ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝100 Melvin ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 500 Annex ⃝ ⃝ ⃝1200 Ontario ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 400 Annex ⃝ ⃝ ⃝1300 Ontario ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 500 Campus Pl ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝600 Prospect ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 500 Prospect ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 900 Central ⃝ ⃝400 Prospect ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 1000 Central ⃝ ⃝300 Prospect ⃝ ⃝ 200 Prospect ⃝ ⃝ 800 Congress ⃝ ⃝ 700 Congress ⃝ ⃝0-100 Riverway Dr ⃝ ⃝ 600 Congress ⃝ ⃝ 600 Scott ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 200 Dawes ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝500 Scott ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 300 Dawes ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝400 Scott ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 300 Scott ⃝ ⃝ 900 Frederick ⃝ ⃝200 Scott ⃝ ⃝ 1000 Frederick ⃝ ⃝ 200 Ida ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 100 Ida ⃝ ⃝1300 Spruce ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 1200 Liberty ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝500 Union ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 1400 Liberty ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝400 Union ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 600 W Lincoln ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝1300 Walnut ⃝ ⃝ 500 W Lincoln ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 400 W Lincoln ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝800 Wright ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 300 W Lincoln ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝900 Wright ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 200 W Lincoln ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝1000 Wright ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ 100 W Lincoln ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ **NO PARKING PERMITS FOR TITAN COURT NO PERMITS FOR SHORT AVE MONTHLY PARKING PERMITS BY STREET MASTER Month JANUARY Color NO PERMITS FOR1200 SPRUCE **NO PLATE, NO PERMIT **NO PARKING PERMITS ON JEFFERSON THROUGH 1100 BLK **NO PARKING PERMITS SOLD IN THE 1200 BLK OF SPRUCE **NO PARKING PERMITS SOLD IN THE 1200 BLK OF WALNUT **NO PARKING PERMITS ON FUGLEBERG Revised 1/2020 3 | P a g e The Central City Parking Area (shown in pink to the right, also referred to as the University Parking Area) is limited to a nine- month permit that is available from September to May or a three-month permit that is available from June to August and monthly permits are available all year. All other areas may purchase monthly or annual permits for on street overnight parking. Permits are available at the Police Department. These permits do not exempt drivers from following all other parking regulations (posted “No Parking” areas, time limited parking areas, declared snow emergency rules, etc.) In March of this year, 104 of 159 available Central City Area permits were purchased. Demand for parking permits varies from month to month and is lesser when the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is not in session. Parking is also available in the City’s downtown parking lots (see map to the left) overnight with a permit or in a leased space. Permits can be purchased daily, monthly or annually at City Hall (Collections). Leased spaces are available for three or more months at a time. Parking lot permits and forfeitures have brought in about $100,000 in revenue annually (this revenue is from parking lot revenue and does not include on street parking violation 4 | P a g e revenues); in the 2024 Adopted Budget, $109,600 is listed as “Total Revenue Source” for the Parking Utility. Of these funds, $15,000 is to come from forfeitures, $22,500 ($23,110 in 2023) from on street parking permits, $48,000 from parking lot permits and $21,900 from leased parking lot spaces. *Alternate side parking rules: Vehicles with permission or a permit must follow the parking regulations for the street on which the vehicle is parked and park on the ODD or EVEN address numbered side of the street depending on the date. On ODD numbered dates (such as March 1 or June 15) the car must be parked on the ODD numbered addresses side of the street, as determined by the calendar before midnight (in Oshkosh, some communities use a different time); and be parked on the EVEN addressed side of the street on EVEN numbered dates (such as March 2 or June 16). “Display-and-Pay” (metered), short-term parking is available in the area along High Avenue and Osceola Street through an agreement with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. The intergovernmental agreement allows UWO to utilize, manage and collect the revenues from metered parking in this limited area on City streets. UWO pays 25% of the parking revenue to the City. Community Expectations Aesthetics- Vehicles that are parked for long periods of time on the street can detract from the aesthetics of the neighborhood, especially if the vehicle is inoperable or in poor condition. Such vehicles may appear to be abandoned or give a perception of neglect or lack of pride in the adjacent properties. Parked cars can lead to streets appearing cluttered or unsightly which could affect overall appearance. Safety- Both negative and positive impacts of on street parking: Vehicles parked on the street create an obstacle and narrow the usable width of the road. Parked cars can create a visual barrier between motor vehicle traffic and crossing pedestrians. Vehicles parked on the street are exposed to the risk of damage from passing traffic, including minor dings and scratches to side-swipe accidents. Vehicles parked on the