07-28-86 Parking Comm Minutes•
July 28, 1986 PARKING COMMISSION 2:00 P.M.
Chairman Gordon Pirrie and Commission members Colin Wills and Austin Miller
in attendance. Mayor Kennedy, Attorney Neier, Parks Director Drent, Police Chief
Stefanic, Ed Gallagher from Community Development, Councilman Manning, and
Roger Hopkins of the Daily Inter Lake also present.
GRIFFIN PARK - Ed Gallagher reported that he was waiting for word from
the bond counsel on the proposal and that Jim Cook of Burlington Northern
was on vacation so he had not been able to reach him. There was some discussion
of the college's plans and it was felt that the college wouldn't move for
at least three years. There appear to be two options concerning parking at
Griffin Field: 1) College lease the area for college only parking, or 2) Allow
everyone to park and increase enforcement on Main Street and the surrounding
areas to make sure it was filled. Mr. Pirrie stated that he would view the
proposed agreement as a loan to the Parks Department in order to provide a
good ballpark, which in turn would be good for the City. Austin Miller stated
that he was concerned that when the loan was repaid the funds would not be
returned to the Parking Commission coffers (based on past history) becuase
the land is City property. Mr. Pirrie pointed out that it was in everyone's
best interest to provide parking so as to bring people into the downtown area
and thereby keep up the tax base.
Attorney Neier stated that Griffin Field has been for sale for approximately
• two years. The Legion team needs to move to Begg Park. The Council earmarked
the funds generated from the sale of Griffin Field for baseball use only.
He feels there are only four options: 1) Sell Griffin Field to a third party
(There is no one very interested at the moment). 2) Parking Commission release
of funds ($150,000 over and above what has already been spent is minimum needed
to create adequate playing field for usage next year). 3) Community Development
has $500,000 available for acquiring land for redevelopment, but using those
funds for this purpose would not be in keeping with the issuance of the bonds.
4) Steve Olson of Norwest Bank has offered to loan the funds needed to develop
the new Griffin Field, but Attorney Neier indicated that may not be legally
defensible. He went on to say that if Option No. 2 were taken and it was
kept as parking for 20 years then the Parking Commission plan would be great,
but if the City choses to accept that he felt that they should continue to
attempt to sell Griffin Field.
Austin Miller offered another approach: 1) Do not buy Griffin Field,
but lease it to use for parking. 2) Loan the Parks Department funds for development
of the new Griffin Field with a set pay -back period. 3) Use Griffin Field
for immediate parking needs. 4) The City sould continue to attempt to sell
Griffin Field.
Councilman Manning pointed out that a concrete figure of what has been
spent so far on the development of the new field is not yet available but
is being worked on, and until that is available the exact amount needed could
not be ascertained.
• After more discussion the Commission members present agreed to Mr. Miller's
proposal and Ed Gallagher and Attorney Neier stated they would research the
legalities and check with the bond counsel on the proposal so that something
could be presented to the next Parking Commission meeting and the Council.
PARKING COMMISSION
• July 28, 1986
Page 2
Information needed for a presentation to the Council includes: number
of spaces to be created at Griffin Field, would the College lease the lot,
proposed income. Gordon Pirrie was hesitant to set an income figure before
they were able to see how the lot was accepted, but went on to state that
they must get tough - must just plain harass the regular offenders.
Attorney Neier stated that the bond people would probably go along with
Mr. Miller's proposal. They would probably require some sort of well developed
plan. After discussion it was decided that using standard size spaces 146
could be made within the park itself, and using the north, south and west
sides for angle parking would bring the total to 179 at the least, more if
compact size spaces were used. Marking of the spaces was discussed, as well
as a need for additional lighting and demolishing of the present facilities.
It was felt that perhaps donated labor could be found for the demolishing and
that perhaps poles and other items might be salvaged and reused.
Work will have to be done immediately on rewriting ordinances to back
up stiffer enforcement. The College cannot force students to park there but
could force employees to do so. Improvement costs should be taken out of
revenue received until paid for. Colin Wills questioned the policy of the
County for charging ball teams for use of their fields, but Parks Director
Drent explained that the County provides maintenance of infields, hires referees,
• etc., while the City does none of that. The ball organizations using City
fields do all their own maintenance and provide all their own needs.
The Commission felt that included in an agreement should be the first
right on and option to purchase. It was also felt that the City should keep
open the possibility of some kind of land swap with Burlington Northern to
create an equal number of parking spaces elsewhere.
1ST FEDERAL PARKING LOT - Chief Stefanic requested permission to change
the policy of 3 particular spaces rented to Universal Athletics and the Main
Attraction, which presently are not metered. The rental fee needs to be raised
and all spaces metered, and instead of having set spaces they should use windshield
banners like others who lease. The Commission agreed.
COMMENDATION - Austin Miller asked that the secretary be commended for
good minutes delivered on time. He said they were very helpful. .He asked
that his comments be made part of the record.
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