HomeMy WebLinkAboutParking Advisory Board - Minutes - 10/14/2019PARKING ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR
Monday, October 14, 2019 5:30 PM
117 N. Mason Street, Fort Collins
10/14/2019 – MINUTES Page 1
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair, Hill, called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
2. ROLL CALL
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT
Nora Hill, Chair Eric Keselburg, Parking Manager
Kayla Utter, Vice Chair Drew Brooks, Director of Transit
Adam Eggleston Danna Varnell, Business Support
Barbara Wilkins Kyle Lambrecht, Civil Engineer
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: PUBLIC PRESENT:
Bob Criswell CSU student
Travis Anderson
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE:
3. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
None
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes approved by Eggleston and second by Utter.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Lambrecht - Revisit the Linden Street Project (see PowerPoint).
17 spaces have been identified to be added.
Council Liaison: Ken Summers
Chair: Nora Hill
Vice Chair: Kayla Utter
Staff Liaison: Drew Brooks (970) 221-6386
Administrative Support: Danna Varnell (970) 224-6161
10/14/2019 – MINUTES Page 2
Convert fee structure of the Firehouse Alley Parking Structure during
construction to a free first hour and $1.00 for each additional hour.
Project Wayfinding
Implement a Downtown Parking Campaign/Marketing Plan
• Eggleston asked if there was still an option to change the
parallel parking or if it was a final decision. Lambrecht
responded by saying that staff had made that
recommendation to the City Manager and that was sent on to
City Council for consideration. Eggleston – will bring that up
with Council if what I heard was not the right direction that a
lot of people are understanding. Lambrecht – this topic will be
discussed further tomorrow evening at City Council.
• Lambrecht – the last time we met to present the project to
you, we received some new information based on the
outreach we did and all the Boards and Commissions we
visited. Not only did we get new perspective, we got a lot of
concerns to Eggleston’s point about the loss of on-street
parking. What I want to discuss this evening is the mitigation
strategies that we were able to develop since the last time we
were here. To summarize our recommendations, we
recommended what we call, Alternative A1 (see PowerPoint).
Our parallel parking option will allow additional amenity zones
that will be used to place bike racks, bistro tables, etc. Urban
amenities that are intended to bring folks down to the area
and have them stay and shop around. We got to that point
through about 75 conversations that we had with commissions
and business association meetings. We weighed their
feedback, and how alternatives compare to the stated project
goals. Eggleston the goals seemed to have changed from the
initial stated project goals to now. Lambrecht – The goals
have not changed. We have been consistent as we message
those goals. What we have provided is clarification as to how
the project team is viewing these. With the concerns of the
loss of on-street parking, this recommended alternative would
permanently remove 30 on-street spaces. We came up with
four strategies. Hill – is the intention to do all four strategies?
Lambrecht – yes, the intention is to do all four. The first one
has been identified to add 17 new spaces during construction.
Based on other feedback, we can convert the fee structure at
the Firehouse Alley Parking Structure to the first hour free,
10/14/2019 – MINUTES Page 3
then $1.00 for each additional hour, so it completely aligns
with the other parking structures in town. This will be done
during construction with the intention of trying to gather data
as well, so a long-term change could be supported. Project
Wayfinding – what we have heard throughout the project that
there is some confusion about the Old Town Firehouse Alley
parking structure. Some people didn’t even know it was there.
We are trying to do some wayfinding as part of the project,
and that this was the original mitigation strategy, so let’s let
people know about it and show them how to get to Linden and
how to get to Walnut, etc. And for the last strategy, the City
as whole is going to really look to develop a downtown
parking campaign/marketing plan. We are trying to focus on
education as parking in Old Town is a challenge anyway.
How do you best use it, where are the spaces, what tools do
you have available? That is the mitigation strategy.
• Brooks – This is part of the 2020 budget process. What we
are looking to do is have a full marketing plan around parking.
The Parking department is working with Slate to convey the
complete marketing plan for parking downtown and in the
garages. Videos are being developed on how to use the
parking app and how to use the pay stations. This will tie into
the wayfinding strategy.
