Parking Commission.

411 West First Street City of Duluth Duluth, Minnesota 55802 Minutes Parking Commission. Friday, March 6, 2020 7:30 AM Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall ROLL CALL Members Present • Linda Krug • Noland Makowsky • Karin Swor • Em Westerlund • Mark Bauer, Ex Officio Members Absent • Dennis Jensen • Derek Medved • Jessica Sterle, President APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of February 2020 meeting minutes Commissioner Em Westerlund motioned that the February 2020 parking commission meeting minutes be approved as presented. Commissioner Karin Swor seconded the motion, which was approved 4-0. PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT A PARKING PROHIBITION ON THE 400 BLOCK OF 7th AVENUE EAST Proposal to implement a parking prohibition on the 400 block of 7th Avenue East Mr. Bauer presented a proposal to prohibit parking on a portion of the east side of the 400 block of 7th Avenue East. He stated that the request had been generated by the owner of Discount Mattress, who had expressed concern that delivery vehicles had been experiencing challenges with turning radii into the access driveway serving his business due to vehicles parked in the area. Mr. Bauer recommended that parking be prohibited on the east side of 7th Avenue East from a point 10’ south of the Discount Mattress access driveway to a point 7’ north of the adjacent alley. Commission Vice President Noland Makowsky inquired how many public parking spaces would be lost due to the prohibition. Mr. Bauer estimated that only two legal spaces would be lost and that the neighboring apartment building tenants should still have adequate parking options. Commissioner Westerlund motioned that the proposal be approved. Commissioner Swor seconded the motion, which was approved 4-0. PROPOSAL TO ADJUST MONTHLY RATES AT OFF-STEET LOTS AND RAMPS City of Duluth Page 1 Parking Commission. Minutes March 6, 2020 Proposal to adjust monthly rates at off-street lots and ramps Mr. Bauer introduced a proposal to adjust monthly contract rates at off-street parking lots and ramps. He stated that the recommended rate package had earned the formal support of the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee and that several years had passed without adjustment to the rates. Interstate Parking Company Duluth Area Manager Cody Mass provided detail on the proposed rates, which featured monthly rate increases that he and Mr. Bauer described as moderate. Commissioner Westerlund suggested that the fact that the only ramp not to feature a proposed rate increase, Civic Center Public Ramp, could appear to favor City employees, due to its close proximity to City Hall. Mr. Bauer stated that rates at Civic Center Public Ramp had already been higher than those at the other facilities, resulting in the decision to recommend they not change at present. Commissioner Linda Krug motioned that the proposed rate structure be approved. Commissioner Swor seconded the motion, which was approved 4-0. OFF-STREET PARKING UPDATE Off-street parking update Interstate Parking Company Duluth Area Manager Cody Mass provided an update on off-street parking operations. He stated that ramps and lots were operating smoothly and added that, with the recent mild weather, he was hopeful for an early start to spring cleaning and seasonal painting at the facilities. ON-STEET PARKING UPDATE On-street parking update Mr. Bauer provided an update on on-street parking operations. He stated that Interstate Parking, and Cody Mass in particular, had done a great job in assuming on-street meter collection duties for the City, beginning in January 2019, resulting in stronger controls, auditing functions, reporting, accountability, communication, and customer service than had previously been present, as well as presenting a better value to the public for the service. Mr. Bauer stated that the parking division and Interstate Parking would soon be increasing the number of live radio appearances but cutting other on-air promotions, resulting in both cost savings and overall more effective public information. He stated that the recent inaugural City boards and commissions recognition event had been successful and that he hoped for greater attendance at future events as it became better-known. Commissioner Westerlund stated that the City’s recent parking fee amnesty at downtown meters, which had been implemented as a result of several challenging snow events as a way to generate public goodwill and downtown business, had been well-received by the public with whom she had interacted. Commissioner Swor inquired into current snow emergency parking procedures; Mr. Bauer stated that the City was currently revising the snow emergency system and would be implementing new procedures for the 2020-21 snow season. Commissioner Krug stated that parking signage in the recently-completed phase two section of Superior Street was inadequate and somewhat ineffective, resulting in concerns for public safety and access. Mr. Bauer stated that shared the concerns and that he had been experiencing challenges in getting these types of signage requests fulfilled by the City’s City of Duluth Page 2 Parking Commission. Minutes March 6, 2020 engineering division, but that he would continue to work toward remedies. Commissioner Krug stated that she was hopeful that better attention would be paid to these items moving forward. PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comments There were no additional public comments. ADJOURNMENT This was approved. City of Duluth Page 3