Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTESO1HKOIH ox 1xE wn~ OSHKOSH PARKING UTILITY COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 11, 2009 PRESENT: Jim Stapel Presiding, Dennis McHugh, Mary Murken and Jay Ratchman STAFF: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director Peggy Steeno, Finance Director Jennifer Weigand, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Chairman Stapel called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ms. Murken moved to accept the January 21, 2009 minutes. Mr. McHugh seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-0). FINANCIAL REPORTS Ms. Murken moved to accept the financial reports. Mr. McHugh seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-0). UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. DISCUSSION OF ENFORCEMENT OF PARKING REGULATIONS Sgt. Matt Kroening from the Oshkosh Police Department developed a report which documented downward trends in parking ticket issuance, which was distributed to Commission members. Capt. Kurt Schoeni from the Police Department noted that the downward trends were primarily due to staff turnover, and different duties and focuses in the department. Capt. Schoeni said parking compliance officers (PCOs) work primarily between 1:30 and 5:30 a.m. and the position went unfilled for a time. He noted that they are now fully staffed. In addition, the introduction of a computerized ticket writer has caused some problems. Mr. Ratchman asked if the overnight hours were the hardest time to write tickets. Capt. Schoeni replied that it was primarily a problem of staffing levels, which have since been resolved. He noted Scott Footit, BID officer, had to work the night shift to train personnel which caused daytime ticketing to decrease. He said the night shirt officers are now again PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 2 MARCH 11, 2009 issuing tickets between 2 AM- 5 AM along with the PCOs and they have seen an increase in tickets issued. They are now focusing redirection on where they have been lacking. Mr. Stapel felt that decreased ticketing was not due to increased compliance but rather reduced enforcement. Capt. Schoeni said they have seen a huge decrease in the number of appeals received because they are paying more attention to circumstances surrounding the parking violation. Mr. McHugh said there are plenty of places where motorists park their vehicle in the same spot day after day and get away with it. Capt. Schoeni said they keep getting phone calls about citizen concerns and it's a matter of trying to balance all their demands in one day. Parking enforcement officers try to work in a rotation so as to get everywhere in the city, and he noted it is a constant struggle to get to the greatest area of concern at the time. He said the Commission should see a change in ticket issuance because he believes they are going in the right direction based on what they have identified in the report and the current changes they have made. NEW BUSINESS 2. DISCUSSION ON CITY-WIDE REMOVAL OF PARKING METERS Mr. Strong gave a synopsis on the proposal to remove on-street parking meters. Mr. Stapel said the main concern is to make sure there are parking spots available for their customers. He noted some businesses have longer term needs and the Commission will have to come up with some way to address that. He was not as concerned with meter revenue so much as making downtown as convenient as possible for shoppers, which includes having available parking. Mr. McHugh felt parking meters had a two fold purpose: 1) to facilitate downtown shopping and 2) a way to generate revenue to enhance the parking lots, maintenance of lots and amenities. Mr. McHugh asked Capt. Schoeni if it would be difficult to enforce parking without the meters. Capt Schoeni said that enforcement is straightforward, so long as the rules for a particular parking area are clear. Mr. McHugh felt the enforcement burden is to get to the vehicles in time in order to issue tickets when violations have occurred. Mr. Footit said that people who currently use the meters are residents or employees. Time restrictions for parking vary and it can be challenging to get to all of the zones when the time has expired. Ms. Murken noted that monthly parking permits will still be available, even if meters are removed. Mr. Ratchman asked if it would be confusing to have several different time zones in one small area. Mr. Footit said it would be confusing to people using the spaces and also challenging to get there when their time is up. Capt. Schoeni suggested the Board look at simplifying the rules so there are not so many parking variances. He felt this would help with enforcement. PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 3 MARCH 11, 2009 Mr. Stapel said some businesses need long term parking but he felt it would be foolish to convert the whole lot to