HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-09 Parking Commission Minutes
Bozeman Parking Commission Meeting
June 11th, 2009 at 7:30 a.m.
Upstairs Conference Room of City Hall
Parking Commissioners in Attendance:
Larry Bowman
Chris Pope
Lisa Danzl-Scott
City Staff in Attendance:
Shannon Fish, Parking Clerk
Paul Burns, Parking Manager
Laurae Clark, Treasurer
James Goehrung, Superintendant of Facilities
Guests in Attendance:
Brian Caldwell, Thinktank
Chris Naumann, DBA
Action Items:
?
Approve the May minutes at the next meeting.
0:00:07 7:34:55 7:30 – Call to Order
Chris Pope called the meeting to order at 7:35 a.m.
0:01:27 7:35:20 7:31 – 7:40 – approve May 15 minutes
The minutes cannot be approved as there is not a quorum for the commission today.
0:01:39 7:36:26 1. Grand opening recap
The grand opening of the Garage was a rousing success. We collected $1600 in donations and have been
billed for only $1155. There should be more invoices, but we still have excess.
Paul would like to know if we are going to cover the DBA's posters. The DBA handed out over 600 free
parking passes of which 33 have been used as of Wednesday.
0:04:26 7:39:14 2. Trip to Denver
Paul noted that he had talked to lighting vendors about what kind to use. He looked at LED lights and
Fluorescents as well. The ones that we are using are becoming obsolete already due to improvements in
energy efficiency. In the future we would want to replace the bulbs to a more energy efficient one.
These new lights would pay for themselves in about 2-3 years.
For snow removal there was an option for a snow melter. It was a machine that took the snow and
melted it, and turned it into water so that we would not have to dump the snow somewhere.
Paul met with the owner of Protection Tech while he was there and it was beneficial that we were
higher on his radar so that he knew what was going on here in the garage.
Paul learned about solar panels also while he was there.
When Paul was in Fort Collins there was not a daily maximum on the garage rate that he visited. Also if
you lose a ticket in Fort Collins it is $40 to replace it. The APM machines there also talk to you and help
you with the process of getting into the garage. He talked with them about rooftop parking and they do
have a cheaper rate for the roof and it was controlled by stickers that people have on their bumper to
show where they need to be parked. They could be ticketed if not on the correct level.
0:14:33 7:49:25 3. Signage update
Signage in the Garage directing customers to pay machines/stairs/elevators/streets is in place.
The Big blue P is set to be installed the week of June 22. We have brought in the mason that worked on
the garage already so that they know what they are doing. The bus lane will have to be closed for a little
while so that we can get the sign installed.
The expenses for construction are: Sign-a-rama $12,401, Installation of anchors Anderson Masonry
$7,245, design of signs/anchors; construction anchors from Intrinsik $13,000, electrical work unknown
estimated for $1,000.
0:19:37 7:54:27 4. Mural update
MSU is no longer interested in painting murals. Paul has contacted a handful of independent artists with
no firm plans. He submitted a proposal to the Montana Arts Council for $1000. Another $1000 would be
matched by the CEO of Iparq.
0:20:05 7:55:49 5. Skateboard ordinance, other enforcement issues
The city passed an ordinance forbidding skateboarding in Bridger Park Downtown. Rich McLane was the
driving force behind it. Also Brian McCormick is on duty working Wednesday through Saturday, starting
this weekend.
0:20:40 7:56:42 6. Garage usage
We are averaging over 200 cars per day. The numbers on the graph that Paul brought with show that all
of the numbers are positive. Wednesdays are some of the highest days.
0:24:35 7:59:33 7. Summer maintenance
Sealcoat and crack fill will happen in the North Willson lot this weekend. Also crack fill will happen in the
Carnegie and South Willson lots. All of the lots will be striped as well.
0:25:00 8:00:18 8. Required ethics training (Larry, Lisa attended; next 6/17)
A reminder that all volunteer board members for the City of Bozeman must attend ethics training this
month.
0:25:52 8:00:43 7:55 – 8:10 – Garage update, James (water, alley, curb painting)
On Friday there is an inspection of the alley behind the garage. There are two water issues. The level of
hot water supply to the restrooms has been lower than it should be, and the level of the water in the
elevator is also high. Martel stated that they will check the level after the alley is paved. James noted
that we need to do some investigating of this problem and see how and if we can stop the water from
coming into the elevator shaft.
