07-08-86 Parking Comm Minutes16
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July 8, 1986 PARKING COMMISSION 2:00 P.M.
Chairman Gordon Pirrie and Commission members Colin Wills, and Austin
Miller in attendance. Mayor Kennedy, Councilmen Nystul, Ruiz, Palmer and
Manning, Chief Stefanic, Ed Gallagher, Building Official Jackson, Ross Plambeck,
Meter Maid Helmatag, Tom Kosena, Dick Burningham, Bruce Lutz, Henry Good,
Frank Miller, and Roger Hopkins of the Daily Interlake also present.
TOM KOSENA, MISSOULA PARKING COMMISSION - Mr. Kosena came at the invitation
of the Parking Commission to share ideas and policies that have worked well
for the City of Missoula. He began by saying that Missoula's Parking Commission
is the only one he knows of that has taken advantage of all the laws, statutes
and ordinances allowed by law regarding parking, and therefore he feels the
need to share the pros and cons of their experience with other cities. He
also stated that Kalispell's problems are not unique to Montana or other areas.
RELATIONSHIPS: The Parking Commission must cultivate relationships with
the entities it must deal with. 1) Although the operation of the PC is almost
totally separate from the City appointments to the Commission are made by
the Mayor and the PC provides cash flow to the General Fund budget through
a contractual arrangement. 2) The Downtown Association plays an integral
roll in development and works closely with the PC. 3) Redevelopment Association.
This triology has been VERY successful in providing and utilizing parking.
THE CUSTOMER IS KING - that is the No. 1 Rule. What is the value of a customer?
In retail dollars a parking space is worth $10,000 - $12,000 per year. The
PC must maintain good relations between the three entities listed above and
at the same time always be sensitive to the Customer.
"UNDER ONE ROOF" POLICY: Missoula is the only City to utilize this concept
of full authority. Enforcement, income, development of parking, and leases
are all under one department, which provides a vehicle that splintered authority
does not have. He stressed that it was very advantageous to have enforcement
included.
LANDSCAPING: This is extremely important. Parking is a business and
as such must be attractive, well lit (so people are not afraid to use the
lots at night), and well signed. The intent of the lot must be easy to read
and simple.
MARKETING DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES: Mr. Kosena recommended putting out once
every two years a glossy, well done phamphlet "advertising" parking lots.
Advertising in the newspaper for customer and employee parking lots is also
recommended.
ENFORCEMENT: This is the absolute key to the success of everything the
PC does. The cooperation of the Downtown Association was necessary to promote
the philosophy that employers and employees CANNOT park downtown. That parking
place on the street by a business means either 4 (2 hr parking) or just one
if an employee parks there all day. Employers must promote and take the lead
internally for this program to work. Mr. Kosena went on to say there are
two types of businessmen: Level One includes retailers who live by the parking
spaces, and Level Two which includes lawyers, etc. who have offices upstairs
in the buildings and who do not live by the parking space. If employees are
to be moved off the street two things need to be considered: 1) The providing
of structured parking and/or 2) Residential Permit Parking Program where street
parking permits are sold to homeowners to ensure parking in front of their
homes. A residential area overloaded with parking devalues property values
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PARKING COMMISSION
July 8, 1986
Page 2
and makes for unhappy citizens. Again, enfo
be stressed enough. Missoula has four meter
what one meter maid covers in Kalispell.
LEASE PARKING: Missoula sells 400-450 spa
to $28.00. Enforcement keeps the lease parking
that the City should not be afraid to oversell
is necessary and cannot
for an area smaller than
th at charges of $8.50
full. Mr. Kosena indicated
FINANCING: Missoula has 14 properties the deal with which are leased,
owned or otherwise. They bought, relocated, de;olished, excavated - whatever
was necessary to provide the parking. Funding as from two sources: Bond
issue, which is being repaid by an SID. Requirements for building in the
district do not include a parking requirement, but all owners must be part
of the SID. A change of use for a building doeE not change the amount of
SID. Revenue is also derived from leases, meters, permits, etc. Missoula
derives $290,000 from parking, $145,000 from ticket collection, which gives
the Parking Commission an annual income of $430000 - $450,000. The balance
left at the end of the year after expenditures is put into a fund for future
development. Assests now stand at over $4,000, 00. Mr. Kosena suggested
that Ed Gallagher check into the availability ol Parking Facility Grant Funding.
Mr. Gallagher stated that the EDA used to provide that funding but now the
funding must be for job related items. But tax increment funding can be used
for bonds or construction if necessary.
KALISPELL PARKING AREAS: Mr. Kosena stated that he had toured the downtown
area on foot and again with Ed Gallagher and had the following comments:
1. The appearance of the properties need improvement: seal coating,
landscaping, cleaning - sweep and wash, signs.
