AgdaPkt 2014-04-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9.A. - Page 2 • Once new technologies are identified for parking (i.e. new meters, etc) use focus groups with people to test new equipment, • Stagger system changes (price increases and extension of hours), • Construction can be a great time for change, • Extending meter hours to 8pm will help increase turnover, and • Partner with On Broadway to allow permit sales in Jefferson Garage. Staff met with the Parking Advisory Committee on February 20th and on March 17th to provide background on the parking study, to present recommended policy changes, and to solicit feedback on the proposals. The Parking Advisory Committee was formed in response to a request from the Theater management firm pursuant to the Parking Facilities Agreement tied to the Theater development project. The Committee members represent the property management company, theater operators, the Fox Theatre owners, other downtown business interests, and the City. Their role is to review parking policies in the downtown and provide advice to the City Council. ANALYSIS Following City Council's direction, staff has initiated implementation of key program elements to make the parking system more responsive to our community's evolving needs. The focus of the proposed ordinance changes is to increase the parking rates and to allow the City Manager additional flexibility in managing off-street parking lots. In response to community feedback and a Council suggestion to stagger implementation items, staff is not proposing to extend enforcement hours at this time, but will revisit this item with future changes. Parking Permits In October 2013, the Middlefield and Winslow parking lots were removed from the public parking supply — effectively reducing the number of available permit parking spaces by 250. Since then, the Marshall Street Garage is typically at or over capacity during the weekday and the occupancies at the Jefferson Street Garage have increased. For the on-street spaces where the City installed parking sensors (sections of Broadway and Jefferson) — occupancies and average parking duration have increased while turnover has decreased. These data suggest that more long-term parkers (typically employees) are using prime on-street spaces due to the lack of supply in the remaining facilities (Marshall, Main, Perry) that allow permit parking. In addition, businesses and individuals continue to request permits even when cautioned that the facilities reach capacity mid- morning. Permit parking is currently controlled through the Municipal Code. Consequently, changes to how the permits are managed require amendments to the Code. State law allows off-street parking procedures and rates to be set by resolution, which reduces the time and level of effort required to make adjustments. As such, staff recommends adoption of an ordinance and implementing resolution to: • allow parking permits to be sold at all off-street, public parking lots and garages (parking for longer than 4 hours is prohibited at the Jefferson Garage without the