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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02 14 2019 BPC Minutes FinalBOZEMAN PARKING COMMISSION MINUTES Thursday, February 14, 2019 @ 7:30 AM A. Call to Order - 7:30 AM – City Commission Chamber, City Hall, 121 North Rouse Mayor - Cynthia Andrus: Absent Committee Member - Ben Lloyd: Present Committee Member - Chris Naumann: Present Committee Member - James Ness: Present Committee Chair - Pamela Bryan: Absent Committee Member - Shasta Winston: Present Committee Member - Kelly Wiseman : Present Committee Member - Mark Egge: Present Staff - Ed Meece: Present B. Changes to the Agenda Chair Naumann requested to change the order of the action items on the agenda to start with MSU district expansion, then parking leases and finishing up with commission business. C. (January 10, 2019 minutes to submitted at March 2019 mtg.) D. Public Comment – Members of the audience or their agent may be invited to present testimony or evidence. To be recognized, each person desiring to give testimony or evidence shall step forward and, after being recognized, give their name and address for the record. The presiding officer may establish a time frame for each public comment but in no case shall such timeframe be less than three (3) minutes per speaker. The presiding officer may lengthen or shorten the time allotted for public testimony. Leif Sundeen, 5 East Lamme St; commented that he has no on street parking in front of his home. He pointed out that the three projects that are coming in the near future are going to further limit parking. He provided a copy of his calculations with what he believes the availability is in the Garage. He asked the parking commission to slow down and have a clear process in place before converting lease permits to UDC permits. And suggested a clear plan to increase/expand the parking in the downtown corridor. He also requested a public process if the conversion of permits to UDC permits is going to be considered. Daniel Rosinsky-Larson, 217 West Koch St; commented on the expansion of the MSU parking district and the potential impact that it will have on the church and nearby park. He pointed out that this expansion would eliminate 16 parking spaces to accommodate four houses. He encouraged the Commission to weigh the impact this would have for the public. Mike Hope, 2215 Arrowleaf Drive; commented on the conversion of short term leases into UDC leases. He asked that the Commission reconsider. He pointed out that the uniqueness of downtown Bozeman depends on the locals and he wants them to be able to enjoy downtown. He wants to make sure that the public is being represented as a whole; not just a select few entities that would benefit from the conversion of permits in the Garage. E. Action Items 1. 2019 Appointments/Bozeman Parking Commission By-Laws (Exhibit 1): * Chair (1); Vice-Chair (1); Administrative Review Board (3) Chair Naumann would like to move this agenda item to the March meeting. Commissioner Egge asked if there is a specific time the Board must meet by. Mr. Meece confirmed that there is no time restriction built into the ordinance. 2. Discuss/Approve/Deny a request to convert up to 107 monthly parking permits for the Bridger Downtown Parking Garage to Unified Development Code (UDC) parking permits as part of a twenty-five (25) year lease with HomeBase Partners. (Exhibit 2) Mr. Meece explained that on December 14th of 2018 the Parking Services Division received a request from Homebase Partners to explore the conversion of up to 107 of their monthly Parking Garage permits into UDC leases which are attached to 25 year lease agreements. He pointed out that UDC permits do limit the flexibility to manage transient occupancy in the Parking Garage. Mr. Meece also reported to the Parking Commission that on February 13, 2019 there was a letter from Kasting, Kauffman & Mersen Attorneys at Law stating concerns and requesting data concerning this action item. Andy Holloran, Homebase Partners, 20 N Tracy; stated that they have 113 permits in the parking garage and have requested to change 107 into long term leases to satisfy the requirements for a specific property at 5 East Mendenhall. Chair Naumann asked for public comment on this action item. Brian Gallik, representing Gallik, Bremer and Molloy attorneys, 777 E Main; explained that he is a law firm that is representing a number of impacted business owners in the downtown area. He is asking at this time to table the request to convert the permits. This would allow data to be gathered and see what exactly is being proposed and analyze the impact on business owners. He explained the definition of due process, which is fair treatment through the normal judicial system. He recommended transparency in the process. Ashley Ogle, 5 E Lamme, Kenyon Noble, Element Hotel; stated that she feels uninformed on the issue and there has not been much time to process the little information she had. She commented on the fact that it would be courteous to table the issue until more information is gathered. She pointed out that there is a balance that is needed to sustain the downtown businesses. Cory Lawrance, 4510 Morning Sun Drive; shared his understanding of the UDC permits. He encouraged gathering additional data and tabling the topic of converting the permits for now. Allen McCollum, 2261 E Cameron Bridge Road; echoed the comment of having the action item tabled until further information can be reviewed and digested. He also asked about the transparency of the leases and would like to know the process of the lease agreements. Amy McDonald, representing the Baxter, 105 West Main; pointed out that as a tax payer they have invested in this asset, and would like to be able to use it. She requested transparency and asked the commission to wait on the decision until more facts and data can be gathered. Michael Delany, 101 E Main; commented on the history of parking issues downtown and on the positive force we have in our downtown. He stated there is a demand for parking that is not being met and it was time to expand that asset. Chair Naumann requested that this topic be tabled for a future discussion. Commissioner Ness agreed that this should be tabled and discussed at a later date. He suggested our policy/procedure may need to be reviewed in more detail. Commissioner Egge asked if under this proposal would there be any new leases issued. Mr. Meece confirmed that no new lease would be issued, the leases would just be re-categorized. He asked how