06-16-87 Parking Comm Minutes•
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June 16, 1987
PARKING COMMISSION
4:00 P.M.
Chairman Gordon Pirrie and Commission members Colin Wills, Bob Ivey,
and new member Gary McCarthy present. Amy Robertson, City Accountant, and
Nick Heron from the Chamber of Commerce also in attendance.
RE -MAX OFFERS - Phil Neuharth wrote saying he had two properties listed
that might be of interest to the Parking Commission. The first is the old
O'Neil Lumber yard with 100' frontage on Main Street, listed at $150,000.
The second is the location where the Kalispell Cabins are presently located.
This has 100' frontage on Main Street and 100' on lst Avenue East and is listed
for $357,000. The Commission asked the secretary to write a letter thanking
Mr. Neuharth and telling him the Commission would take his offers under consideration.
If he has any more possible lot sites he is to be invited to bring them to
the attention of the Commission.
FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS REQUEST FOR 15-MINUTE PARKING - A letter was received
from Chuck Mercord of First Federal Savings Bank requesting two 15-minute
parking spaces on Second Street for customer service into their new teller
area. He also enclosed a memo to his employees regarding violation of their
parking policy for the Commission's information. The Commission agreed to
recommend approval of the two 15-minute parking spaces to the Council. The
question of whether the Commission should charge for these special spaces
was raised, and an amount of $15/month was suggested. This topic was tabled
for further discussion at a later date.
It has been observed that a white telephone company vehicle has been
using the spaces set aside for their customers. The Commission asked that
a letter be written to the telephone company stating that if these customer
spaces continue to be abused some corrective action will need to be taken.
BUDGET - City Accountant Amy Robertson explained the budget sheets that
were sent to each Commission member the week before this meeting. She stated
that the budget figures are estimated based upon the previous year's revenues,
but the actual budget must be dictated by cash on hand. This cash is down
because revenues are not as projected. Chairman Pirrie reviewed the specific'
lots where revenue is down and felt that the lack of marking tires was at
least partially responsible for the decrease.
It was suggested by Accoutant Robertson that some of the tax increment
money the Commission has could be used to pay off one or both of the Eagles
Lot notes which are outstanding. One is for $48,000 and the other is $55,000.
In order to do that there would need to be a public hearing and publication
3 times. This would solve the budget shortage that has occurred.
Colin Wills stated that he thought that at the time the SID was created
it was an obligation that was assumed by those within the SID district. At
one time there were special assessments put on for parking, and the Commission
has the option to do that, according to Accountant Robertson. Bob Ivey stated
that was the intent of forming the parking district. The net profit from
the Eagles Lot was to apply toward this debt payment with the remainder to
be paid by the property owners in that district. However, up until now it
has been paid out of Revenue Sharing, which the City no longer gets. Colin
Wills asked "Who asked for it? - Why should the Parking Commission have it
dumped on them?" The choice is for either the Parking Commission to pay,
or the property owners downtown.
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PARKING COMMISSION
June 16, 1987
Page 2
Accountant Robertson said she had looked at the Commission's expenditures
and revenues and knew that they could not make their budget next year based
on the revenues received this year. Either salaries must be cut, and there
aren't enough people to do that, or do something else. Bob Ivey said that
some City Council representation would be helpful. There hasn't been any
for the last six months or so. Accountant Robertson stated that the bond
funds were being paid out of tax increment revenue, which comes from taxes
already in effect in the downtown district. There was some discussion of
how the tax increment district and taxing works. There was some intense discussion
concerning the philosophy for using the tax increment monies which the Commission
has. Colin Wills felt that the intent was to purchase additional spaces,
and reiterated the fact that it was on the record that after the income on
the Eagles Lot the remainder of the note was to be assessed to the owners
in the district. Several other Commission members felt that using the tax
increment monies would fit within the intent. Chairman Pirrie stated that
the Commission could pay of either one or both of the notes.
