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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWaterfest Approval #20_O SHKOSH CHAMBER OF COM MERCE January 15, 2010 ADVOCACY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP Mr. Mark Rohloff City of Oshkosh P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54902 -1130 Dear Mark: On the behalf of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce and Waterfest, Inc., please accept this request for the use of Riverside Park to include the area up to and around the Leach Amphitheater for the 2009 Waterfest Concert Series. Waterfest, Inc. requests to reserve and occupy "Riverside Park" defined as running from Main Street on the west to the railroad tracks on the east with Ceape Street on the North and the Fox River to the South. The area occupied to include all parking and all park facilities other than the Convention Center. Additionally, we would anticipate that for safety & security purposes Court Street (south of Ceape Street) would be vacated during Waterfest events. The Waterfest, Inc. plans to produce its regular season of 15 Thursday evening concert events running each Thursday from May 27, 2010 through September 2, 2010. Most concerts will be held between the hours of 6:00 and 11:00 p.m. However, we may open the admission gates at 5:00 p.m. to accommodate special "community night" promotions. As in the past, the park is requested on the aforementioned dates from approximately 10:00 a.m. the day of the show until 1:00 a.m. the next morning for set -up and teardown functions that occur. Our request is consistent with our previous year's request. Waterfest, Inc. has made arrangements with City of Oshkosh Parks Department for 2010 Leach Amphitheater use for the above mentioned dates. We look forward to a good working relationship with your new Parks Director and his team. The Waterfest Concert Series - "Wisconsin's Best Community Concert Series" - has been a wonderful tradition for our downtown and the entire community. We believe it has consistently delivered on its Mission to "Celebrate the superb quality of life we enjoy, promote Oshkosh On The Water all summer long throughout NE Wisconsin, raise awareness of what our community has to offer, instill a healthy sense of community and act as a catalyst for riverfront & downtown economic development." Please refer any questions or concerns that you have to me at (920) 303 -2265 ext. 18 or Mike Dempsey at (920) 236 -8140. We look forward to your response to this request. Sin ely, J n A. Casper President /CEO cc: Michael P. Dempsey, Waterfest Trish Wendorf, City of Oshkosh Parks Pept. 120 JACKSON STREET OSHKOSH, WI 549 • 920 -303 -2266 • FAX: 9 20- 3 0 3 -226 3 • info @oshkoshchamber.com RESOLUTION FOR WATERFEST, INC. TO COLLECT PARKING REVENUE IN SPECIFIC MUNICIPAL LOTS DURING WATERFEST Whereas the City of Oshkosh Parking Utility Commission is responsible for the management and operations of municipal parking lots in the City of Oshkosh, and Whereas Waterfest, Inc. has sponsored a summer concert series for a number of years as a benefit to the citizens of Oshkosh and an attraction to visitors, and Whereas the Oshkosh Common Council has annually granted Waterfest, Inc. permission to use the Leach Amphitheater, the Riverside East parking lot and the Riverside parking lot in recent years as a venue and parking area for this concert series, and Whereas the Waterfest concert series operates on one weeknight per week during the summer, and therefore constitutes a relatively limited use of parking capacity in the downtown area, and Whereas Waterfest, Inc. has, in the past, charged people to park in these lots during evenings when Waterfest events occur, and this parking has not deprived the Parking Utility of any revenue, and Whereas the Parking Utility Commission believes that parking for the Waterfest concert series is an appropriate use for municipal parking lots south of Ceape Avenue since it does not conflict with the normal weekday usage of these parking lots, The City of Oshkosh Parking Utility Commission hereby resolves the following: 1. Waterfest, Inc. is allowed to restrict access to the Riverside Parking Lot on evenings when Waterfest performances are being held, according to permission granted by the Oshkosh Common Council. Waterfest, Inc. may elect to collect money from vehicles for the permission to park in these lots, and may keep this parking revenue for its own purposes. 2. Waterfest, Inc. must allow leaseholders in the twenty spaces at the northwestern portion of the Riverside Lot (per Section 27- 49(A)(4) of the Oshkosh Municipal Code) to access their parking spaces free of charge during Waterfest. Waterfest, Inc. may require vehicles to demonstrate proof that they are eligible to park in those spaces. 