2. Where is the waiting list for lease spces? With free parking in
the residential area a few blocks out by pay?
3. Do counts on the lease lots 4 times a day to get a good curve of
actual usage so that the lots can be managed to the fullest.
POLICE DEPARTMENT INVOLVEMENT: In Missoula they regulate all parking
outside of the Central Business District. Use of "the Denver boat", a C-clamp
used on the tire which makes it so the vehicle cannot be moved for 10 unpaid
parking tickets. In using this an officer is sent along to enforce. Missoula
found that by removing responsibility from the ?olice Department to the Parking
Commission it worked better. The PC also proce ses tickets for areas out
of the CBD on a percentage basis (60% PC/40% PD). When all else has failed
the immobilizing described above will usually s lve the problem. He noted
that they have never had to immobilize a customer or a Level Two employer
or employee. They have only 5-6 arrests a mont� that the PD handles, and
then only when they have used every avenue to avoid them.
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PARKING COMMISSION
July 8, 1986
Page 3
FORMULA FOR LEASING LOTS: In Missoula the
only game in town. All leased properties have
fee. Long term leases are enhanced by the impr
Mr. Kosena stated that no two contracts were al
the snow plowing of the lots in the winter, and
lots. The City helps only when there is more s
The PC pays $40,000 per year to the City and in
than if they contracted out: attorney, Street D
Department for sprinkling systems, etc.
arking Commission is the
ne to a negotiated flat monthly
ements provided by the PC.
e. Mr. Kosena himself does
ost snow is stored on the
w than can be stored onsite.
eturn receives services cheaper
artment for patching, Water
RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING ZONE: Resident can buy a $10/yr permit.
The key for good relations here is to not go to the residents but let them
come to you and ask for help. In Missoula when a group brings a petition
with a majority of signatures from an area theninment
the PC will act. If the PC
goes to the residents it is viewed as more gave interference.
KALISPELL: The PC should look for the mos
with Community Development and utilize the know
there. Studies are a necessity to provide a ba
and demand. A long range plan is a must. Look
it takes more initially but provides parking an
same time. Mr. Kosena suggested that Kalispell
of the Tax Increment monies for leverage rather
lot.
space for the dollar. Work
dge of the CBD available
s to go by to see supply
or an use blight areas -
cleans up the City at the
hould use the $350,000 left
han spending it all on one
ENFORCEMENT: Meter Maid Helmatag stated that employees feel it is their
right to park on the street. Some employers co perate, but she estimated
that 60% of the parked cars are constants everyday. Mr. Kosena responded
that until enforcement provides cooperation providing extra parking is not
the answer. The ordinance allows for charging "mark removers" $10.00. Regulars
are ticketed for moving over one space. Change the ordinance if necessary
to make stiffer penalties. Again, oversell lots by 10%-15% (use curve) and
don't assign spaces - that creates real problems.
BAR PARKING: An SID is the best solution short of enforcement at night.
One element of the formula for SID assessment is how many stools in the bar,
and then a fairly healthy assessment because thi bars provide no parking and
the customers are not paying.
PARKING METERS: This is a difficult deci
efforts, provide funding source and cash flow,
General Fund. Mr. Kosena said he could not ma
but that sometime down the road he would advoc
also went on to suggest the use of tokens by b
customers. The business purchases tokens from
customers who then use them in the meters on t
on! They do help regulation
ad provide income for the
the decision for Kalispell
e returning to meters. He
inesses, a practice that endears
he PC and hands them out to
it next trip to town.
• VALIDATION PROGRAM: A list of all the businesses participating is provided
for customers, who have their parking tokens va idated while shopping. Once
a month the PC bills the businesses. Mr. Kasen stated it might cost a business
$8.00 a month and again, it is good public rela;ions.
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PARKING COMMISSION
July 8, 1986
Page 4
SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: This is a log selling proposition and
takes cooperation, but leverages the monies alre dy available. In Missoula
the PC has the authority to buy and sell properte'es without the consent of
the City Council, but on the other hand the MyCouncil can abolish the PC
at any time, so cooperation is needed.
ADMINISTRATION: Missoula has one administrator/public relations person
($21,000 - $36,500), enforcement people, ticket collection (Mr. Kosena said
if at all possible don't do this manually - use computer system!), a person
for maintenance and collection of meters. Fundipg for these employees comes
from meters and the SID, which includes enforcement and other costs.
One last suggestion on enforcement was to
provide license numbers for themselves and the
can be taken with problem parkers.
aj g
ive cooperating employers
employees so that action