Parking Commission.

411 West First Street City of Duluth Duluth, Minnesota 55802 Minutes Parking Commission. Friday, August 4, 2023 7:30 AM Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall ROLL CALL Members Present • Antonio Davis • Mike Mayou • Branden Robinson, Vice President • Brandon Van Tassel • Robert Woods, President • Mark Bauer, Ex Officio Guests Present • Carl Crawford, Human Rights Officer – City of Duluth • Ari Eilola, Duluth Operations Manager – Interstate Parking Company • John Ramos, Investigative Reporter – Duluth Monitor • Mike Rasmusson, Duluth resident APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of July 2023 meeting minutes City of Duluth Parking Services Manager Mark Bauer presented the July 2023 Duluth Parking Commission meeting minutes for approval. Commission Vice President Branden Robinson motioned that the minutes be approved as presented. Commissioner Mike Mayou seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENTS Public Comments There were no public comments in the first designated comment period. ON-STREET ACCESSIBLE PARKING ZONE REQUESTS On-street accessible parking zone requests Mr. Bauer presented three on-street accessible parking zone requests for review and potential approval. He stated that he had visited all the sites, consulted with the applicants, and reviewed the requests with the City Commission on Disabilities. Commissioner Mayou motioned that the request for 1829 East 2nd Street be approved. Commissioner Robinson seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. Commissioner Robinson motioned that the request for 2515 Jefferson Street be approved. Commissioner Mayou seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. Commissioner Robinson motioned that the request for 1602 Minnesota Avenue be approved. Commissioner Antonio Davis seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. City of Duluth Page 1 Parking Commission. Minutes August 4, 2023 OFF-STREET PARKING UPDATE Off-street parking update Mr. Bauer stated that for the month of July 2023, the parking operator’s contracted security vendor had reported 160 total incidents in the parking facilities that they handled. He stated that there were 25 calls for service to the Duluth Police Department during the same time period and stated that this indicated that the security vendor was doing a good job addressing issues in the ramps. Commissioner Mayou stated that it would be a good idea to make sure the security vendor is trained on the various types of services available to offenders in the ramps. Commissioner Mayou suggested that bathroom facilities be installed in the ramps. Mr. Bauer and Commission President Robert Woods stated that the City had previously installed temporary bathrooms in the downtown area, which were in turn vandalized and misused and eventually removed. Mr. Bauer stated that he had concerns about installing this type of facility within the ramps, as it may attracted more negative behavior. Mr. Bauer described the upcoming installation of a pedestrian access control system at HART Ramp and that he hoped this would be followed by similar installations at Technology Village and Medical District Ramps but added that these initiatives were currently unfunded. He stated that he continued to advocate for a reduction in the annual General Fund transfer in order to fund these urgent items and to plan for the future of the Parking Fund. Commissioner Robinson motioned that a request be transmitted to the City’s Planning division to provide the Parking Commission a summary of the City’s long-term parking plan in relation to the potential sales of Technology Village and Medical District Ramps. Commissioner Mayou seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. Interstate Parking Company Duluth Operations Manager Ari Eilola described ongoing fluctuations in ramp utilization at Medical District Ramp due to the opening of the new Essentia Hospital campus. Commissioner Woods inquired whether increased business at the ramp would result in fewer security issues – Mr. Eilola replied that this is the case. ON-STREET PARKING UPDATE On-street parking update Mr. Bauer stated that the parking office was temporarily closed for installation of City Hall’s new HVAC system and added that he would likely present information on the proposed 2024 Parking Fund budget in the next Parking Commission meeting. Mr. Bauer suggested that due to Labor Day weekend the September 1 Parking Commission Meeting date be moved to September 8 to better facilitate a quorum and to provide the public a better opportunity to attend. Commissioner Mayou motioned that the meeting be moved to September 8. Commissioner Robinson seconded the motion, which was approved 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOLLOW-UP Public Comments follow-up Duluth Monitor Investigative Reporter John Ramos introduced himself to the Parking Commission and encouraged Commissioners’ communication with him. City of Duluth Page 2