street are vulnerable to theft, vandalism and break-ins. (Sonas, 2024) Perceptions of safety in urban places are fundamental for users of the public road and pedestrian ways. Perceived safety refers to an individual’s experience of “the risk of becoming a victim of crime and disturbance of public order.” (Jansson, 2019) The presence of unfamiliar vehicles in a residential area may negatively impact the 5 | P a g e perceived safety of those in the area, particularly at night and during times of reduced visibility. On street parking can also have a traffic calming impact by narrowing the road width and encouraging drivers to drive more slowly. Convenience – positive and negative impacts of on street parking: Allowing overnight on street parking in residential neighborhoods can provide convenience for residents and guests, by providing off premise parking close to their home/destination. The parking of large vehicles (such as recreational or commercial units) on the street can create controversy among neighbors. Also, residents have expressed concern about camping/sleeping on the street and mail delivery/access to their mailboxes when people park along their street. Comparable Cities On street overnight parking regulations vary greatly from community to community. There are several reasons for this variance such as climate (severe weather events experienced such as snow, flash flooding, sand storms, etc.); community expectations regarding aesthetics, perceived safety and convenience; City operations (including Police, Fire, Public Works, Utilities and public projects bid out to private contractors); and major entities other than the municipal government (such as colleges/universities, sports teams, event venues, etc.) operating within the City. Attached please find a brief summary of the on street parking regulations and municipal parking lots/ramps in comparable and well-known cities. The City of Oshkosh has a population of approximately 66,000, is the Winnebago County seat (offering many public services) and is home to UW-Oshkosh. Stevens Point does not allow on street parking in the downtown and restricts all other streets to alternate side parking from 2:30-6AM. Stevens Point has a population of approximately 25,716, is the Portage County seat and home to UW-Stevens Point. Eau Claire restricts on street parking to a maximum of 24 hours and requires alternate side parking from November 1 to May 1. Eau Claire has a population of approximately 69,737 (2022), is the Eau Claire County seat and home to UW-Eau Claire. 6 | P a g e La Crosse restricts on street parking to a maximum of 48 hours. La Crosse has a population of approximately 51,380, is the La Crosse County seat and home to UW-La Crosse. Appleton does not allow on street parking from 2-5AM anywhere in the City. Appleton has a population of approximately 74,511, is the Outagamie County seat and home to Lawrence University. Appleton is a neighboring community within the Fox River Valley. Neenah does not allow on street parking from November 1-March 31 and restricts on street parking to alternate side parking in residential areas from April 1- October 31. Neenah has an approximate population of 27, 361 and is a neighboring community within the Fox River Valley. Fond du Lac restricts on street parking to alternate side parking from 8PM-8AM from November 15-March 15, all metered areas are restricted to a maximum of 60 minutes from 2-6AM year-round. Fond du Lac has an approximate population of 44,339, and is the Fond du Lac County seat and is a neighboring community. West Allis does not allow on street parking from 3-6AM, electronic permits are available. West Allis has an approximate population of 58,950. Brookfield does not allow on street parking from 2-6AM. Brookfield has an approximate population of 41,958. Milwaukee does not allow on street parking from 2-6AM, Monday-Saturday. Milwaukee has an approximate population of 563,305, is the Milwaukee County seat and home to UW-Milwaukee. Madison restricts on street parking to alternate side parking from November 15- March 15 from 1-7AM. Madison has an approximate population of 272,903, is the Dane County seat and home to the University of Wisconsin. New York, NY does not restrict overnight on street parking. New York has an approximate population of 8,336,000 and is in several counties and home to several colleges and universities. 7 | P a g e Chicago, IL does not allow on street overnight (3-7AM) parking from December 1-March 31. Chicago has a very complex Vehicle sticker program. Chicago has an approximate population of 2,665,000, is the Cook County seat and is home to several colleges and universities. City Operations Police- The Police Department is a 24/7 operation whose mission is to promote public safety and to enhance the quality of life in our community through innovative policing and community partnerships. The Police Department serves to educate the public regarding parking rules and regulations and is the main enforcement entity to ensure safety and compliance. The Police Department currently has three night time and three day time Parking Control Officer positions. In 2023, 13,893 parking tickets were issued between the hours of 2-5AM. Summer months (June – September) saw fewer citations, less than 1,000 per month (June 446, July 558, August 999 and September 907); while the rest of the year saw numbers between 1,000 and 1,800 citations per month, except December, which was lower (January 1,730, February 1,427, March 1,730, April 1,733, May 1,417, October 1,088, November 1,046 and December 812). The Police Department handled 1,679 calls for service for parking complaints in the City of Oshkosh in 2023. Of the 1,679 parking calls for service, 1,390 (87%) were citizen generated complaints, 287 (17%) were officer generated complaints and 2 complaints were categorized as other. 