many leases are issued. Mr. Meece confirmed that there is a total of 563 leases currently authorized for lease and out of that there are 256 UDC leases and 317 short term leases. A motion was made to table this action item and continue it at the April Parking Commission Meeting. Committee Member - Kelly Wiseman : Motion Committee Member - James Ness: 2nd Mayor - Cynthia Andrus: Absent Committee Member - Ben Lloyd: Approve Committee Member - Chris Naumann: Approve Committee Member - James Ness: Approve Committee Chair - Pamela Bryan: Absent Committee Member - Shasta Winston: Approve Committee Member - Kelly Wiseman : Approve Committee Member - Mark Egge: Approve Staff - Ed Meece: N\A 3. Discuss/Approve/Deny a citizen request to recommend to Bozeman City Commission an expansion of the Montana State University Residential Parking Permit District to include the 400 block of S. Sixth as well as the 600 and 700 blocks of W. Story (Exhibit 3). Mr. Meece states that on October 29, 2018 the City of Bozeman received a request for the expansion of the MSU district to include the 400 block of South 6th Ave and the 600 & 700 blocks of West Story. The Parking Department sent out nine citizen surveys to the residents and property owners. When returned 8 out of 9 were in favor of the expansion of the district. The Parking services went out and collected 18 different data points for consideration. Mr. Meece pointed out that we did create a two hour parking district around Cooper Park in the Fall of 2018. Commissioner Wiseman asked if we have a sense of what creating this district would do to the parking on these blocks. He stated this would be taking a public resource away from the public good. Commissioner Egge asked if we took any survey from residents on the 500 block of West Story or 600/700 block of West Koch or any other blocks near the purposed expansion. He also asked about the content of the survey. Mr. Meece stated they did not survey the adjacent blocks and pointed out that there is not a formal procedure and they followed the same practice as has been used in the past. Dick Pohl, 6th and Story; stated his appreciation of the recent changes around Cooper Park to two hour parking. He requested the expansion of the MSU parking district so that residents have access to park in front of their homes between 8 and 5. Susan Calon, 6th and Story; echoed what Dick Pohl stated about the congested parking in their neighborhood. She commented on how frustrating and inconvenienced she and her husband are on not having any on street parking available during the day because they like to leave their driveway open so they can shoot hockey pucks. Kathy Pohl, 1215 S 3rd Ave; commented on the pilot program with MSU, and suggested communicating other solutions with MSU about parking issues. She suggested having neighborhoods work together to help reach out with options and information. Commission Egge commented on how the districts were created originally and how the size has grown. He pointed out that the expansion of the MSU district is just pushing the problem out and could potentially create a dead zone within the district. He sympathizes with the request but pointed out that it will just move the problem without a solution and suggests creating a different management of the district. Commissioner Winston asked about the procedures that are in place for the creation of a district. She also questioned the obligation of the Commission to address this issue. Mr. Meece referenced the City Code and stated that the City Commission actually has the final decisions to creates/approve the expansion of parking districts after a recommendation by the Parking Commission. Chair Naumann pointed out that the ordinance/codes are decades old and that there are better solutions that will come from improved policies. He suggested that supported or unsupported this be advanced to the City Commission. Commissioner Ness pointed out that an improved policy needs to be put in place in order to create or change districts. He stated he is in support of this expansion as it is something that has been approved in the past within our current policy. Mr. Meece stated that change to the MSU district is not a very welcomed practice, once an expectation of what parking looks like has been established it is hard to change. Commissioner Wiseman agreed that we need to explore different options instead of just moving the district down the road. Commissioner Lloyd agreed that perpetuating a broken system is not a solution to the problem. Commissioner Egge stated that there needs to be a better policy and procedure to manage the districts and the community as a whole. A motion was made to deny the citizen request to expand the MSU parking district: Committee Member - Mark Egge: Motion Committee Member - Kelly Wiseman : 2nd Mayor - Cynthia Andrus: Absent Committee Member - Ben Lloyd: Approve Committee Member - Chris Naumann: Approve Committee Member - James Ness: Approve Committee Chair - Pamela Bryan: Absent Committee Member - Shasta Winston: Approve Committee Member - Kelly Wiseman : Approve Committee Member - Mark Egge: Approve Staff - Ed Meece: N\A F. Parking Program Manager Report (Exhibit 4) Mr. Meece pointed out that the occupancy number on exhibit 4, for January, is a compilation of three highest occupancy data point average for the month of January. G. New Business Chair Naumann reminded Commissioners to turn in their Financial Disclosure form that is required for the City of Bozeman. He also stated that the March meeting timeframe would be expanded to two hours 7:30-9:30 to accommodate the required Ethics training. H. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 9:17 am. I. Upcoming Issues (Tentative): March 2019: *Residential Parking Permit District Rates (2019-20 renewals) *Downtown Improvement Plan Review (Resolution ?) *Annual Ethics Training (one hour mandatory) Mr. Meece points out that he has a list of makeup dates if unable to attend next month’s meeting for the annual ethics training in order to stay current with the City of Bozeman ethics training. April 2019: *Review Lease Limit Calculator (revised w/Rick Williams) --Peak Occupancy Data Points & UDC/Hotel formula *Downtown Parking Sites Feasibility Analysis Update The next Bozeman Parking Commission meeting will be held March 14, 2019, 7:30 am, at City Hall. Bozeman Parking Commission meetings are open to all members of the public. If you have a disability that requires assistance please contact our ADA Coordinator, Chuck Winn 582-2307.