3. The City will retain any revenues associated with enforcement of parking regulations that may occur in conjunction with the Waterfest concert series. OfHKO City of Oshkosh - Transportation Department ON THE WATER 926 Dempsey Trail, Oshkosh, WI 54902 (920) 232 -5342 (920)232 -5343 fax MEMORANDUM TO: Mark Rohloff, City Manager FROM: Christopher Strong, P.E., Director of Transportation DATE: February 18, 2010 RE: APPROVAL TO OSHKOSH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & WATERFEST TO USE RIVERSIDE PARKING LOT This memorandum summarizes the Parking Utility Commission's recent actions as they relate to the request from Waterfest, Inc. to use the Riverside parking lot. Convention Center Parking Requirements The Commission discussed the parking requirements for events at the Oshkosh Convention Center prior to the Convention Center's re- opening in early 2009. At the November 2008 meeting (in a follow -up from the previous month's Commission meeting), Wendy Hielsberg from the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau came to a Commission meeting to discuss how the parking needs of the Convention Center related to a request by the management of 100 North Main to have dedicated parking in the Ceape Avenue lot. (This lot is on the north side of Ceape Avenue, across from the Convention Center.) The following is an excerpt from the minutes of that meeting: 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. [Jay] Ratchman (Commission member) noted that blue banded meters do not allow overnight parking. City of Oshkosh — Department of Transportation Approval to Oshkosh Chamber Of Commerce & Waterfest to Use Riverside Parking Lot / February 18, 2010 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. [Mary] Murken (Commission member) 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. The Commission's discussion from the previous month's meeting is recorded in the minutes as follows. This discussion followed up on a discussion at the September meeting of the Parking Utility Commission. Mr. Strong noted that the managers of 100 North Main Street have expressed interest in having permanent, reserved usage of 20 spaces in the Ceape parking lot. Mr. Ratchman noted that when the 100 North Main Street development was being built, the developers came before the Board and were adamant in obtaining parking in the Riverside Lot for a resident's second vehicle. It was noted that the owners of 100 North Main were paying for permits in the Riverside Lot until recently because of construction. Ms. [Carol] Schiessl (Commission member) pointed out that the 100 North Main managers are requesting 20 parking spaces in the Ceape Lot, which would be approximately 20 percent of the available spaces. She expressed concern that the parking requests could change every time the corporation changed managers. Mr. [Dennis] McHugh (Common Council representative on the Commission) said there were already eighteen events booked at the new convention center for 2009. He was opposed to giving any parking spaces away. He felt there is plenty of parking available in the surrounding blocks. Mr. Ratchman felt if parking spaces were designated to one party that it could set a precedent for businesses involving the other city parking lots. He noted if vehicles are parked in the lots for extended periods of time, this creates snow plowing problems. Mr. Strong said Mr. Braun, manager of 100 North Main Street, was asking for additional parking for retail customers, business employees and overnight guests. He noted there is 2 -hour on- street parking available on State Street and Main Street, which is great for retail customers. Mr. Ratchman felt the current on- street and meter, parking is fine for retail customers and employees. He noted his employees have to plug meters. He felt the issue is long -term parking. Mr. Strong felt with long -term parking, the owner can walk the distance. Mr. Ratchman noted these apartments started out as family units and are now more for college students, who each have a vehicle. With college students, many vehicles are parked there all week long. ... [Mr. Braun] proceeded to explain his parking challenges. Presently he is seven parking spaces short for his renters. Until recently, he was paying for 20 parking spaces in the Riverside Lot; now, a construction trailer is presently occupying some of the spaces. He is looking for a workable situation. City of Oshkosh — Department of Transportation Approval to Oshkosh Chamber Of Commerce & Waterfest to Use Riverside Parking Lot / February 18, 2010 He does have some tenants willing to park in the convention center lot. His parking problems occur primarily in the evening and overnight. Mr. McHugh would not support this request. He believes the convention center visitors deserve close