247 of these complaints occurred between 2-5AM; 122 of these complaints came in from citizens and 125 were initiated by Police Officers in the field. Parking violations between 2-5AM in 2023 brought in more than $223,000. (Total revenues for both parking lot and on street parking was $315,728.42 in 2023). The 2024 Adopted Budget lists revenues of $348,600 for all parking violations. Noted concerns: From a safety perspective, knowing that overnight on street parking is not allowed can alert an officer to a dangerous or emergency situation. If a car is parked on the street, the officer may approach and discover someone in distress/in need of help or determine that a crime has been committed. Requiring vehicle owners to make other parking arrangements also lessens traffic accidents/reports during the overnight period. Residential streets free of parked cars provide for safer rapid response to emergency situations and quicker identification of the issue in critical circumstances. 8 | P a g e Allowing overnight on street parking may provide a good option for those that make the decision to find a ride home due to illness or intoxication, allowing them to legally leave their vehicle and return for it the next day. Fire- The Fire Department is a 24/7 operation whose mission is to add value to the community by providing a wide range of emergency services with skill and compassion. The Fire Department prevents, responds to and suppresses fires in an efficient and timely manner as well as providing emergency medical services, special event coverage and emergency management to the City of Oshkosh and surrounding community partners. Restricting on street overnight parking aids in the department’s ability to respond rapidly and safely to residential neighborhoods when visibility is limited and time is of the essence. Public Works- The Public Works Department is made up of several divisions that provide services directly to the City. Sanitation collects garbage and recycling five days a week (including Saturdays when a holiday falls on a weekday) on set routes throughout the City. Collection operations typically run from 7AM- 3PM daily but can be greatly impacted by weather, street conditions and access to carts. Restricting overnight parking aids the sanitation division’s operations by providing for better road conditions (plowing operations are more efficient and thorough and there is a higher level of road maintenance and better access to curbs), and by providing less hampered access to carts (since carts are to be placed by the curb prior to 7AM, people can better recognize that sanitation trucks will be coming through the neighborhood and can take that into consideration when parking). Streets operations primarily provide for street sweeping, cleaning and repair of the municipal storm and sanitary system, pavement overlays, street patching, crack filling, leaf collection, curb repair, terrace repair, graffiti removal, ditch maintenance, weed control, and snow removal. Restricting overnight parking aids the streets division’s operations in several ways. It allows for better access to the curb (which is necessary for several of their core services, such as street sweeping, leaf collection and snow removal), provides for greater vision and maneuverability (much of the division’s equipment and apparatus are large and difficult to see out of, so having fewer obstacles on the road improves efficiency and safety), allows for more thorough and efficient operations (operators can focus on the work at hand with less need to go back over areas/routes multiple times due to parked cars blocking areas that need to be cleaned or repaired). 9 | P a g e Of note, the Stormwater Utility is required to maintain street sweeping operations at current levels per State Statutes. (Section 281.16(2)(am)3, prevents backsliding caused by removal or discontinued maintenance of best management practices (BMPs) that were already in place prior to July 1, 2011. “If a covered municipality has achieved, on July 1, 2011, a reduction of more than 20 percent of total suspended solids carried by runoff, the municipality shall, to the maximum extent practicable, maintain all of the best management practices that the municipality has implemented on or before July 1, 2011, to achieve that reduction.”) Streets are swept regularly to improve water quality by removing debris from the street, gutters and stormwater inlets. Currently, in addition to day time operators, an operator is assigned to the PM and overnight shifts to accommodate these requirements, restricting parking from 2-5AM enhances the effectiveness of the overnight shift. In the downtown area (shown in yellow above), which hosts the University and is heavily commercial, street sweeping is required to be performed weekly. In the pink areas, street sweeping is performed once per week for six weeks, then every other week. In order to fulfill this requirement, operators must have access to curbs, gutters and stormwater inlets on a regular basis. Parked cars create a particular safety concern for leaf collection operations. Due to the size and characteristics of the equipment, visibility of the area around the truck is very limited. It is extremely difficult for operators to see pedestrians, especially when they are near a parked car. People crossing the street or a child running after a ball are much more difficult to see when parked cars line the roadway. Due to fatalities and injuries experienced in Wisconsin, front mounted units were ordered off the streets and the State Patrol issued a moratorium on vacuum collection in Neenah and Oshkosh for a period of time in 2012. In order to continue federally required operations and not 10 | P a g e violate the State order, the City now utilizes dual steer trucks (the driver operates the vehicle from the right