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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-28-22 Public Comment - B. Noelle - Transportation Board re tonights parking supply work sessionFrom:babs noelle To:Agenda Subject:Transportation Board RE: tonight"s Parking Supply Work Session Date:Wednesday, September 28, 2022 1:27:35 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Greetings, Transportation Board! I am writing today because somehow the downtown boards (DBA, URD, BID, and PMC) have been conspicuously left out of the process of providing OUR input and recommendations to the City Commission regarding downtown parking. Despite being the most directly affected and invested, it appears our thoughts are not being teased out; but the Transpiration Board IS included. So, this is my way of trying to direct my comments to you for the Transportation Board Work Session tonight. For frame of reference, I am the owner of an 18- year old business downtown, I have been the President of the DBA Board for 17 years, and I am a PMC Board member (and have been since its inception). I am an employer of 12 people. Let's talk transportation! Specifically, all the downtown workers that must commute via car. To get to their jobs. Whether because of limited alternative options or hours of work, the lion's share of these folks MUST commute, because the housing they can afford is not near enough for walking. In the many Zoom calls all of the downtown board members attended, the point most often made by citizens and stakeholders alike was that a robust, vetted, well thought-out, and FREE employee parking component needs to be FRONT and CENTER to any paid parking plan. It is interesting to me that this is definitely mentioned in the materials I received regarding today's meeting, but it reads as if City staff views this concept as something ancillary or tertiary to the entire paid parking issue. I assure you--between the downtown employees and business owners, this point was mentioned probably more than any other in the meetings. I hate to say it, but I don't believe an employee parking component will just magically "happen" after-the-fact. It needs to be explicitly included in the plan. It is vital. Discussing a Paid Parking "solution" without putting employee parking at the CENTER of it is putting the cart before the horse. If employers have to deal with paying for employee parking, that will be a pretty bad situation for many businesses--and possibly a final nail in the coffin for others. While the paid parking was "pitched" to everyone at the meetings as being seasonal, I had a feeling that that pitch would be abandoned...and the materials I'm reading imply it has been. I definitely don't like that kind of thing--hence my skittishness about just believing an employee parking component will come to pass without explicit inclusion. It's the only way for a paid parking plan to be a thoughtful solution. I am thankful for those in public service, such as yourself. And I appreciate that the downtown parking situation is seeing the light of day. That said, I often felt, when I was in the Zoom meetings, that those running the meetings failed to understand how delicate of a balance downtown business owners must maintain during this unprecedented time of low staff and high inflation. After all, City jobs involve free parking, and...guaranteed, steady income--not something that fluctuates, as is often the case with small business owners. If business owners don't have enough money to pay the business bills and their personal bills, staffing is something that might get cut. Once staff gets cut too much, a business will fail from lack of ability to serve the consuming public. Unlike some of my fellow downtown business owners, I do NOT believe that paid parking will reduce customers, per se. It's our job on the Downtown Partnership (and the component boards) to make sure our downtown offers an exceptional experience. That experience will either be exceptional enough to justify paid parking, or not. But losing staff will definitely make many businesses not worth visiting. Other points that are worth being concerned about regarding the proposal are: Where's the income going to go? Downtown businesses will be the ones to "pay" for having on-street paid parking...but the destination of the funds is undefined. Where's the proforma for this plan? Overall, this plan lacks vetting. The use of the word "believe" (as opposed to "data shows") in reference to City Staff is frustrating and not thorough. Why is this being forced through without more input from those who are most invested in downtown? Why is it so lacking in detail? I am hoping that these points will be something you will consider before you recommend this plan to the City Commission. Thank you for your time. Regards, Babs Noelle -- babs noelle >>>ringleader<<< 2011 Winner of the American Art Awards, Jewelry Division and 2013 Prospera Woman Entrepreneur of the Year alara jewelry 42 w. main street bozeman, montana 59715 (406) 522-8844 "Named One of the 20 Coolest Jewelry Stores in North America, Three Years Running, and Second Coolest in 2010" alara jewelry 42 w. Main Streetbozeman, mt 59715 406.522.8844 Named the #2 Coolest Jewelry Store in North America in 2010www.alarajewelry.com