City Council

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY COUNCIL ROOM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2005 9:00 A.M. PRESENT: Commissioner Thomas Curley, DPS Mayor Michael Lenz (arrived at 9:30 a.m.) Commissioner Matthew McCabe, Finance Commissioner Thomas McTygue, DPW Commissioner Stephen E. Towne, Accounts ABSENT: Phil Klein, Supervisor Anthony Scirocco, Supervisor STAFF PRESENT: Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Matthew Dorsey, City Attorney Alicia Farone, Deputy Mayor Debbie Harper, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Matthew McCabe called the workshop meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Commissioner Matthew McCabe opened the public comment period. Joe Dalton, 14 Loughberry Road, Chamber of Commerce, said that he and many members of the Chamber have served on all kinds of parking committees. They find it frustrating that after all of these studies that it comes down to the lack of enforcement. He said it is less expensive to enforce than it is to build a new garage. There is no magic cure for the parking problem other than to utilize what the City has more effectively. He said the new parking garage upper level is often only about a third full. The Woodlawn Avenue lot should be limited to two hours, but there also needs to be enforcement of the two hours. The parking lots could be chained off until after employees are at work and then opened for shoppers. The Council has funded a part time parking enforcement officer position during the summer months, but this is a year round problem. The Council needs to remember that parking enforcement officers are revenue generators. The City needs to penalize those who are not abiding by the rules. Commissioner Thomas McTygue asked how much the City has generated in parking ticket revenue. Joe Dalton said the last figure that he had seen was $250,000. Commissioner Thomas McTygue said that number may include other violations and not just parking tickets. He said this number should be broken down. Some of the problem is the lack of supervision for parking enforcement officer. He said it was not a matter of adding another employee but to better utilize what we have. The City already has many employees and to add more with all of the benefits was a concern. Maybe it could be done with part time individuals. Joe Dalton said he did not particularly care how the City handled the details, but the Council needs to have adequate manpower to enforce the ordinances. Commissioner Thomas Curley said the parking enforcement officers have a protocol and format to follow. Dawn Oesh, 147 Regent Street, Candy Gram, President of the DBA, said many businesses along Broadway have recently closed for many reasons, however, one of the reasons was parking. She said Page 1 of 4 the DBA wants to eliminate the abusers of the ordinance. She noted that $250,000 listed as revenue in the budget is more than adequate to cover the cost of two additional parking enforcement officers and asked the Council to consider the request hiring more parking enforcement officers. Tim Mabee, Chair Downtown SAD, said they too are frustrated. His Board members have also served on many parking committees and the recommendations of those committees are the same . . . it’s the lack of enforcement. He said the SAD has supplied the City with funds for the handheld ticket machines as well as funds to hire additional parking enforcement officers. He said in conversations with one of the parking enforcement officers, she reported to him that she had been written between 125 and 150 parking tickets daily when she began the job. At this time the average is about 30 tickets per day. He has provided DPS with photographs of habitual abusers. He said there really is not a problem of parking spaces in the City, but in fact it was a perception problem. He said that to simply construct more parking decks that will not be fully utilized is not the answer. Enforcement is the answer. They are frustrated at volunteering on committees, making the same recommendations and then nothing happens. He agreed that hiring an additional parking enforcement officer was an expense, however, enough revenue should be generated to cover that expense. Commissioner Stephen Towne asked what might the fully loaded cost be for another parking enforcement. Commissioner Thomas Curley said it could be between $40,000 and $45,000 including benefits. He said the City has become dependent on the parking money as a general revenue. Commissioner Matthew McCabe said that the Council needs to focus on the downtown area to assist the downtown businesses. He agreed that perhaps part time individuals should be used rather than full time. He also agreed that supervision is crucial. Commissioner Thomas Curley said there is supervision and a format for the parking enforcement officers to follow. Commissioner Thomas McTygue said he did not recall anyone from the Chamber, DBA or SAD voicing opposition to the parking decks. In fact, the downtown businesses have agreed that is has helped with some of the parking problems. He said part time individuals should be brought on board and they should be monitored. He again said that he would like to see the true dollar amount of the parking tickets issued. Commissioner Stephen Towne said it appears that if a parking enforcement officer was to write at a minimum of nine parking tickets per day, the position would pay for itself. He said there needs to be some discussion on whether the position should be part time, full time or seasonal. Joe Dalton said he did not mean to imply that they did not support the parking decks, however, the decks are underutilized. The Woodlawn Avenue parking lot should be two hours. He said the Council is the expert in the matter and they need to work out the details. It appears though that the problem is the lack of manpower. Parking spaces need to be turned over. There being no one else wishing to speak, Commissioner Matthew McCabe closed the public comment period. FINANCE DEPARTMENT 2006 Budget Commissioner Matthew McCabe distributed new information to Council members. He said they are still looking for reductions in some budgets and would try to honor the requests of additions to some budgets. He said he was inclined to honor about half of DPW’s requests but suggested that they review their requests and perhaps eliminate about half of them. Page 2 of 4 City of Saratoga Springs City Council Workshop Meeting Tuesday, October 25, 2005 Commissioner Thomas McTygue said there is no salt or sand funds remaining, therefore, he would need to use some black top funds. He said though that did not mean that they did not need blacktop funds next year. He also said there needed to be some adjustment in the water budget. They are considering designing a new water bill which will replace the existing billing system. They are in the process of getting some estimates. Commissioner Matthew McCabe noted that DPW had made some changes to their budget, however, the bottom line did not change. Commissioner Matthew McCabe said the chart distributed this morning had been updated from the last meeting. He questioned the reduction in the appraisal and certiorari lines. Commissioner Stephen Towne said that a number of large certiorari cases had been settled, therefore, he was comfortable in reducing those numbers. Commissioner Stephen Towne said that at the last workshop meeting he mentioned that projections for 2005 on both revenues and expenses needed to be provided. He said it appears there could be a $400,000 surplus but the proposed budget calls for using $250,000 of that money. He said his department is reviewing its budget and will provide a good estimate of revenues and expenditures for 2005. He also noted that he is still exploring his options in connection with the real property appraiser position. He said he is working with the state on that whether the position is necessary and wanted to reserve the right to bring it back at a later date. He said he is also reviewing the proposed grant writer position on a financially responsible way to include it in the budget. Commissioner Matthew McCabe noted that there were some minor changes in the Recreation budget. He said the revenue and expenditure lines for the youth parking program needed reconciliation. Mayor Michael Lenz arrived. Mayor Michael Lenz said that he is still reviewing the Administrator of Parks and Recreation position in particular when it will be fulled, whether it is full time or part time, etc. He said he would report back on that matter. Commissioner Matthew McCabe said the next workshop would be held on Tuesday, November 6 at 6:00 p.m. and another on November 10 at 9:00 a.m. He encouraged Council members to continue to review their budgets and to bring forth their recommendations. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Michael Lenz moved and Commissioner Thomas Curley seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 a.m. Ayes all. There being no further business, Mayor Michael Lenz adjourned the meeting at 9:40 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Kathy Moran Clerk Approved: Page 3 of 4 City of Saratoga Springs City Council Workshop Meeting Tuesday, October 25, 2005 Page 4 of 4