HomeMy WebLinkAbout15. Report of Meeting with BIDMEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Jim Collins, Director of Transportation
DATE: November 4, 2016
RE: Report on Meeting with BID regarding Proposal to Implement Paid On- Street Parking in
Business Improvement District
BACKGROUND
Per the direction given at the October 11th, 2016 council meeting, a meeting was held with the BID
board and council members on Wed. November 2nd. The purpose of the meeting was to allow the
council and BID to discuss the recommendations made by Walker Parking Consultants including paid
on street parking in the Business Improvement District. The BID sent council a resolution supporting
the recommendations made by Walker. Council agreed with those recommendations other than paid
on street parking which was separated out for future consideration. This memo further summarizes
the discussions with the BID regarding paid on street parking.
ANALYSIS
Walker Parking Consultants have been working with the city for the past 2 years. They performed an
initial study which was supported by the BID to determine if there was adequate parking available in
the downtown area to meet current and future demand as well as study the feasibility of a parking
ramp. The conclusions of that study were that there is adequate parking supply to meet current and
future demand and that a ramp would be a very expensive proposition that isn't warranted. They also
concluded that the city needs to do a better job managing our current supply. The city engaged Walker
to analyze the current parking management program and recommend how it could be better managed.
Walker held stakeholder meetings, met with the BID and parking utility, sought out public input and
had a workshop with council. As a result of their analysis of the city's current management policies,
the input received and their professional experience, Walker recommends a plan that provides for free
off street public parking, paid unlimited on- street parking in specific areas of the downtown area, and
paid employee off street parking.
The BID has met on the topic of on street parking a number of times. They are strongly in favor of
implementing all of the recommendations made by Walker including paid on street parking. The BID
agrees that it may make some sense to implement the parking management changes incrementally.
However; many of the recommendations should have been done years ago. They believe that now is
the time to improve downtown parking for all which they believe the recommendations will do if
implemented fully. In regards to paid on street parking, they strongly believe that it will be beneficial
to all. The unlimited paid on street parking will allow those who are willing to pay for a premium spot
City Manager Mark A. Rohloff
City Hall, 215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903 -1 130 920.236.5002 hffp: / /www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us
to do so, it will allow those that want to stay longer than two hours to do so without worrying about a
ticket (as long as they are pay for the needed amount of time), it will open up prime on street parking
for customers (there are currently employees occupying these prime spots), it will allow for consistent
enforcement, and provide some financial relief for the parking utility with the potential to generate
funds for future upgrades. The BID believes that better management of downtown parking including
the paid on street parking will improve the overall image of downtown.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the council approves all of the Walker recommendations, including paid on street parking, the
operating costs would be covered within the parking utility budget. Walker projects a net operating
surplus of approximately $49,188 annually with paid on street parking, vs. a $28.600 surplus if they are
not. The partial program cannot be implemented without a funding source, and only the paid on street
parking will be able to fund all of the other Walker recommendations. The current operating model
assumes a continued contribution from the BID of $15,000 minimum. At this time, the BID's position is
that they only want to fund parking if it goes towards funding paid on- street parking improvements.
The capital costs associated with paid on street parking are approximately $398,040. These costs would
be covered 50% by the city and 50% by the BID. The city portion would be covered by funds from
downtown TIFs 12 and 15. The BID portion would be covered by a $20,000 per year contribution for 10
years.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff supports implementing all of the recommendations presented by Walker Parking Consultants
which include the modifications requested by the BID which Walker has incorporated into the plan i.e.
allowing unlimited paid parking (instead of 2 hour max) and 2 hour (instead of 3) free parking in the
off street designated free parking stalls. The Walker Study recommends a plan to better manage
existing parking facilities that provides for free public parking, paid employee permit parking and paid
on- street parking in the downtown area. We recognize the need to better manage our valuable parking
assets in the downtown area and believe the recommendations made by Walker Parking Consultants
will accomplish this objective as well as reduce the financial subsidy to the parking utility.
I have attached a sample of what an implementation schedule would look like if all the recommended
parking policies are approved. As you can see, it will take a good deal of education and a bit of time to
fully implement the parking program. It will be at least 9 -12 months before the system is operational
and some of the financial impacts are realized. Advance planning will ensure a better informed public
and a more successful program.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Collins
Director of Transportation
Approved:
Mark A. Rohloff
City Manager
Implementation Plan
COMMUNICATION (Immediate and Ongoing)
• Press release
I
i • Local community access channel
Community outreach- product
Promotional Display Rack cards
• Website update- parking specific
Social media - Twitter/YouTube
demo
Promotional Wallet cards
lending page
Former's Market booth
Update location of pay stations
Media'tlme - It's so easy campaign
• Location of pay stations
Promote Paid Parking Program
Update planned pay station rollout
Community banners- Coming
• Planned pay station rollout
Community outreach - product
Pay Station training for
soon /visit this link
• Community partners-
demo (start)
BID /Downtown merchants and
Promotional launch event for pay
BID /Downtown merchants
Ambassadors
stations
EQUIPMENT /TECHNOLOGY (Immediate and Ongoing)
• Develop and Issue Pay Station RFP
Develop and Issue Pay by Phone RFP
Review and Evaluate Pay by Phone
install and rollout Pay Stations
• Review and Evaluate Pay Station bids
bids
Award Pay by Phone contract and
i•
Award Pay Station Contract
implement after pay stations installed
SIGNAGE /WAYFINDING (Immediate to 9 months)
• Identify downtown branding /logo Develop and Issue Sign Vendor RFP ? Award Sign Vendor RFP and install
• Intemotionol parking symbol signs
MANAGEMENT (3 months to 12 months)
• Develop Ambassador program with i • Design First 1/2 hour free at meters Grace period forworning vs.
meter enforcement staff citations
FINANCE (3 months to 9 months)
• Establish funding for meter and Payback period
sign procurement Return on investment