side) during leaf collection to lessen sight obstructions. Snow plowing is an extremely important and difficult task. Within the downtown area, business operators and customers have become accustom to snow being removed from the area during the overnight hours following all large-scale snowfall events. Because there is limited snow storage area in the downtown, snow must be removed from the terrace area and pushed into the roadway, loaded onto large trucks and hauled away from the area. In order for these operations to be done safely, the roadway from which the snow is being removed must be closed to traffic. Being that cars are not allowed to park overnight, and vehicle and pedestrian traffic is significantly less during these times, this has been when snow removal operations have most frequently been undertaken. Of note, in areas outside of the downtown, parked cars also impact snow clearing operations. Parked cars significantly narrow the roadway for large snow plow equipment. Most residential streets are 32 feet wide. This width is not sufficient for a plow, (garbage trucks and many other large pieces of equipment) to get through if cars are parked on both sides of the street. Water Utility operations maintain the potable water system and much of this infrastructure is within the street right-of-way. When a main break is experienced, it is important that the utility have quick access to the problem location. Cars must be cleared from the area to allow for operators and equipment to address the situation. During the night time hours, clearing the street of parked cars is more difficult and disruptive (knocking on doors, making phone calls). Many times, it is necessary to call in the Police Department to identify car owners and notify them that their vehicle needs to be moved. Options – Benefits and Concerns As noted earlier, on street overnight parking regulations vary greatly from community to community. The elected leaders of a municipality must carefully weigh the needs of the residents, their guests, visitors, public safety, city operations/service provision and state/federal requirements when determining the best policy for their community. Additionally, once the preferred policy is chosen, there will be further concerns to address such as enforcement. If permits will be utilized/required: How will they be obtained? Who will be eligible to get a permit? Will there be a fee for the permit? How will enforcement be funded? Will enforcement be prioritized? No on street overnight parking- Currently the City of Oshkosh does not allow on street overnight parking. 11 | P a g e PROS: This regulation provides greater access to the roadways and right-of-way for public safety and city operations. Having fewer obstacles on the street during required operations such as street sweeping (State mandated to improve stormwater quality), garbage and recycling collection, snow removal, and utility maintenance and emergency repair provides for safer, more efficient and higher quality service. Requiring the streets to be free of vehicles in the overnight hours provides for greater access for police and fire emergency response and adds to the perception of safety for the neighborhood. Allowing vehicles to remain on the street for long periods of time makes it easier for people to attempt to store or abandon unwanted and/or inoperable vehicles and also creates concern regarding unrecognized vehicles/persons near a resident’s home. CONS: This regulation does not offer flexibility and convenience to resident’s and their guests. No on street overnight parking during certain times of the year- Some communities do not allow overnight parking during times of the year that are most impacted by inclement weather or during times of greater activity (such as during festival season or other large events). In Wisconsin, when this option is utilized, often overnight parking is not allowed in the winter months. PROS: This regulation provides access to the roadways and right-of-way during times of the year when the community will likely have the most frequent need to preform snow removal operations. This can serve as a compromise benefitting residents, guests and visitors by allowing access to on street parking during a specific, defined period of time during the year. CONS: This option does not allow for consistent regulations, year-round efficient operations and the most optimal situation for emergency response. The Public Works Department’s operations are impacted greatly by the access they have to the street, curb and right-of-way. Some operations are year-round or most prevalent during the summer months (such as street sweeping and street repair). Alternate side overnight parking- Some communities regulate on street parking by allowing overnight parking on one side of the street (determined by the calendar date) throughout the community or in certain areas. PROS: This regulation provides access to the roadways and right-of-way on a limited basis (every other day for most streets) for City operations. This can serve as a compromise benefiting residents, guests and visitors by allowing access to on street parking. 12 | P a g e CONS: Alternate side parking rules can cause confusion as to where and when parking is allowed and can make enforcement difficult. The efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility of city operations is impacted. No on street parking allowed on certain days of the week – A community may choose to allow on street parking on specific days of the week. For example, parking may be prohibited on Mondays and Tuesdays, but allowed Wednesday – Sunday (or any other street/day combination the Council determines to be most appropriate). PROS: This regulation provides access to the full street width for City operations on a regular basis. Residents are allowed to park on the street on a predictable schedule. CONS: The efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility of city operation is impacted. There are days of the week that overnight on street parking is not available to residents and their guests. Unregulated overnight on street parking- Some communities do not restrict on street parking overnight. PROS: Residents and their guests have unrestricted access to overnight on street parking. CONS: City operations and safety are impacted, making operations both less efficient and less effective due to efforts necessitated by parked cars in the work path. Additionally, many concerns and complaints regarding parking are generated due to people’s concerns and frustrations around when and where people are parking. Things like vehicles that have been in the same location for an extended amount of time, vehicles that appear to be inoperable, concerns about access to their driveway or visibility at intersections or other congested areas are all lessened when vehicle owners are tasked with moving their vehicle periodically. Recommendation Staff has gathered information as to the potential overnight parking regulation options, how other communities regulate overnight parking and the operational needs of the City. At this point, staff recommends gathering the thoughts and opinions of Oshkosh residents prior to moving forward with any policy changes regarding overnight on street parking regulations. As noted earlier, residents’ expectations, priorities and preferences vary from community to community. Information could be gathered through an online survey (Polco system), during a committee or City Council workshop, by public hearing or any other method the Council feels is most appropriate. 13 | P a g e Additional areas to discuss: The questions in bold below have been brought to the City Council and staff. Basic information is provided; however, staff is looking for direction as to how the Committee and City Council would like to delve into these issues and what information would be most pertinent to best move forward with related policy decisions. Should parking regulations be consistent throughout the City or vary based on the characteristics of the area? Consistency of rules and enforcement is often preferable for several reasons. Rules that apply to all areas in all situations are easier to convey to the public and leave less room for misinterpretation. However, sometimes the differences in the characteristics of an area warrant a different set of rules to properly address differing situations. Regarding on street parking, residential areas, the downtown and the area encompassing the UW- Oshkosh campus may warrant different on street parking regulations depending on the community’s needs and preferences. If the City Council would like to look at regulating these areas more consistently or provide more area specific regulation in these or other defined areas, guidance to staff as to how the Council would feel best prepared to move forward is needed. Should 4-hour parking be added to City lots? The question as to how long free parking spaces in the City’s parking lots should be time limited has been discussed and changed many times in the City’s history. Previously the City had a Parking Committee that looked at these types of issues as they arose. The amount of time a space should be available can be argued from several perspectives. Shorter time limits increase turnover, hopefully increasing the number of people having convenient access to downtown businesses and amenities. Longer time limits more easily accommodate those in the area for a longer service or engagement. Four-hour time limits can accommodate individuals accessing services that can take longer than 2 hours (such as hair care, body art, health services, etc.) but can also reduce turnover. With a four-hour time limit, previous observation of parking behavior seemed to suggest employees of downtown businesses taking up these spaces and then moving their cars at lunch or over a mid-shift break to another close space, tying these spaces up for the entire day. Direction is needed as to what information is needed by 14 | P a g e the Council and what goals/objectives of the spaces are to be prioritized to best determine the most advantageous utilization of the City’s lots. As noted previously, please find attached a brief summary of the municipal parking lots/ramps regulations in comparable and well-known cities. Should paid on-street parking be reevaluated? The City contracted for a comprehensive parking study in 2016 that recommended the use of metered on street parking in the downtown. The City Council chose not to implement the recommendations of the study at that time. Would the current Council prefer to review the 2016 study and/or move forward with a new comprehensive review of the current parking situation and/or pursue a different path? Should downtown parking lots continue to be owned and operated by the City, including their maintenance and reconstruction? This is a very complex question. City owned parking lots in the downtown provide a convenience for all those visiting, living and working in our community. Lots are used by individuals to access private businesses, visit public facilities and attend private and public events every day. The cost of maintaining such facilities is significant. Lots must be cleared of snow and debris regularly, crack filling, pot hole repair, resealing and full restoration is a continuous process. Additionally, determining the appropriate policies and enforcement of these spaces can be controversial and may require reevaluation and change over time. Should the Council wish to evaluate potential policy changes regarding City owned lots, direction as to the aspects of this question that warrant research should be provided. 15 | P a g e 16 | P a g e