City Council

City Council Committee on Ordinances Licenses and Legal Affairs June 15th, 2023 Purpose: Discussing ordinance amending chapter 42 section 75-a repealing and replacing temporary October resident parking section A deleting section D free weekend parking for Salem residents parking rates at following at following Lots be twenty dollars Crombie Street Old Salem jail and Crescent lot rates at following Lots be forty dollars Church Street East lot and Church Street West lot rate for garage locations twenty dollars for zero to two hours fifty dollars for two hours and up Museum place in South Harbor garages October 1st through 31st 2023 order parking meter rate one dollar intersection Lime Street Washington Mill Street Margin Street East Side intersection Endicott Street Point North of 95 Margin Street October 1st through 31st Saturday through Sunday 12 to 6 p.m. residents free with passport app parking meter rate 2.22 perpendicular spaces adjacent North Street Bridge Street and 4 Franklin Street October 1st through 31st Saturday through Sunday 12 to 6 p.m. residents free with passport app temporary resident parking October 1st through November 1st 2023 5 PM through 7 A.M Monday through Friday and 12 p.m. through 7 A.M Sunday Saturday through Sunday Chestnut from Cambridge to Summer Street Essex Street from Monroe Street to Summer Street Hawthorne Boulevard from Essex Street Charter Street in traffic and parking and traffic and parking commission submitting advisory recommendations relative to extension of October resident parking permit parking rate. Attendance: C. Dominguez C. Prosniewski C. Cohen C. Varela C. Morsillo Guests: Dave Kucharsky Lieutenant Tucker David Kucharski: traffic parking Director City of Salem. Earlier this year the mayor's office asked that my department take a look at trying to get additional revenues as well as introduce additional free parking for residents particularly during weekends in October so up before you as a result of that effort what we try to do is anywhere where we have a parking kiosk and people can use the app is where we're recommending these increases for visitors it would vary either twenty dollars depending on the lot or forty dollars the 40 ones are more on the core the Church Street Lots twenty dollars are in some of the smaller lots that are still in the core but are on the periphery of the area this also affords again residents the ability for free parking so if they go to the kiosk or use the app it would be free for them as long as their vehicle is registered in the city would show up this would this would basically create opportunities for approximately 325 spaces that are would be free for residents to use weekends throughout the month of October so that's the or the basic uh orders and again it's intended to raise revenues as well as afford residents some free parking if all is there or continue on with the other pieces. Chair Morsillo: my only question was one of them had a November first end the other seemed to have October 31st we want to make those all the same the North Street one it looks like had an October oh no temporary resident parking on Chestnut Street maybe it looked like it was November 1st. The Chestnut Street Derby Street Essex Street Hawthorne Boulevard when we get to that we can do that you can take care of it, but do you want them all to be the same or David Kucharski: well, that order is more in line with what the resident permit parking is because those are temporal resident permit streets during the regular year, and this is trying to give them the same level of enforcement as the other as as year-round streets but it would be the same as temporary October streets. So those streets and there's an error I also noted in their Derby Street is missing but those streets have resident permanent parking but permit in most cases two-hour non-resident. So, this is an attempt to say that the temporary October streets that get the green signs, these streets would also get them. So, they would be afforded the same regulations during the month of October as is those streets. Chair Morsillo: so, all those the rest of those resident only parking that goes through November 1st? David Kucharski: that's correct that's the language in the ordinance itself, so it's intended to reflect what's in the ordinance. Chair Morsillo: so, you know Derby Street is on the order that we got it may not have been in that that whole thing that I read. C. Varela: I know we talked about the stop date being on November 1st however you know seeing how Halloween ends on a Tuesday evening I would think that the weekend following that Tuesday would be pretty busy as well for not only tourists but just stimulation for October and just that residual of Halloween in general I don't know if it would be smart to extend that over the weekend so that it kind of gives us a little more time and to celebrate that weekend there as well David Kucharski: this is for these particular streets or the ordinance that covers all of the streets during the month of October? C. Verela: those are the ordinance that covers entirety for October so the ordinance that covers all the Resident only parking for the Halloween. Chair Morcello: Correct David Kucharski: so as part of our assessment I think you saw on the notice the council we were