Mobile GR Commission Meeting

Mobile GR Commission 50 Ottawa Ave. NW Minutes Packet Grand Rapids, MI 49503 March 2, 2023 @ 12:00 PM Mobile GR and Parking Services Conference Room I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 12:00 PM by Chairperson Lynee Wells PRESENT: Lunger, Wells, Winn, Haynes, Monoyios, Mathis, Patton, Parkes, Clark, Kampmeier, Rayzel, Robbins, Nyenhuis, Bennett, Kasper, Naramore, Gilles, Terpstra, Miguel-Cipriano, Anderson ABSENT: II. Approval of Minutes Approval of Minutes from February 2, 2023 RESULT: ACCEPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS] YEAS: Lunger, Wells, Winn, Haynes, Monoyios, Mathis, Patton, Parkes, Clark, Kampmeier, Rayzel, Robbins, Nyenhuis III. Public Comment on Agenda Items IV. Action Items V. Discussions 1. Evaluating Parking Market Competitiveness • Andrea Anderson and Josh Naramore summarize the Evaluating Parking Market Competitiveness discussion item. • Commissioner Wells asks when the event parking rate applies. • Jennifer Kasper responds that the event rate applies when an attendant is in the parking booth. • Commissioner Winn suggests that increasing rates gradually at a lower rate is better than waiting 6/7 years and doing a large rate increase. Commissioner Winn also suggests that the department keep rates around 10% below private sector. • Commissioner Nyenhuis adds that the private sector has had to raise rates recently as well, and that by keeping rates low the department is not promoting other modes of transportation. • Commissioner Haynes states there is a severe need for a market adjustment when it comes to the department’s parking rates. Commissioner Haynes adds that by raising rates the department can motivate folks to be more multi-modal. Generated 4/27/2023 03:46 PM Mobile GR Commission Meeting Full Page 2 March 2, 2023 Commissioner Haynes also suggests that increasing rates yearly, instead of a larger increase every few years, is best practice. Commissioner Haynes says that monthly parking rates and event parking rates should be the focus of the increases. • Commissioner Mathis adds that increasing on-street enforcement time by one hour would be a good idea, to match other cities. This would provide higher turnover of the desired parking spots which would help local businesses get more customers. • Commissioner Parkes asks if there is a way to project the cost and potential income of increasing the enforcement hours. • Naramore responds that staff has done those projections and that they can show those projections at a future meeting. • Commissioner Haynes states that Grand Rapids is a different city than it was when the enforcement hours decision was previously made. There are more diverse activities that would benefit from and justify higher turnover of parking spaces. • Commissioner Patton states that while rate increases are a good idea, he would prefer that staff not commit to a certain percentage below the private sector in writing, that those decisions be left up to the Mobile GR Commission and Mobile GR staff. Commissioner Patton also adds that incentivizing the DASH is important and hopes the parking rate increases can help facilitate that. • Commissioner Monoyios agrees with the idea to have incremental rate increases. Commissioner Monoyios asks about linear coverage/distance between meters, to help better understand that amount of work required to enforce the number of meters. Commissioner Monoyios also suggests that staff think about communicating with the community about where the increased parking rate money goes and what it funds within the department. • Commissioner Robbins states that data informed decision making will help the community understand paying slightly higher rates, such as seeing a graph that shows a lower average rate compared to similar cities. • Commissioner Lunger suggests that staff meet with local employers to hear their concerns about raising monthly parking rates. 2. Carshare Program Planning Scope of Work • Erin Evenhouse summarizes the Carshare Program Planning Scope of Work discussion item. 3. Parklet Program Changes • John Bartlett summarizes the Parklet Program Changes discussion item. 4. Transit Master Plan • Commissioner Monoyios summarizes the Transit Master Plan discussion item. Generated 4/27/2023 03:46 PM Mobile GR Commission Meeting Full Page 3 March 2, 2023 VI. Updates 1. March 2023 Project Updates VII. Public Comment on Other Matters VIII. Commissioner Comment on Other Matters IX. Adjournment The meeting was closed at 1:15 PM Generated 4/27/2023 03:46 PM