HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-11-08 Parking Commission Minutes
Bozeman Parking Commission Meeting
December 11th, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.
Upstairs Conference Room of City Hall
Parking Commissioners in Attendance:
Chris Pope
Lisa Danzl-Scott
Larry Bowman
Steve Schnee
Tammy Hauer
Pam Bryan
City Staff in Attendance:
Shannon Manning, Parking Clerk
James Goehrung, Superintendent of Facilities
Paul Burns, Parking Manager
Laurae Clark, Treasurer
Guests in Attendance:
Brian Caldwell
Chris Naumann
Action Items:
N/A
0:00:10 7:28:50 Discussion with Brian Caldwell
Chris Pope called the meeting to order at 7:34 am.
Chris Pope quickly went over the Buy/Sell agreement amendments that have been proposed. Brian
Caldwell has come before the commission to correct some dates on the agreement and to request 28
additional cash-in-lieu spaces for the retail condos.
He believes that in order to lease those spaces in today’s economy that those additional spaces should
be provided at no charge. Very few start-up restaurants could afford to purchase the needed spaces in
order to open their doors.
Chris has identified some possible discussion points. The first being the request and add another 28
spaces to the retail locations.
Laurae reminded the Parking Commission that it does not have the authority to change the Buy/Sell.
That would have to be approved by the City Commission. The parking commission does have the right to
waive the purchase of spaces.
Chris P. noted that they could either: 1. Do nothing or 2. Grant the request to the retail condos.
Brain Caldwell discussed how these cash-in-lieu spaces is what is holding back the downtown area. For
the additional spaces that are needed for a restaurant it would cost the new owner of the retail space
$140,000. When the Buy/Sell was first negotiated Brian requested more spaces but he was not
approved for them. Brian stated that he should have been more persistent. He has lost some contracts
due to this parking requirement. He has people right now ready to commit even in today’s economy.
Brian believes that these spaces would bring a lot of revenue to the garage. He is in need of
consideration for the lack of deliverables.
Brian stated that the new Sweet Pea Bakery was pleased with their new space out by the mall. He
believes that downtown needs to have a well rounded amount of retail use. He feels that he can market
these spaces as just more of the same "art galleries" or he can try to bring people downtown that go out
to dinner and shop at this location.
Pam asked who is still paying cash-in -lieu in that area. The Golden Rule building is still paying for 15
spaces at $5,000 apiece. Color-world will be coming soon to ask for some cash-in-lieu spaces. Franks
Catering, Bordlemays and Golden Rule are all in process right now. The average span of notes is 3-7
years but the Golden Rule was allowed 10 years to pay theirs off.
At the time of the first Buy/Sell agreement, the price was a good deal for Brian. 28 spaces were included
in that agreement. He believes that the difference now is the discrepancy for those additional 28
spaces. He stated that these spaces were initially part of the original agreement but he just took the 28
spaces and left it at that. It was discussed that if another restaurant were to come to town at another
property the rules are that someone has to pay a certain amount of money for cash-in-lieu for parking.
Chris Pope knows that we have lost businesses with this added cost. Chris is trying to weigh the
inherent fairness factor for all the efforts by Brain but also for the next restaurant that comes to
downtown Bozeman.
Larry brought the idea to the table that everyone has to pay some sort of fee when they move to a new
location. Tammy also agrees that if we were to do this for one location that it would trickle down to the
next and it would not work fairly. Brian stated he would consider a compromise. He does agree that
there is a balance and he hopes for a midpoint where we can meet with him.
Tammy brought forth the idea of having the retail spaces paying for some parking spaces and then
having a perpetual lease to lease some spaces in the garage. Chris believes that this type of lease could
only be kept as long as the restaurant was open. Chris proposed the question on whether it would be
prudent for the city to allow these spaces to be given to the retail spaces or possibly reduce the price on
cash-in-lieu in general.
Pam and Lisa believe that changing the price of the spaces would not be an option just because the price
per space has been $5,000 for 10 years now.
Steve suggests that we renegotiate the Buy/Sell and to put an additional 13 spaces into the agreement
and to give the retail a total of 41 spaces. Chris Pope likes the idea of putting the 10 outdoor spaces
into the buy sell agreement and giving them 38 spaces instead of 28.
James suggested a motion that based on limited seasonal use of plaza seating the Bozeman Parking
Commission waives 10 spaces for the proposed restaurant in units R1-R3 on North Tracy.
Steve made the motion and Pam seconded it. The motion passed.
A discussion was held on the date of April 15th or 45 days from substantial completion to become the
closing date.
Pam made a motion that the Bozeman Parking Commission recommend to the City Manager that the
April 15th date or 45 days after substantial completion will be kept. Except section 8 which will be
deleted from the amendment. Tammy seconded and the motion passed.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Shannon Fish