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HomeMy WebLinkAbout30. 13-567 NOVEMBER 26, 2013 DECEMBER 10, 2013 13-527 13-567 ORDINANCE FIRST READING SECOND READING (CARRIED__7-0____ LOST_______ LAID OVER_______ WITHDRAWN_______) PURPOSE: APPROVAL OF CHANGES IN PERMIT PARKING IN CEAPE AVENUE LOT INITIATED BY: PARKING UTILITY COMMISSION A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AMENDING SECTION 27-48 OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO PERMIT PARKING AREAS. The Common Council of the City of Oshkosh do ordain as follows: SECTION 1. That Section 27-48 of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to permit parking areas is hereby amended as follows: Remove Therefrom: (B) Ceape Lot, the two northernmost rows, except the fifteen (15) most westerly stalls in the northernmost row. Add Thereto: (B) Ceape Lot, the northernmost row, except the fifteen (15) most westerly stalls. SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, publication and placement of the appropriate signage. SECTION 3. Publication Notice. Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh enacted ordinance #13-567 (A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AMENDING SECTION 27-48 OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO PERMIT PARKING AREAS) on December 10, 2013. The ordinance changes permit parking areas in the Ceape Avenue lot. The full text of the ordinance may be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 215 Church Avenue and through the City’s website at www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Clerk’s phone: 920/236-5011. 0 OJHKOlH ON THE WATER MEMORANDUM TO: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager FROM: Christopher Strong, P.E., Transportation Director DATE: November 20, 2013 RE: Explanation of Parking Regulations Ordinance Changes SECTION 1: SECTION 27 -48 PERMIT PARKING AREAS A REQUEST FOR UNRESTRICTED PARKING IN THE FOURTH SOUTHERNMOST ROW OF THE CEAPE AVENUE LOT. (CURRENT CONDITION: PERMIT PARKING.) This is a Convention Center request. In March 2012, the commission recommended the conversion of the three southernmost rows of this lot from permit parking to unrestricted parking. The following is excerpted from the staff memo write -up at that time: In the last couple of years since the Oshkosh Convention Center was remodeled, the Commission has had several discussions about the Ceape Avenue lot, and how to balance the declared parking needs of many groups, including the Convention Center, 100 North Main Apartments, and others. At one time, the lot was filled with 10 -hour metered parking, which met the needs of many downtown employees. As some of these employers shifted their operations elsewhere, usage of lot decreased significantly. When the parking meters were removed, the metered parking designation was changed to permit parking designation. This is similar to what was done with other areas that had 10 -hour meters, and is based on the fact that most I0 -hour meters were used by full -time employees at downtown businesses. The lot is currently underutilized, except for occasions when parking from larger events at the Convention Center or Leach Amphitheater spills over. The permit parking system, as currently implemented, does not accommodate these types of uses well. The issue is how to accommodate these (Convention Center/Leach Amphitheater) uses in a way that is consistent with the rest of the downtown parking areas. Given the current usage of the lot, it makes sense to consider converting the southern three rows of the Ceape Avenue lot to "unrestricted parking ". This would be spaces 1 through 101 as shown in the chart on page 7. Parking between 2 AM and 5 AM would still be prohibited. However, the spaces could be used for all day use. This change would support more consistent parking enforcement in this lot, and would help to accommodate larger events at the Convention Center. Page 2 of 2 Explanation of Parking Ordinance Changes There are a couple of potential negative revenue impacts. First, it is possible that 100 North Main may choose to lease fewer spaces with this parking available. However, since 100 North Main is primarily interested in 24 -hour (overnight) parking, I do not believe this impact would be too great. In addition, it is possible that some employees elsewhere in the downtown area may opt for free daily parking here and not buy permits. Given that most people parking downtown are averse to walking great distances, I do not believe this impact would be too significant. There are other options which may help to address this challenge. A gate system could be installed at all entrances to the lot to collect fees from vehicles. However, such a system would cost tens of thousands of dollars, and would be challenging to implement given how this lot connects with the Otter East lot. A multi -space parking payment system (pay - by- space) could be installed; however, it is likely that 3 kiosks would be needed, with a total cost similar to the gate system. These options are simply not cost - effective at this time. While this proposal is not ideal, it may provide an effective short-term solution to the issues seen at this lot. I recommend approval of this request. As the convention center has started to attract some larger events, convention center staff has expressed concern about managing parking demand for these events, while these permit parking spaces remain mostly underutilized. They are interested in seeing an expansion of unrestricted parking, specifically spaces 102 -135 in Error! Reference source not found., so that convention center guests will not get ticketed due to failure to have a permit. As was stated last year, staff does not believe this request would have a negative financial impact on the parking utility. PASSED BY PARKING UTILITY COMMISSION (4 -0)