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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPKG UTILITY MINUTES SEPT 12_2012 OSHKOSH PARKING UTILITY COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 PRESENT: Chandra Anderson, Jay Ratchman and Timothy Schuster ABSENT: Deb Allison-Aasby and Mary Murken STAFF: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director Peggy Steeno, Finance Director Jennifer Weigand, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chairman Timothy Schuster called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ms. Anderson moved to accept the June 13, 2012 minutes. Mr. Ratchman seconded the motion. Motion carried (3-0). FINANCIAL REPORTS Mr. Ratchman moved to receive the July 2012 financial report. Ms. Anderson seconded the motion. Motion carried (3-0). NEW BUSINESS 1. CONVERSION OF LEASED PARKING TO PERMIT PARKING. Mr. Strong gave a summary of the issues that have arisen, leading to these recommendations. He would like to implement the changes November 1, 2012. Mr. Strong noted that permit spaces are typically used during day time hours. Mr. Ratchman questioned how permit spaces versus leased spaces would affect snow removal. Mr. Strong said it should help because snow was being piled-up in leased spaces and permit users are not assigned a specific space. Ms. Megan Lang, owner of the building at 146 Algoma Blvd., is concerned for her renters and clients. There are 60-70 people working there and they have clients coming and going all day. She said that over the last few weeks, the parking issues have increased. Ms. Anderson agreed that we need more parking availability in the downtown area. Ms. Lang suggested a reallocation of parking spaces as another solution. She said what is being proposed for the 400 West Lot is a big step. She said there is confusion on what parking is available and how to get the permits. It would be perfect if customers were able to buy permits on-line and months in advance. It needs to be more user-friendly. PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 2 September 12, 2012 Ms. Steeno, Director of Finance, explained the reasoning why permits could not be sold on-line. She did note that multiple months can be purchased at one time. Mr. Mark Laux, Hot Operator, Inc., 146 Algoma Blvd., said it is a hunt and peck situation when it comes to finding parking space. He suggested having a sticker to allow one to park longer in any 2 hour or 4 hour space and not have to continue to leave their building every few hours to move their vehicles. This is very disruptive to their business. Mr. Ratchman asked if Mr. Laux was aware of the day passes that are sold for $1.50. Mr. Laux said this would not help his employees. He stressed that there is a real issue here and he is thinking about moving his business out of the downtown area. Another gentleman, who resides and works in the downtown area, has a leased space and worries that permits will be oversold. Ms. Deb Sonnleitner, Sun Yoga Studio, 146 Algoma Blvd., asked if there is a way her instructors could share a permit. Mr. Ratchman replied this can be done by moving the permit between vehicles. Mr. Strong said one advantage of these proposed changes is that it will help simplify the system. Ms. Anderson felt that the old Gunderson property would make a good parking lot. Ms. Steeno thinks the change is a good solution but we won’t know until we try it. We need to do whatever we can to keep businesses downtown. Ms. Anderson like the idea of simplification. It is something that needs to happen. Mr. Ratchman noted that employees like to park as close to their businesses as possible but we have to think of our customers. Mr. Laux said no one parks in the 2 hour parking spaces, north of the Kitz & Pfeil Power Shop. Presently, it is used for loading and unloading. He pointed out that the 2 hour parking spaces are not directly in front of the businesses and they don’t seem that important to anyone. Ms. Anderson suggested changing some of these spaces to permit parking. Mr. Strong said according to the recent parking study in the downtown area, more people are using the 2 hour parking versus permit parking. After the change is made, Ms. Lang asked that it be monitored closely. If these changes are good, she would like to see the permit price lowered. She pointed out that many of the downtown businesses are smaller businesses, and so could not take advantage of the discount rates for buying larger quantities of permits. Ms. Anderson moved to accept the request. Mr. Ratchman seconded the motion. Motion carried (3-0). 2. CHANGE IN HOURS OF LEASED PARKING IN REC DEPARTMENT LOT. Mr. Strong said the change would make this lot consistent with the other parking lots. Ms. Anderson said she liked consistency. PARKING UTILITY MINUTES Page 3 September 12, 2012 Mr. Schuster moved to accept the request. Ms. Anderson seconded the motion. Motion carried (3-0). 3. DISCUSSION OF LONG-TERM DOWNTOWN PARKING NEEDS. Mr. Strong explained how the Council is looking for some input and recommendations from the Commission on long-term parking needs. Ms. Anderson felt strongly that the City needs a parking ramp where the Ceape Avenue parking lot is, because it would benefit the Leach Amphitheater, the hotel and the river front. She said she has no problem paying $5.00 to park in the Appleton parking ramp. Mr. Ratchman said it sounds like there is a double standard, that some do not care if they have to pay a $5.00 fee to park in a parking ramp while others are complaining about the cost of parking permits. He is concerned that a parking ramp would become a big white elephant. There is a problem when it comes to maintaining a parking ramp. Mr. Schuster said the up-front costs would be tremendous, and that taxpayers are not going to front the cost. He noted our city government has no money. Mr. Ratchman agreed. Mr. Ratchman said we are blessed with parking behind our businesses, not like Appleton or Madison. Ms. Anderson agreed with Mr. Ratchman that the ramp is not needed now, but she wants to be ahead of the problem and acknowledge there is a need for one. Mr. Schuster noted the hotel is not yet open and we are getting ahead of ourselves. He elected to see when the hotel opens if they will be parking issues. He questioned how much utilization it would get other than from Leach events. Ms. Anderson said the parking ramp could be erected elsewhere besides the Ceape Lot. Mr. Schuster said he would talk to Councilman Herman to have him expand on his idea. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the Parking Utility Commission, and upon being duly moved and seconded (Anderson, Schuster), the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.