March 6, 2008

Parking Commission

Agenda

  1. Call to Order and Minutes;
  2. Discuss Automatic License Plate Recognition RFP and 200 Budget;
  3. Discuss Loading Zones and Service Vehicle Permits;
  4. Discuss Weekend Parking Issues;
  5. Discuss Island Park Ramp Issues;
  6. Bump-Out at 300 Broadway North;
  7. Review Chapter 1 of Lots of Parking: Land Use in a Car Culture;
  8. Consider Other Business.

 

Minutes

Members Present: Chairperson Commissioner Mike Williams, Karen Bergum, Rick Engen, Kevin Swann

Others Present: Dave Anderson, John Rogne, Shanna Lee, Paula Aalgaard, Sgt. Mike Mitchell, Jim Gilmour

Commissioner Williams called the meeting to order.  Ms. Bergum moved to approve the minutes and Mr. Engen seconded the motion.  Commissioner Williams notes that the sixth item on the agenda had been withdrawn by the applicants.

Automatic License Plate Recognition System
Mr. Stein reminded the Commission that the single response to the original RFP had not been satisfactory.  He stated that the vehicles had not been available and the it had been recommended that the program be pushed back into 2009 and a new RFP issued.  He  noted that the price for the program originally looked had dropped about $10,000 in the meantime so that there may be significant savings.  Mr. Engen asked if NDSU had been invited to participate with the program to help defray the costs.  Mr. Stein responded that they had not pursued that course yet.  Commissioner Williams noted that the money budgeted for the program this year would be pushed back to 2009.

Mr. Stein noted that the graduated fine structure and the parking ticket management system would be in place by June 1, 2008.

Loading Zones, Service Vehicle Permits, and Weekend Parking Issues
Mr. Stein noted that these issues had all changed with the increased traffic and number of business downtown.  He stated that he had received complaints from business owners that downtown residents were able to park for free all weekend and were occupying the parking spaces.  Ms. Lee stated explained the problems she had been seeing on Saturdays.  She noted that the current parking rules had been put in place when business downtown was mostly weekday-focused.  Ms. Bergum noted that she had seen the same increase in traffic on Saturdays over the past year.  Mr. Stein noted that both the ordinance governing parking and the staffing from the police department would need to be addressed.  Mr. Gilmour pointed out that all of the signs downtown would need to be changed, as well.

Mr. Stein and Mr. Rogne pointed out that the Radisson was the only lot staffed on Saturdays and Mr. Swann noted that there may be an occasional weekend event at the Civic Center.  Commissioner Williams suggested that educating people that they can park in the off-street lots for free on the weekend.  Ms. Bergum suggested that Sundays be considered as well.  Mr. Anderson suggested that overnight enforcement be addressed as well, so that street cleaning and maintenance could be accomplished as planned.  Commissioner Williams stated that such an education system may fit in will with the June 1st, 2008 implementation of the graduated fine system.  He suggested that a subcommittee look at the issues involved and come back to the Commission with some suggestions.  Ms. Berbum suggested that a phased approach would work well and Mr. Swann agreed.  Mr. Stein pointed out that this may cause difficulty with snow removal from the lots.

Mr. Stein explained a different complaint he had received regarding a gentleman who used his vehicle for deliveries but had received a ticket for a “short move”.  He reminded the Commission that the 15-minute zones had been added in place of the loading zones that used to dot downtown.  Sgt. Mitchell noted that the 15-minute zones were not enforced as frequently as they could be.  Mr. Engen suggested that a vehicle with a logo would be more easily identified and less likely to be ticketed.  Ms. Bergum agreed.  The Commission discussed delivery vehicles and the difficulty in deciding what requirements would apply.  Commissioner Williams suggested that the one-way corridor study encompass parking, as well.  The Commission discussed enforcement and loading zones.

Island Park Ramp 
Mr. Stein explained the ongoing vandalism problems at the ramp. He stated that a security company had been selected and that the security camera system would be increased. He explained that the lighting contributed to a monthly energy cost of $2,500 in the winter. He took the Commission through some of the options into which they had been looking.  He stated that the lobby may be changed to card access only.  Ms. Bergum asked if there were signs notifying people that the area was under surveillance and Mr. Rogne and Mr. Stein responded that there were not.

Lots of Parking: Land Use in a Car Culture, Chapter One
Mr. Stein drew the Commission’s attention to page five and discussed the term “parking lot erosion”.  He requested that they re-read several paragraphs on pages fourteen and fifteen regarding land use and excessive accommodation of the automobile.  He stated that Chapter One reviewed a history of parking and noted that North Dakota was the only state that had not rescinded its parking meter ban.  He drew the Commission’s attention to the graph showing that city size affected the distance that people were willing to walk from parking to their destination.  He pointed out that Donald Shoup had written extensively about the operational difficulties and that this book took the next step in addressing land use.

Operator’s Report
Mr. Rogne led the Commission through the report for February 2008.  There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned.