March 6, 2009

Agenda
  1. Call to Order and Minutes;
  2. Review 2008 POP and DRP3 usage;
  3. Review possible 4-hour POP zone;
  4. Review discussion from January 9, 2009 parking meeting at DCP;
  5. Review educational updates concerning parking;
  6. Operator's report and financial information;
  7. Discuss Lots of Parking: Land Use in a Car Culture, Chapter 7; and
  8. Other issues.
Minutes

Call to Order and Minutes

Chairperson Commissioner Williams called the meeting to order. Mr. Engen moved to approve the minutes of the December meeting and Ms. Walvatne seconded the motion. All members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Plenty of Parking (POP) Program

Mr. Stein reviewed the history of the Park and Ride and POP programs that had been distributed to the Commission, including the use of both programs. He pointed out that the number of tickets redeemed in 2005 was incorrect and should read 18,712. The Commission discussed the future of the program, including increasing signage.

Four-Hour Zone for POP Program

Mr. Stein reviewed the proposal for adding diagonal parking on both sides of Northern Pacific (NP) Avenue between Tenth Street North and University Drive. Mr. Gordon stated that he supported installing diagonal parking on the south side of the street as the first step, to evaluate its use. The Commission discussed how far east that change could extend and the timing of the change with Mr. Gordon. Mr. Stein clarified that he had proposed four-hour parking for that area. The Commission discussed the potential for using back-in spots to both slow traffic and ease pulling out of the parking spots. They considered communicating that to students and the general public.

Mr. Engen moved that the southernmost driving lane be converted to back-in parking along NP
Avenue between 10th Street and University Drive, as a four-hour parking zone, allowing for curb
cuts for the existing businesses. Ms. Walvatne seconded the motion. Mr. Gordon stated that the change could be made in June 2009. Mr. Engen proposed a sign and an update on the web site explaining that the change was coming. Mr. Anderson noted that snow removal would be affected by this change. All members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.

Review Parking Meeting with Downtown Community Partnership (DCP) and the Downtowner Group

Mr. Stein reviewed the discussion of parking downtown. Ms. Walvatne stated that a combination of future parking growth and educating both consumers and business owners about the POP program and parking opportunities may help ease downtown growing pains. She noted that a shuttle to and from the Island Park ramp had again been raised. The Commission discussed this possibility, as well as including the Moorhead parking ramp for larger events. Mr. Stein showed the Commission a map demonstrating the city lots that are full or nearly so on a daily basis and the development of retail businesses that need customer and employee parking extending north along Broadway. He pointed out that the Island Park ramp is currently under utilized. He stated that it would cost about $125,000 a year to run a shuttle back and forth along Broadway, the cost of building about five spaces in an existing facility. Commissioner Williams stated that the idea had been discussed with the Transit Department as well and Mr. Stein pointed out that NDSU may have an interest in a shuttle of this sort, as well. The Commission discussed the sort of vehicle needed and the fact that students do not make up the majority of riders on public transportation now. Commissioner Williams stated that he would invite Jim Gilmour to address this issue at the next meeting.

Review Educational Updates Concerning Parking

Mr. Stein stated that education had been on-going regarding parking and snow removal issues. Ms. Citrowske and Ms. Lunday had been organizing parking information on the city’s web site, creating a comprehensive brochure describing parking downtown, and creating a video about parking. Commissioner Williams suggested purchasing a direct domain name to make it easier for people to find parking information on-line. Mr. Stein pointed out that signs had been ordered to advertise free parking evenings and on weekends in city-owned lots. He stated that the amendment to the ordinance changing to six-day parking hour enforcement would appear before the City Commission in a few days. Ms. Stoker suggested that a comparison of the available parking downtown be made with the West Acres parking lot to demonstrate that the walking distances are similar and the Commission discussed this idea.

Mr. Anderson noted that the police department has been doing a great job with overnight parking enforcement during the week and that it had helped a great deal with snow removal. He stated that the Downtowner group would be performing a sign audit to address whether signs helped new visitors to find parking and to make suggestions for changes. The Commission discussed ways to make their signs more visible. Mr. Weiler stated that finding the lots may be the major obstacle, rather than paying for parking, and suggested solar-powered, lit signs.

Operator’s Report and Financial Information

Mr. Rogne stated that February had been a high-usage month for hourly parking. He distributed copies of his report and reviewed the information included. The Commission discussed validating parking at the new library. They considered the condition of the Civic Center and Second Avenue North lots and the potential for expanding the latter.

Other Issues

Mr. Stein stated that an electrical engineer would be consulted to explore the available technology for reducing power consumption on both the Island Park and Ground Transportation Center ramps.

Mr. Stein distributed a letter he had received from the Civic Center management. He reviewed the concerns raised and noted that they had been on-going for many years. Commissioner Williams pointed out that a shuttle could be added on event days to transport visitors as previously discussed. Mr. Stein stated that he would try to find a way to move city-owned vehicles out of the lot. Mr. Gordon agreed that the construction inspection vehicles for Engineering could be moved out of the lot entirely for the winter. The Commission discussed using the circulator shuttle and Park and Ride program for city employees as well.

Mr. Stein stated that the NP Avenue/First Avenue North corridor study had begun. Mr. Gordon stated that this was a complex analysis of many facets of the downtown area. He noted that there would be a public input meeting in the first week of May. The Commission and audience expressed their enthusiasm for that project.

Lots of Parking: Land Use in a Car Culture, Chapter Seven

Mr. Stein reviewed the chapter and its relevance to Fargo with the Commission. The discussed the term “erosion by parking lot” and the expansion of the car culture in the US. Commissioner Williams noted that a healthy living discussion would be held in Moorhead, and that it would relate to bicycle and pedestrian traffic as well as transit and vehicles. There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned.