Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPKG_UTILITY_MINUTES_NOV_12-2008O1HKOIH ox 1xE wn~ OSHKOSH PARKING UTILITY COMMISSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 12, 2008 PRESENT: Dennis McHugh Presiding, Mary Murken and Jay Ratchman ABSENT: Jim Stapel and Carol Schiessl STAFF: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director Jennifer Weigand, Recording Secretary Mark Rohloff, City Manager Peggy Steeno, Finance Director CALL TO ORDER Acting Chairperson McHugh called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Ratchman moved to accept the October 8, 2008 minutes. Ms. Murken seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS 1. CONVENTION CENTER PARKING NEEDS IN RELATION TO 100 NORTH MAIN STREET PARKING REQUEST. Wendy Hielsberg, Executive Director of the Oshkosh Convention and Visitor Bureau, told the Commission that when the Convention Center opens it will have smaller events initially, but larger events are planned for the summer. In previous years, large events would fill the parking lot to capacity and many attendees had to be referred to surrounding parking areas. With smaller events, she said that there should be no problem with sharing parking spaces. She was willing to work with Mr. Don Braun and keep him informed of upcoming events. Mr. Don Braun, 100 North Main Street, said his problems occur primarily in the evening and overnight when he needs to park the extra vehicles that can not be accommodated in his parking lot. Day time parking is not an issue at this time. Mr. Strong informed the Commission that bonds were used to pay for the Ceape Avenue Lot and that those bonds restrict the City from reserving spaces for commercial use. He suggested Mr. Braun could buy permits for the blue banded meters. Mr. Ratchman noted that blue banded meters do not allow overnight parking. Mr. Braun felt the best thing to do was to keep his ten parking spaces in the Riverside Lot, next to the Convention Center. Mr. Strong noted that the existing agreement with the city permits 100 North Main Street to purchase up to 60 permits in the parking lot next to the Convention Center. Ms. Murken felt the Commission could not make any type of commitment because we need to see how it goes when the Convention Center reopens. She suggested a trial period for one year. FINANCIAL REPORTS. PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 2 NOVEMBER 12, 2008 No comments. PARKING FUND BALANCE City Manager Mark Rohloff appeared before the Commission to discuss the long-term financial outlook of the Parking Utility. He told the Commission that he, Director of Finance Peggy Steeno, and Mr. Strong have learned a lot in recent months while going over the 2009 budget. Revenues across the board are going down and have taken a downturn in the past year. This sharp downturn prompted a closer look at the financial health of the utility as a whole. This analysis indicated that the parking utility has borrowed nearly $164,000 from the general fund for interest payments on previous bond issues, as well as nearly $334,000 in principal payments on those bond issues. Mr. Rohloff noted that in previous years, the Commission has not been presented with this long-term view, so it would not have been aware of this deficit. He said that city staff are currently investigating the causes of this. Based on his observations, Mr. Rohloff stated that the Parking Utility is not meeting its financial goals. However, he added that the city has made a significant investment in parking improvements throughout the community for a reason, and that the city shouldn't make any rash decisions because the current operating deficit is a recent problem. He recommended that the Commission evaluate the goals of the Parking Utility, work through this issue with staff and build a plan. Ms. Murken said it is difficult being on the Commission, noting that the Commission's true function is unclear, and that many plans have come before the Commission without any clear plan of how they will be paid for. She felt one reason for a reduction in revenues was that the Utility had made financial concessions to the BID Board in making the downtown area friendlier. She also asked whether the Parking Utility receives any income from Waterfest parking. Mr. Ratchman questioned why the revenues are down. Mr. Rohloff said some of the reasons are the shutdown of the Convention Center the past few years and citations are down. Mr. Ratchman noted his employees no longer put money in the meters because they don't get tickets. He called for more aggressive enforcement of parking regulations. Mr. Rohloff recognizes there is a problem, saying that the city may have created a culture where parking violators don't have to worry anymore. Mr. Rohloff said it is necessary to do a true cost accounting for the Parking Utility, where all of the costs involved in sustaining the Parking Utility, including parking lot maintenance and enforcement, are considered. In the long term, the Parking Utility is not a viable business function but it exists to provide a service to the community. Mr. Rohloff said the Board needs all the information given to them to make good business decisions. Mr. McHugh said the key is we have to find out why there is this shortfall and be upfront about it. Mr. Strong said they would like to get a consensus from the Board on what the Board's financial and policy goals are. Mr. Rohloff said it is time to get these policies to the Common Council. Mr. Strong said he has completed the data collection for the utilization study. He thinks a lot of interesting things will come out of the study and the completed study should be ready for distribution in December 2008. Mr. McHugh felt it was unthinkable to shut the Parking Utility down and recommended staff to study the problem. Mr. Rohloff said most questions have yet to be answered. None. STAFF ITEM AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING None. PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 3 NOVEMBER 12, 2008 ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the Parking Utility Commission, and upon being duly moved and seconded, (Ratchman, McHugh) the meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.