Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES OSHKOSH PARKING UTILITY COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 8, 2009 PRESENT: Harold Buchholz, Mary Murken, Jay Ratchman and Jim Stapel STAFF: Christopher Strong, Transportation 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 June 10, 2009 minutes. Mr. Ratchman seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-0). FINANCIAL REPORTS Mr. Buchholz questioned if there would be additional expenses due to the expansion of permit usage. Mr. Strong replied the only additional expense might be for materials to produce the permits. Ms. Murken moved to accept the financial reports. Mr. Ratchman seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-0). UNFINISHED BUSINESS TH 1. REMOVAL OF PARKING METERS FROM W. 9 AVENUE PARKING LOT Mr. Strong noted that the meters proposed for removal do not currently allow parking for monthly sticker holders. Therefore, meter removal should only impact people using the lot for short-term parking. Mr. Buchholz referred to an article from Ms. Shirley Mattox on how bicyclists may lose a place to park and lock their bikes when parking meters are removed. th Mr. Strong felt the meters being removed from the W. 9 Avenue Parking Lot should not impact anyone. In some other lots, such as the Jefferson lot, he is looking to incorporate bike racks as funding permits. Mr. Ratchman moved to removed the parking meters and convert the spaces to 90-minute unmetered parking, Ms. Murken seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-0) NEW BUSINESS 2. REALIGNMENT OF PARKING SPACES DURING RENOVATION OF GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Mr. Strong introduced Tom Karrels, T. R. Karrels & Associates, who is working on the plans for renovation the Grand Opera House. He noted that Mr. Karrels wishes for the plans to indicate the PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 2 JULY 8, 2009 location of potential staging areas for materials and equipment. He presented two options for sectioning off a portion of the High Avenue parking lot to serve as the staging area. Mr. Karrels said option #1 would work best for the contractors; whereas, option #2 was less desirable. Ms. Murken asked when work would begin and for what length of time. Mr. Karrels replied September st 1 and for approximately six months. Ms. Murken said the Commission needs to consider snow removal, reallocating handicap spaces and possible damage to the surface by heavy equipment. She questioned who would be liable for damages done to the parking lot. Mr. Karrels replied they would photograph and check out the current condition of the surface and make it clear in the addendum. Mr. Strong noted the parking lot is relatively new; it was constructed in 2000. Mr. Stapel felt option #2 would be better for Dave Sparr’s office. Mr. Ratchman said snow plowing is a major concern. If the lot does not get plowed, we don’t get the revenue. Ms. Murken recommended the Street Dept. be consulted regarding the snow plowing issue and Mr. Sparr be contacted regarding his parking needs before choosing an option. Mr. Buchholz moved to block access up to 23 spaces (approximately 8,400 square feet), Ms. Murken seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-0). 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PERMIT PARKING RATE SCHEDULE. This item is in follow-up to the Commission’s approval at its June meeting of creating a daily permit program. Mr. Buchholz asked if the Commission had projected what the income will be versus the loss of revenue from meter removal. Mr. Strong replied that meter removal was supported as a cost- savings measure, and that additional revenue from new permit sales was not considered. He noted that the actual revenue resulting from permit sales hasn’t been estimated, as the Commission is going into an area it hasn’t been before. Mr. Stapel was approached by a business owner, who suggested 4-hour permits. This owner would issue them to her beauty salon customers.He felt the permits might be an easier sell with a 4-hour option. Mr. Ratchman felt it would cause problems with enforcement. He didn’t feel the parking officer could cover both sides of towneffectively with 4-hour permits. This would result in more time for enforcement and he could foresee them asking for additional help down the road. Mr. Buchholz agreed with Mr. Ratchman that it would result in more enforcement time. Mr. Ratchman noted that at his business their scanners can duplicate just about anything. This needs to be considered when designing the permits. Mr. Buchholz noted that while the customer parks their vehicle and goes into the business to get the permit, they could be ticketed in the interim. He questioned if there were other cities with comparable permit sales. PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 3 JULY 8, 2009 Mr. Strong said he would contact Mr. Footit about his concerns regarding 4-hour permit. He said the Commission has some logistical concerns involving avoiding people’s confusion and enforcement complexity. He said the Commission may want to take a step back and address these concerns before establishing a rate schedule. Ms. Murken felt the permit price was too low. She noted that currently it cost $.25 per hour at a parking meter. Mr. Stapel agreed with Ms. Murken. He felt $1.25 or $1.30 made more sense. Mr. Strong said he would contact other communities, similar in size, about permit fees. No action taken. Request was laid over. 4. REMOVAL OF PARKING METERS FROM A) LIBRARY LOT, B) OTTER LOT, C) OTTER EAST LOT, D) STATE LOT, E) CEAPE AVENUE LOT, F) JEFFERSON AVENUE, EAST SIDE, FROM WASHINGTON AVENUE TO MERRIT AVENUE AND G) MT. VERNON STREET, WEST SIDE, FROM WASHINGTON AVENUE TO MERRITT AVENUE. Mr. Strong said according to Scott Footit, the spaces are typically occupied by vehicles with stickers approximately 90% of the time. Ms. Murken moved to remove the parking meters as listed, Mr. Ratchman seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-0). 5. RESCHEDULING OF AUGUST MEETING The meeting was rescheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 4 P.M. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING None. STAFF STATEMENTS 6. UPDATE ON 400 BLOCK EAST RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT Mr. Strong gave a brief summary on the current status of this project. 7. FOLLOW-UP ON AFTER-HOURS USAGE OF LOTS Mr. Buchholz’s concern was the wear and tear on the lots when normally the lots would not be used at that time. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the Parking Utility Commission, and upon being duly moved and seconded (Murken, Ratchman), the meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.