asked to look at extending it into September and our recommendation with mission was to hold off on extending it we worked with Kate Fox from destination Salem to get some Placer data to see what it's like in mid-October excuse me mid- September and although there is more activity it's not anywhere where the October levels are. same with if November it sorts of Peaks and then drops back down again. So, we'd ask that at least for this coming season before we get the LPR systems in place that we've discussed to try to keep it within the October time frame. because it would result in additional signage issuing permits so there's a there's act Logistics that we would have to do DPS would have to do to make something like that work. Chair Morcillo: yeah, I mean it sounds like you are going to look at this holistically September and extending Beyond October and if it needs a more generic way of saying not to capture the season in the future. David Kucharski: maybe we could do that right we're even the possibility that certain areas in the downtown may start sooner than others understanding the food truck festival impacts areas around the common more so than say the coin or South Salem or so again it's trying to balance where the impacts and being somewhat surgical if we can and not putting too much of a strain on DPW they put up over 1300 signs last year. It’s a lot of signage and let’s get things down and you obviously know that they're very busy during that time. C. Dominguez: my question on comments on regard on the 325 spaces that you have free for residents those 325 spaces seem to be a lot but when it comes to Halloween season this is nothing versus what we have here how do you find out in those spaces I use a residence? because I have my own experience is I go to church in downtown charges Street a lot and every time I go there myself during the Halloween Seasons there's no space. So, is there any way that you can help alleviate that? because I know like me there are so many people that use downtown doing, especially on weekends. but they're charging downtown or go to work downtown too. Is anything that can be alleviate that Situation? David Kucharski: I mean unfortunately it's really a first come first serve we don't have staff Manning the various slots so it's really sort of I would think residents may know the ins and outs better when it gets busier and if they need to get in now they're afforded an opportunity to come in earlier in the day on a weekend and get free parking. that might encourage them to do it during those early hours before it gets busy. and you know speaking to Lieutenant Tucker and the chief at 10 A.M and 30 11 that's really when things get filled up so those earlier hours but I don't have any mechanisms in place to necessarily afford dedicated parking with the exception of the Reserve spaces we put on the roof for those who have acquired to bypasses to them. I don't have anything else at the moment. Chair Morcillo: app can tell you or can the app tell you how many residents use those used spaces around the city for free during that month? David Kucharski: so yeah, we could certainly start if this change is voted on at these very slots, we can look at that weekend data to see who registered either at the kiosk or using the app Orman what percentage was a visitor what percentage was a resident. C Cohen: so yeah I'm very supportive of this potentially more revenue and more available free parking I just have a logistical question especially like places like Canal Street so there's no kiosk and if I use my app, do I use my app as if I'm purchasing parking and will the app you know report back to me that it's free? David Kucharski: so it's it is license place based on Canal and margin so if you it'll prompt you to put in your plate if your plate is registered in the city, we have that information uploaded to the passport system so it would then say free no need to pay except for the fee, there's a 15 cent 15 cent fee. C. Cohen: I'm supportive I feel like my street I live on actually had one of the signs and it really made a difference because the Overflow is really Significant. but I think just my experience is that as people get to know these residence places like margin Mill Canal North Street residents will become more familiar with their ability to use those spots which have been kind of closed out in the past. C. Dominguez: I just had another question may be related to opposite talkies in regard to those tickets during that time that is given to some of the residents that for some reason they had to park for example come to visit one of their relatives for short video time and they get a ticket. there is any grace period during that month or everything is going to be yes the same because I have so many people calling me saying yeah it's back to visit my mom for two or three minutes because of the regulation that is in place because of Halloween now I got a ticket I think I call you, I call some of your officers and ask if there's any way that we can alleviate that situation during that month during that period of time. Officer: we've discussed it some we haven't come up with a complete answer yet because it would kind of seemingly undo what we're trying to accomplish with the residents of the street getting the parking so if we open it too wide to city-wide residents that it would be a little bit feeding so we're trying to we're still in discussion about that about a asses and different things that could be Done. but we don't I don't have the answer yet. David Kucharski: well for the temporary October streets where we issue permits to the residents, they can request visitor a visitor pass so we've issued those so if someone is visiting you know relative, and they need to come the elderly person could ask contact our office and we we've sent out additional passes. In instances were they might Park in these Canal or margin areas and where it didn’t work, they put in the wrong plates if they appeal it, and they show proof that they're a resident. We have done that. Chair Morcillo: I have a question on the first one this is the number 257 is the ordinance and so you're adding Lynch Street and you're removing Essex Street from Cambridge to Summer so my question is why we didn’t go ahead and add Chestnut Street Derby Street Essex Street and Hawthorne Boulevard from a later order to the ordinance. David Kucharski: those streets are already in the ordinance as resident permit parking but again they're not 24 7 year-round there are resident parking all year, but it also permits in the case of Derby and Chestnut, and it permits non-resident to our parking. and on Derby I believe it's only in effect from 6 00 P.M to 8 in the morning. Essex it's only in place in the commuter hours in the morning of I think seven to nine or 7 30 to 9 30. so, they already exist in the ordinance this I met with Beth Renard to figure out the best way to do this and she suggested have it as an order so that again it's a temporary condition that is sort of superseding the underlying ordinance just for that time period. Chair Morcillo: the first one is the ordinance change does anyone have any questions on that like I said removing Essex Street from Cambridge to Summer and inserting Lynch Street from Congress Street to Perkins and then deleting the entire paragraph section D about the lot the Church Street West lot that's covered in the order right. Moved return this to the council with a positive recommendation for first Passage seconded by counselor Dominguez all those in favor motion carries five to zero. The second one is twenty dollars a day at the Crombie Crombie’s lot the Old Salem jail band the Crescent Lodge any questions on that. C. Dominguez: question is that twenty dollars a day to compete with the demand On other private parking that they charge $40, $50 more I mean when you have a competition, and you go lot if the money is going to be over overwhelming so why did $20 not kind of compete with the other with the other parking lot. David Kucharski: I think because we're this is something new we're trying to start it out and see at these rates what the activity is like again, it's in order so if we find based on the activity, we're seeing who's registering at the kiosks and the residents we could always come back to you the following year with a higher rate but this was sort of a first take on that understanding there's other private entities that might be charging more but these are still within the core and a good number of spaces that we think it's a reasonable one start with. Chair Morcillo: and just to be clear these three lots Crombie lot Old Salem jail and the Crescent lot is only Saturdays and Sundays from eight to six correct during October 1st through the 31st and residents are free all right. C Dominguez: any idea what the revenue will be used for I mean what it what do we envision to see is any I know he's going to go to some general account for the city. David Kucharski: all the parking Revenue that comes in goes into the general fund so we I don't have any plans necessary for it uh that'd be more of a question maybe for mayor of the finance director. C. Dominguez: if it's intended to offset some of the expenses that the city incurs as a result of the activities going on during the month I would like to see maybe some of that Revenue being targeted more education programs for the especially for the Youth they can get into Generations education so at the end we get better. you know will respond to the law and the thing that you are proposing here in the City of Salem I don't know if my idea is clear, but I just want to make sure that you know we targeted some of these Revenue to educate. Chair Morcillo: I will say that that's pretty much out of Mr. Kucharski’s hands and directly in the mayor's hands. C. Cohen: I agree it could go to anything go to Public Safety, so I am going to move that we move this to the full council with a positive recommendation to charge twenty dollars for the Crombie old jail and Crescent lot. C. Verela: Second. Chair Morcillo: so, councilor Cohen moves to refer this to the council with a positive recommendation for approval Second Amendment Council Dominguez all those in favor well as opposed the matter carries five to zero. We are on to the parking rate forty dollars a day for the Church Street Lot Church Street East law and Church Street West lot and again that's October 1st through the 31st Saturdays and Sundays eight to six and residents are free. C Cohen: I think we're going to raise some revenue and I think people who come to Salem are more than comfortable paying