Parking Commission.

411 West First Street City of Duluth Duluth, Minnesota 55802 Minutes Parking Commission. Friday, February 5, 2021 7:30 AM Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall NOTICE: The Duluth Parking Commission will be holding its February 2021 meeting by other electronic means pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.021 in response to the COVID-19 emergency. Some members of the Commission will be participating through video conference. Due to the COVID-19 emergency and the closure of City facilities, public comment will not be taken in person. However, members of the public can monitor the meeting and provide public comment on agenda items through WebEx Events. Visit https://duluthmn.gov/live-meeting to access the meeting. The public is also encouraged to submit written comment to Parking Services Manager Mark Bauer at mbauer@duluthmn.gov prior to the meeting. Please include “Duluth Parking Commission February 2021 Agenda” in the subject line, and include your name and address and the agenda item you are speaking to. Please note that all public comment is considered Public Data. ROLL CALL Members Present • Dennis Jensen • Linda Krug • Noland Makowsky • Terese Tomanek • Em Westerlund • Mark Bauer, Ex Officio Members Absent • Jessica Sterle, President • Karin Swor Guests Present • Jeff Aanenson, Duluth Operations Manager – Interstate Parking Company • Carl Crawford, Human Rights Officer – City of Duluth • Tim Freitag, Duluth resident • Becky Lonetto, Duluth resident • Dawn Rask, Duluth resident • John Ramos, Investigative Reporter – Duluth Monitor APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of January 2021 meeting minutes Commissioner Em Westerlund motioned that the January 2021 Duluth Parking Commission meeting minutes be approved as presented. Commissioner Terese Tomanek seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. PROPOSAL TO CONVERT THE 400 BLOCK OF NORTH 81ST AVENUE WEST TO WEST-SIDE-ONLY PARKING City of Duluth Page 1 Parking Commission. Minutes February 5, 2021 Proposal to convert a portion of 81st Avenue West to alternate side parking City of Duluth Parking Services Manager Mark Bauer presented a proposal to update the parking configuration on the 400 block of North 81st Avenue West. He stated that the previous configuration had prohibited parking on the block but that the signage had been faded and unreadable for many years. He noted that the street averaged 20’ in width and recommended that the block be converted to alternate side parking, in accordance with the preference of the City’s street maintenance team for snow removal. Block resident Becky Lonetto stated that residents had been parking on the west side of the street for many years without major problems and that snow removal crews seemed to have adapted well to that configuration. Former area resident Dawn Rask stated that Ms. Lonetto’s description was correct and that the one-sided parking practice dated at least back to the time during which she had resided on the block. Area resident Tim Freitag stated that the reason for the request by the residents to formally convert the block to west-side-only parking was to maximize the available parking space, as the east side featured most of the residences and contained many driveways. Commissioner Jensen stated that since the existing parking practices seemed not to be problematic to snow removal operations, he would support the residents’ request to formally convert the block to west-side-only parking. Commissioner Westerlund motioned that the residents’ request to convert the block to west-side-only parking be approved. Commissioner Linda Krug seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. ON-STREET ADA ACCESSIBLE SIGNAGE REQUESTS On-street ADA accessible parking zone requests Mr. Bauer presented two on-street ADA accessible parking zone requests for approval. He stated that he had performed a review of the requests and visited both sites and that the parking division recommended the installation of the new zones. Commissioner Krug motioned that the request for the new zone at 2713 West 2nd Street be approved. Commissioner Tomanek seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. Commissioner Krug motioned that the request for the new zone at 617 North 23rd Avenue West be approved. Commissioner Westerlund seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. PROPOSAL TO CONVERT RESTORMEL STREET TO ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING This Parking Commission was withdrawn. PROPOSAL TO PROHIBIT PARKING ON A PORTION OF HUTCHINSON ROAD Proposal to prohibit parking on a portion of Hutchinson Road Mr. Bauer presented a proposal to prohibit parking on Hutchinson Road, from a point 85’ west of the stop sign at the intersection with Piedmont Avenue to the sign. He stated that the request had been generated by an area resident who City of Duluth Page 2 Parking Commission. Minutes February 5, 2021 was concerned that drivers would enter oncoming traffic to navigate around vehicles parked in the area due to the narrow road width and sharp turn preceding the stop sign. Mr. Bauer stated that he had performed a site visit and verified the problem, citing its overriding safety concerns. Commissioner Krug motioned that the proposal to prohibit parking in the area be approved as presented. Commission Jensen seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. ELECTION OF DULUTH PARKING COMMISSION OFFICERS Annual election of commission officers Commissioner Westerlund motioned that, since Commission President Jessica Sterle had been unable to attend the current commission meeting, the annual nomination and vote on commission officers be postponed until the March 2021 meeting. Commissioner Tomanek seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. OFF-STREET PARKING UPDATE Off-street parking update Interstate Parking Company Duluth Operations Manager Jeff Aanenson provided an update on lots, ramps, and on-street collections operations. He stated that seasonal snow maintenance was proceeding smoothly and that all other parking operations were going well. ON-STREET PARKING UPDATE On-street parking update Mr. Bauer provided an update on on-street parking operations. He stated that he had investigated the commission’s inquiry the previous month into where the commission’s meeting agendas, minutes, and schedules were being stored online and that they had been relocated to another destination on the website during a recent City boards and commissions systems overhaul. He stated that he had asked the City’s Information Technology staff to add a link to this location on the parking commission webpage and that this had been completed. PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comments There were no additional public comments. ADJOURNMENT City of Duluth Page 3