long-term parking. He suggested that having a longer parking duration than two hours essentially makes it all-day parking. He would like to see businesses able to buy a few long-term parking permits to distribute to their customers. Mr. Strong said the City of Janesville has removed their parking meters to encourage people to use the downtown. Ms. Steeno said another city with no parking meters is the City of Baraboo. Mr. McHugh felt the meters are a source of revenue. He doesn't believe in the argument the meters are too old to maintain. He is not convinced the removal of parking meters is the thing to do. Mr. Strong said in 2008 the meter income represented less than 10% of the utility's revenue. Mr. Stapel questioned how much time is spent on collecting meter revenues. Ms. Steeno replied approximately six hours for 425 meters. She said the removal of the meters is not any indication of removing enforcement. Sometimes the officers find it easier to issue tickets off chalk marks than having to look at meters when they expire. She doesn't think the success of a Parking Utility has to do with whether you have meters or not; it is compliance and enforcement. There was some discussion regarding whether it would make sense to keep some meters. This would result in a difficult question of how to maintain the smaller inventory of meters. Mr. Strong said that if we only had a few pay and display systems, it might make sense to contract that out, similar to what the university does. Mr. Ratchman said a lot of businesses employ students for 4-hour shifts. It doesn't make sense for them to buy a permit. He felt we would lose that revenue because they will just move their vehicles after two hours. Mr. Strong felt possibly rotating monthly employee permits might address this problem. Mr. McHugh suggested exploring the following alternatives: 1) contracting out maintenance, like the University, 2) in-house alternative to picking up the money, 3) logistical details on removal of meters, 4) details to make this successful, and 5) assessing abutting property owners like the City of Janesville. Ms. Murken said she would like to see what the options are, how to make parking more user friendly and try to have everyone needs satisfied. Mr. Ratchman is positive about the proposal but would like some answers to some of the concerns brought up. Mr. Stapel felt the removal of parking meters would be a positive financial move. He felt we should remove as many meters that makes sense. However, he said there may be a few locations where it would make sense to have them. Ms. Murken said with the upcoming reconstruction of Main Street, we may need some meters in some of the lots to help with motorists with their parking needs. Mr. Strong said the city staff was envisioning either all or nothing; i. e. either remove all of the meters or preserve metered parking. He noted that the Commission had previously approved the use of pay and display in the Jefferson (400 Block East) parking lot. He PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 4 MARCH 11, 2009 suggested that if the meters were removed, it would not make sense to have pay and display systems in the parking lots at this time. Mr. Stapel stressed the vast majority of downtown parking needs are 2-hour and 90-minute parking. Mr. Strong would report to the Commission on the following concerns: 1) longer duration customers, 2) short time employees (4-hours), 3) what would happen if we maintained a few meters, and 4) what would happen if there were no meters and property owners were assessed instead. 3. ELIMINATE PARKING UTILITY COMMISSION BY-LAWS Mr. McHugh asked what was being resolved by eliminating the by-laws and what brought this up. Mr. Strong replied the question of a quorum brought this to his attention. He noted that what the by-laws say disagrees with what the municipal code says. According to the City Attorney, there is no need for the by-laws. The Board can do one of two things: amend the by-laws or eliminate the by-laws all together. Ms. Murken asked if we are the only Board with its own by-laws. Mr. Strong said there are some other committees with their own by-laws. Mr. McHugh would like to get a legal opinion on this issue. 4. DISCUSSION OF PARKING NEEDS AT 217 N. MAIN STREET. Mr. Strong said the owner of 217 N. Main Street was unable to attend today's meeting. However, he said some of the problems have been resolved. STAFF STATEMENTS Mr. Ratchman said that Mr. Footit was Commission's concerns. He said he would meetings from time to time. He felt that Mr. Street reconstruction project occurs. very informative today in addressing the like to have him attend future Commission Footit's role will be important when the Main ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the Parking utility Commission, and upon being duly moved and seconded, (McHugh, Murken) the meeting adjourned at 5: 08 p. m.