that or more. So, I move that we refer this the East and West Church Lots forty dollars during October to the full council with a positive work. C Verela: sorry can we back up I wasn't done with a conversation about the Crombie Crescent, and I was sorry I was raising my hand to ask a question I wasn't voting in favor I'm so sorry respectfully I was not going to speak up my vote would be no for the order the parking rates concerning the 20 for Crombie old Salomon Crescent I think it should be more I think these are all smaller lots and I think we need to stay competitive with the private lots and I think there's an opportunity here to charge a little more money to make a little more Revenue because they're smaller Lots they're always filled up and I I believe that it should be a little more competitive than twenty dollars so with that my vote would have been “NO,’ but I just wanted to give my comment to you guys. Chair Morcillo: I would suggest you make that recommendation to the council, and I think that I would take that up as a conversation I will change that to a four/one. so now we're back to the church Street East law and Church Street West lot and did you make a motion counselor Cohen made a motion seconded by counselor Dominguez any other discussion seeing none all those in favor well as opposed the matter carries five to zero. Next this is the parking rate for the garages twenty dollars for between zero and two hours and fifty dollars for two hours and up and this is a museum Place garage and the South Harbor Garage and again, this is all of October but also including indigenous people's day and Halloween whenever that may be. C Dominguez: I want to make a motion tool send it to other recommendation for the garage registry in Place Garage in the South Harbor Garage yes Recommendation. Chair Morcillo: Dominguez makes the motion seconded by councilor Varela all those in favor well as opposed the matter carries five to zero. Parking rate at one dollar per hour this is for Canal Street and Margin Street these are just small zones from the intersection of Washington Street Mill Street from the intersection of Lime Street to a point approximately 250 feet south of the intersection of Washington Street and Mill Street. That’s for the month of October and then on margin street from Endicott Street to just short of the police department driveway. and again, that's the month of October Saturdays and Sundays yep from 12 to 6. C Dominguez: we had these same across the board okay we had the same feed across the board for the month of October whatever is the middle that way not only said you know Canal Street being kind of targeted one dollar so and we do, and we do the whole city so everybody's in the same David Kucharski: so, we first started this it was two years ago we introduced it on Canal Street and at the time we set it as a dollar because of the proximity it is to downtown The Meters that are directly to the North or 50 cents or dollar and what we didn't want was trying to drive people into the adjacent residential streets where some of them are unregulated. so we tried to keep it at that rate, and it generated some money we issued some citations and overall, we thought it was good it's a long-term area people have to walk, it's fine but we were trying to strike that balance where you're not charging someone too much, you're just making it enough that they'll want to be there and not again go into the adjacent residence. last year we did it again we charged a dollar we added Margin Street we had it as a dollar and up at North Street where you have those perpendicular spaces there was discussion with the commission to at least make them two dollars again uh our goal is to try to bring some water to these areas and not charge too much because the last thing we want to do is sort of again Drive visitors into the adjacent resident areas and again these are really outside the core .So it's still some money bringing in but it's striking that balance. C. Cohen: so respectfully I disagree councilor Dominguez for this reason it's very purposeful the parking rates so for example on Lower Lafayette Street which is not only the point but a lot of businesses there same thing with Canal Street and margin I mean I can't speak to you know the margin part but I think it would adversely affect some of the businesses and even some of the residents who like you were talking about before may have guests come in and to be able to go into Winer brothers or you know right now you could go in there for a half hour and a quarter and on Canal Street there's you know the life Bridge thrift shop and things like that where people will be able to use it who are not necessarily tourists. C. Verela: I'd like to make a motion if it's appropriate. I'd like to make a motion for a positive recommendation to the council that the order for the parking rate meter one dollar intersection Lime Street Washington Mill Street Margin Street East Side intersection Endicott Street Point North of 95 Margin Street October 31st October 1st to the 31st Saturday Sunday 12 to 6 p.m. residents free with a passport app. C Dominguez: Second Chair Morcillo: all those in favor of the motion carries five to zero. okay next is the North Street one and this is a parking rate of two dollars per hour again the