Gary McCarthy asked how the indebtedness had occurred, and pointed out
that since it was for obtaining parking land the use of the tax increment
monies would be as intended.
• Chairman Pirrie pointed out that HUD money was used to pave the Eagles
Lot and a portion of the City Hall lot. He stated that this was not a crisis,
but he personally felt that at least one note should be paid off and then
the revenue from that lot be set aside in a special fund to be used for purchasing
additional property.
Bob Ivey felt that the Commission has gotten away from the program they
set a few years ago - that of getting employees and employers off the street.
They couldn't do that because there was no place to put them, so the Commission
set out to buy property. Some was purchased, then got to the point where
there was close to having enough off-street parking. He felt that the Commission
had gotten off track and needed to get back to the original purpose.
Mr. McCarthy asked if the debt could be renegotiated. Colin asked if
UDAG money could be obtained to pay off these lots (Since this meeting we
have found that this is not possible because this project would not meet the
requirements for UDAG funds). The downtown business people do not need any
more taxes.
Chairman Pirrie stated that Greg Harris is preparing a proposal for contracting
out the enforcement so that portion of the Parking Commission is removed from
City Hall. A number of businessmen called the Mayor and complained about
the lack of enforcement by marking tires and that practice has been resumed.
There was discussion of how the enforcement has been carried out, with alot
of lot enforcement but very little on the streets. Chairman Pirrie felt that
more help was not the answer to the problem. The problem area around the
college needs to be dealt with. A serious talk with the new Police Chief
detailing what the Commission wants to see done is needed.
• PARKING COMMISSION
June 16, 1987
Page 3
Salaries of Commission employees discussed. The secretary in the Police
Department will have to take over the minutes and correspondence when the
Public Works Department secretary leaves in the next month or so. Accountant
Robertson asked where tickets would be paid, and it was the general consensus
that would have to be somewhere in City Hall. This detail will have to be
worked out to auditor's satisfaction. This may mean removing collection from
City Hall also, with accounting procedures set up with City Hall. The question
of employees and what would happen if this was taken completely out of City
Hall was discussed.
The following items will be researched or taken care of before the next
meeting:
1. Letter to Mayor Kennedy: recommendation that the meter maid
stagger her schedule so as to provide better coverage. Also
request that a Council member be present at Parking Commission
meetings.
2. Accountant Robertson needs authorization from the Council for
a loan to cover the Parking Commission budget shortfall.
• 3. Letter to Commission members clarifying the set time of
meetings as the first Tuesday of each month at 4:00 P.M.
Nick Heron will also put this in the Chamber newsletter.
4. Letter to holders of Eagles Lot notes stating City would
like the opportunity to renegotiate (extend the maturity) of
the notes.
MC CLARTY AND LORGE LOTS - A letter has been received from RE/MAX stating
that in their effort to provide additional parking for downtown and to provide
private parking for the use of the RE/MAX Center tenants and customers they
purchased Lots 23 and 24 of Block 56. They have approximately $45,000 invested
to this point, which does not include paving. Completed cost should be about
$60,000, or $3,000 per parking stall. The offer being made is this: if the
Parking Commission is interested in owning and controlling this lot they are
prepared to turn it over for what they have invested. The Commission asked
that a response be sent stating that the Commission was considering the proposal,
but that one condition would have to be that the lot would be completely metered
for public use.
MRS. KENT SCHAUMBURG LETTER - Mrs. Schaumburg returned a parking ticket
which she felt had been issued in error. She stated that she works at the
phone company and "I go out every day and move my car . . . before two hours
are up." She asked that the $5.00 be returned. Gary McCarthy suggested that
her $5.00 be refunded and a letter be sent explaining the policy that the
on -street parking is for customers and her practice of moving her vehicle
- every two hours is not helping to accomplish the goals of the Parking Commission.
He also suggested that a letter be sent to Ken Sprain of Northwestern Telephone
with a copy of Mrs. Schaumburg's letter and a request for assistance in carrying
out our policy of keeping on -street parking for customers.
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