proximity parking and the purpose of this lot is for convention center parking. Mr. Braun said he is not paying for the parking spaces in the Riverside Lot because of the current convention center construction. In the meantime, he has been paying the tenants' parking tickets. Ms. Schiessl felt the Board should wait until the convention center re -opens before making any decision. Mr. McHugh suggested having Wendy Hielsberg, head of the convention center, come and talk to the Board about their parking needs. Representatives from the Convention Center and Convention and Visitors Bureau were scheduled to attend the February 10, 2010 meeting to provide an update on parking requirements for events at the Convention Center. This meeting was cancelled due to a lack of quorum. Resolution in Support of Waterfest Request At its January 13, 2010 meeting, the Parking Utility Commission adopted a resolution (by a 4 -0 vote) to support the use by Waterfest, Inc. of the Riverside parking lot during the 2010 Waterfest summer concert series. In previous concert seasons, the use of this parking lot has been authorized by the Common Council, upon request by Waterfest, Inc., without formal consideration by the Parking Utility Commission. This resolution establishes the Parking Utility Commission's support of this past practice for the 2010 concert season. The following is from the minutes of the January 13, 2010 meeting. Mr. [Harold] Buchholz (Common Council representative on the Commission) brought up the issue of wear and tear on the parking lot. He questioned how the Parking Utility would recoup the costs associated with wear and tear caused to this lot by this event. Mr, Strong felt it would be hard to quantify the use of the lot by Waterfest. Mr. [Jim] Stapel (Commission chairperson) doesn't want to set a precedent that we say yes to everything that comes along. He understands that we need to act on this now so Waterfest can plan for this year. However, we eventually need to set a standard to follow. Mr, John Casper, Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, said it is only three or four times that parking overflows into this lot. He asked how one could assess the costs of parking lot usage, since parking lots are built to handle the parking of cars? He said he thought there is more wear and tear on the other free parking lots. He questioned if this was being done because Waterfest charges a fee. Mr. Buchholz noted we have to have funding to repair these parking lots. He is not saying we should charge something but we need funding. City of Oshkosh — Department of Transportation Approval to Oshkosh Chamber Of Commerce & Waterfest to Use Riverside Parking Lot / February 18, 2010 Mr. Ratchman said this discussion started a few years back because we didn't get any revenue from this lot. We need to be fair about this and look at the whole situation. Mr. Stapel said he didn't want to set a precedent but would support this resolution this year. Mr. Ratchman moved to support this resolution. Ms. Murken (Commission member) seconded the motion. Motion carried (4 -0). The approved resolution is included as an attachment. Summary Based on its previous meetings, the Parking Utility Commission has indicated interest in the parking requirements for events at the Convention Center. Their discussions indicated that they felt the Convention Center's potential use of the Ceape Avenue lot could conflict with other potential uses of the lot. They did not express any similar concern about Convention Center parking conflicting with the 2010 Waterfest summer concert series. The Commission's resolution indicates support of the request as proposed by the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce and Waterfest, Inc. City of Oshkosh — Department of Transportation visit V Convention & Visitors Bureau February 2010 Mark Rohloff City of Oshkosh 215 Church Avenue Oshkosh, WI 54901 Re: Convention Center Events / Riverside Parking Lot Dear Mark, The management of The Oshkosh Convention Center believes that the communication of usage of the parking lots behind the Convention Center, adjacent to Riverside Park, is appropriate and sees no reason for concern. Convention Center management has and is willing to work with events at the Leach in the case of overlap of events. The Convention Center management will handle all challenges pertaining to parking in these areas when an event is being held at the Center. Viewing the upcoming events booked at The Convention Center and the Leach we foresee an overlap of one event and will proactively work with that event rights holder to workout parking details. Wendy Hielsberg Executive Director Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau 2401 West Waukau Avenue Oshkosh, WI 54904 920 - 303 -9200 www.visitoshkosh.com