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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES OSHKOSH PARKING UTILITY COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 10, 2010 PRESENT: Harold Buchholz, Nicholas Janis, 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 Mr. Janis moved to accept the January 13, 2010 minutes. Ms. Murken seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-0). FINANCIAL REPORTS Ms. Murken moved to receive the financial reports. Mr. Janis seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-0). NEW BUSINESS REQUEST TO CONVERT 90-MINUTE PARKING TO 2-HOUR PARKING IN THE 400 1. BLOCK WEST LOT. Ms. Barbara Kifle-Couillard, owner of Design Lines (441 N. Main Street), explained to the Commission how the 90-minute parking in this lot does not work well for her salon customers. With the Main Street reconstruction and customers getting parking tickets, she afraid of losing clientele. Mr. Ratchman questioned why she didn’t buy parking permits. One of her hairstylists, Mel, replied that the spaces were too far to walk to late at night. She also said that the parking rules in this lot are very confusing. Ms. Kifle-Couillard said her workers would not be able to share permits because they all work the same time. She noted she would purchase a parking permit if the parking spaces were closer to her building. She said the City oversells the permits for the spaces and all the spaces are taken up. She explained how 2-hour parking would really solve their problems. She noted that some of surrounding lots have 2-hour parking, Mr. Ratchman noted that one of the consequences of 2-hour parking is it will become 3 hours (based on the timing of enforcement). He is worried about the ramifications. Mr. Stapel noted this was why he pushed for the 4-hour permit. He felt if the rules allow free parking beyond 90 minutes, it means that people can essentially park all morning for free. His business is highly transaction-dependent; his customers need spaces with high turnover of parking. If the free parking duration is too long, employees will shuffle cars and there will be nowhere for customer parking. He feels the employees will take over the parking spaces if changed to 2-hour parking. People take what is the easiest. PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 2 MARCH 10, 2010 Ms. Murken said a customer who wants to spend 4 hours downtown shopping shouldn’t have to worry about moving their vehicle. She believes the parking limits should be consistent. Ms. Kifle-Couillard felt the parking penalty of $11 is rather high. Ms. Murken replied the penalty was geared to people abusing the system. Mr. Strong pointed out that Dr. Marsh leases spaces for his customers and he regulates them. Ms. Kifle-Couillard said she can’t afford to lease spaces. She suggested putting more parking spaces behind the former Race’s building. Mr. Stapel felt if she had leased spaces, this would solve her problems. Mr. Ratchman said Ms. Kifle-Couillard was saying different things, which was very confusing. Mr. Stapel said he would vote against 2-hour parking. He noted there are 150 employees in this block that could park there all morning. His business is a big user of the lot (approximately 60 customers an hour) and they need ease of parking. Ms. Kifle-Couillard said her clients are just as important as his. She suggested trying 2-hour parking and see what happens. Mr. Janis moved to accept this request. Ms. Murken seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-1 Stapel). 2. REQUEST FOR AN ACCESSIBLE (HANDICAPPED) SPACE IN THE NORTHERN ROW OF THE EASTERN SECTION OF THE STATE STREET LOT. Mr. Strong explained the reasoning behind this request. He noted according to today’s standards, this lot has too few accessible spaces. However, this is not a simple matter of adding some pavement marking and signage; an accessible path is needed. Mr. Janis questioned if this lot was scheduled for renovation. Mr. Strong replied it was not scheduled at this time. Mr. Janis questioned if we were not compliant with ADA. Mr. Strong replied he believes the current configuration is grandfathered in; however, the lot would need to be brought up to current guidelines when it is reconstructed. Ms. Murken moved to deny this request. Mr. Ratchman seconded the motion. Motion carried (5- 0). 3. REVISIONS OF MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2-50. Laid over. 4. DISCUSSION OF PARKING NEEDS AT OSHKOSH CONVENTION CENTER. Laid over. 5. DISCUSSION OF REQUESTS FOR RESTRICTED USE OF CITY-OWNED PARKING. Laid over. PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 3 MARCH 10, 2010 STAFF STATEMENTS 6. USE OF LED LIGHTING ON MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS. Mr. Strong noted that two parking lots, the Jefferson Lot and the Division Street Lot now have LED lighting. 7. UPDATE ON 400 BLOCK EAST PARKING LOT. Mr. Strong said most of the construction activity is complete, with the exception being landscaping of the terraces, islands and bio-filtration area. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING None. 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 5:08 p.m.