month of October Saturdays and Sundays 12 to 6 and residents are free with the app, and this is 22 spots. C. Varela: I'd like to make a motion a positive recommendation to the full Council that the order of the parking meter rate at two dollars 22 particular spaces adjacent to the North Street Bridge Street and four Franklin Street October 1st the 31st Saturday through Sunday 12 to 6 p.m. residents free with a passport app. C. Dominguez: Second Chair Morcillo: all those in favor, the motion passes five to zero. Four streets for limited resident permit parking this is temporary resident permit parking for from October 1st to November 1st during the hours of 5 PM to 7 A.M Monday through Friday 12 P.M to 7 A.M Saturday through Sunday and this is for Chestnut Street from Cambridge Street to Summer Street Derby Street from Beckett Ave to Webb Street Essex Street from Monroe Street to Summer Street Hawthorne Boulevard from Essex Street to Charter Street. C. Varela: I would like to make a motion for a positive recommendation for the order for temporary resident parking October 1st to November 1st, 2023, 5 PM to 7 A.M Monday through Friday and 12 P.M to 7 A.M Saturday through Sunday Chestnut Street from Cambridge to Summer Street Essex Street from Monroe streets to Summer Street Hawthorne Boulevard from Essex Street to Charter Street thank you Derby Street from Beckett Ave to Webb Street. C. Dominguez: second Chair Morcillo: all those in favor all those opposed matter carries five to zero. we have this is the this is from your office and the traffic and parking Commission as you noted discussing extending you know the enforcement time outside of the month of October and you're you want to study it this year and make a possible recommendation next year. Would this also be for both sides of the month as we talked about maybe extending it a little bit into November also depending on when Halloween is. David Kucharski: I think our goal was to Monitor mid-September and see what it's like a week or so into November to see what conditions are like. C Dominguez: I just wanted to ask David if you can go ahead and explain what exactly the proposal or the general public is to be aware if they are not in what exactly you're proposing so we can be your educating to that. David Kucharski: so, when we met with the mayor's officer earlier this year based on some feedback that they'd heard from the public and you all heard there was a request to look at extending the temporary October time frame so instead of being October 1 to November one we were asked to look at should we start at say mid-September we took a look at that we brought that to the commission they asked for some additional data we had a second meeting with the commission where we presented from our findings we looked at the activities in the garages we looked at place your data and we found that there is fire activity but it's not at the level that October is so given we're about to embark on introducing a license plate recognition program and have permits and citations all be channeled into that program we ask that you hold off on extending it know we're going to monitor it this year see if it's needed for the future and come back whether to say, we think you keep it the way it is or perhaps there's some tweaking or maybe certain areas may start early so that's we're asking for more time basically. C. Dominguez: why are you saying you actually want to do a pilot program in early October kind of seeing that it is a lot of activity before your two-way season you want to make sure that throughout the time before the two where you get the data to see there is any possibility to maintain. David Kucharski: We want to see if the activity the parking activity warrants extending the October temporary parking permits right. Chair Morsillo: yeah, I could see that that would be a problem actually I mean not a problem but on the on the outer edge of the permits we because I live on one of the streets, we certainly don't see that the parking issues until October so I could see that you wouldn't want to make parking more difficult in those neighborhoods any sooner than you need to I guess the balance there okay so, on this one I think this is just a receiving file there's nothing here to vote on really other than to receive and file just FYI. So, I guess this is a recommendation to the council to receive and file this report from traffic and parking second of my counselor Varela all those in favor I'll suppose the motion carries five to zero. C Prosniewski: you know I've said too much already I but one last thing I want to say is I want to thank both of you I know that there's a lot of thought and effort when putting into presenting what you had tonight you did a lot of studying, he did a lot of homework and I see this is going to set a baseline for next year with the in with what we did tonight he's going to set us forward on what we're going to be doing in future years, so I just want to thank you both for doing what you did. Chair Morcillo: I will say I'm very excited about the License Plate Reader and that whole system and getting permitted parking through there I love that idea I think that's really great. C. Varella: make the motion to adjourn Chair Morcillo: all those in favor motion carries five to zero Meeting Adjourn 101