The pavement markings are in. There was some trading that was done. Mendenhall will be repaved
next year. So we traded some markings on Black for the plastic markings on Mendenhall. Once it is
paved next year then we will have it finished. Paul had asked James about painting the curb on the bus
stop yellow so that you can see the difference of the curb and the road.
Catherine Lane interiors have lost a parking space due to Qwest installing a new line. They may be asking
for a new space and the Parking Commission has suggested that she goes to Qwest to ask them what
they can do to fix the spot that they have lost. Paul will stay in touch with her and assist in any way
possible if necessary.
0:37:12 8:12:00 8:10 – 8:15 – Streamline update, Lee
We have added an ash can receptacle and we have moved a garbage receptacle closer to the bus stop in
the stairway area at the garage. This will hopefully keep down the debris and cigarette stubs that have
been accumulating.
0:38:20 8:13:08 8:15 – 8:25 – Commission turnover (Chris, Larry, Tammy, 6/09; Steve,
vacant, 6/10; Pam, 6/11; Lisa, 6/12)
Chris Naumann has put in an application to become a Parking Commission member. Outside of Chris'
many skills Chris Pope says thanks to him for doing this job. Larry, Tammy and Chris Pope's terms end
at the end of this month. Chris Pope is planning to re-apply, but would like to get off of the chair
position. He would like to try and envision how we are going to move through the next year. Larry would
like to move on but realizes that there is a need for his position. He would stay on until we could find
someone to fill his spot.
Chris Pope is planning to talk to Tammy about her position. She is not here but Chris Pope suspects that
she will stay on and sign another term. Chris has spoken to all of the members and he would like to have
another chair in the position.
Lisa suggested that Brian Caldwell possibly join the Parking Commission. Brian stated that he does have
involvement in quite a few boards but he is interested in it for sure. Chris Pope would like a letter sent
out to inform people of these vacancies.
1:00:31 8:35:16 8:25 – 8:40 – Perpetual leases, Brian Caldwell
Brian stated that next week LMN will be presenting their 2009 neighborhood improvement plan. They
look at Main Street as a neighborhood that would be the envy of any other neighborhood in this
country. From their perspective they want to see an intensification of residential around the downtown
area. They are going to propose that we sell surface lots to add to some of the necessity.
We have three choices; to provide the parking, pay cash in lieu, or dip into the black abyss and pull out
as many spaces that you can find. It is already codified that you can lease parking spaces and Brian is
suggesting that the parking commission comes up with their own parking annuity. The ordinance states
that it has to be at least 2 years for the lease.
Brian stated that the open space upstairs in the garage is an asset and thinks that it should be sold. He
noted that the cash in lieu has gotten us this far and got the garage open. But, he thinks now is the right
time to do perpetual leases in the garage.
The garage is justification for altering the parking standards in the B-3 parking districts. This consultant
group will be here next week to do a presentation before the kickoff begins. This initial meeting is
scheduled for Thursday the 18th at 8:00 am. The whole draft will be available the next day for anyone
to review. There will be a 2 week comment period and then the consulting team will have 3 weeks to
analyze all of the comments. By the end of July they will have their final report. After this the
recommendations will go before the commission.
1:18:27 8:53:14 8:40 – 8:45 – Permit/transient revenue, Laurae
As of 2-3 years ago we were selling 143 spaces in the lots and today we have a total of 145 spaces sold
with the lots and the garage. The garage has 101 spaces sold. The decrease was David Loseff who pulled
his 20 spaces. We have had a couple people leave and we are only gaining a few here and there.
A budget to actual through May 31st of this year was provided. The bottom line is that we are into the
red. Chris would like to sit down with Paul and Laurae and get a simplified report that they can look at
and see what the revenues are and what we are spending. Also provided was a draft of the budgeted
revenues and expenditures for Fiscal Year 2010. This budget shows a large number in the red. Anna
would like to see a plan over the next year on how we are going to improve the deficit.
Laurae noted that we may want to move the parking fines up in price or we might just want to raise
certain fines to increase our revenue at this point. Or, we may need to see where we can cut expenses.
Laurae noted that Anna is open for a meeting if they would like to talk to her about the budget. But
overall is looking for budget adjustments by the end of August.
1:50:46 9:25:36 9:00 – Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
Shannon Fish