• Eggleston – What I have heard, is that this benefits Silver Grill
and the businesses along Pine Street but it doesn’t benefit
Linden Street businesses. Both of those locations are a walk
away from Linden Street. The alleys are nice but asking
someone to walk a block and the Exchange being right there,
they may not walk down the alley to Linden Street or along
Jefferson Street to get to Linden Street. So yes, you will find
other spots, but it will not benefit Linden Street. My concern is
that you’re still losing parking in front of your business. Hill – I
project it will help the Linden Street businesses because when
you get to Walnut, you lose motivation to walk across to
Linden and I think with beautification, there won’t be nearly as
many cars, there will be upscale paving and there will be other
great stuff, it will make Linden Street feel more like Old Town
Square and draw people over there. Many businesses
struggle on that block and many have gone out of business.
It’s been a struggling block for a long time. This upgrade will
be drawing people to this street. Utter – I also see this
10/14/2019 – MINUTES Page 4
upgrade will draw people into the Linden Street area also.
Old Town Square is bright and airy, then you look down
Linden Street and it’s dark and it doesn’t have the same feel
as Old Town Square. I see this bringing Linden Street into the
continuation of Old Town Square and bringing in lots of
people.
• Wilkins thinks that crime will be a factor on Linden Street as it
is at Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall and Denver’s 16th
Street Mall.
Hill – brought up the point that Denver is a much larger city
and the 16th
Street Mall is very long. More people, more
problems. Lambrecht – we hear your concerns about safety.
The plans are to make the space very visible. We are taking
lighting level readings to see how we can improve lighting.
Utter – how many parking spots are currently there?
Lambrecht – 58 spaces total. Utter – and there is going to be
how many? Lambrecht – 28. how many parking spaces are
going to be taken away? Lambrecht – 30 spaces. Eggleston –
will there be the same ratio of spaces to handicap spaces?
Lambrecht – there are 3 handicap spaces today. Additional
handicap space will be available, and we will be putting three
spaces back.
• Utter to Eggleston - what concerns have you heard about
these spaces? Eggleston – I drive an Uber and these
conversations have happened with my passengers in the last
month. He has heard a lot about the perceived parking in Old
Town. Also, there are major corporate companies that own
many of the buildings on Linden Street. Will this transition into
just corporate businesses and we say goodbye to mom and
pop stores? Many of the Uber drivers have told him that
fewer people are coming downtown due to lack of parking and
taking away parking on Linden would make that worse. Utter –
asked if Eggleston tells these concerned people that there are
1500 + parking spaces within a quarter mile radius of
downtown and to highlight that lack of parking might be more
perception than reality. Eggleston – has said that there is
always available parking at Firehouse Alley Parking Garage,
but it’s still perceived that there is not enough parking in Old
Town. Hill – believes there will always be that perception.
Utter – we are also not charging for our most convenient
spaces like every other city is. Keselburg – we are trying to
change this perception and will be implementing a Downtown
10/14/2019 – MINUTES Page 5
Parking Campaign/Marketing Plan.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Review 2019 Work Plan Calendar
b. Discuss 2020 Work Plans – a draft was created, and it was sent to all Board members.
Updated 2020 Work Plan Calendar
c. Review PAB term dates
Nora Hill – term date December 2019
d. Review Council Priority timeline – Proposed Reimagined Boards and Commission
e. Q3 2020 – Implement
• Stand up new Boards
7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
NONE
8. OTHER BUSINESS
a. Hill is requesting that the Parking Pay Stations give change. Brooks – most
of the vendors no longer support a change machine. Most cities have
moved away from cash all together. Hill – can the City install a stand-alone
change machine? Keselburg – will investigate the stand-alone change
machine, one at each parking garage.
NONE
9. ADJOURNMENT
a. The meeting was moved to be adjourned by Utter and second by Hill at
6:41 pm.
1
Linden Street Renovation Project
Project Mitigation Summary
October 14, 2019
Alternative A-1 – Festive Street
2
Mitigation Summary
• Add additional on-street parking near the project
• 17 new spaces identified
• Convert the fee structure of the Firehouse Alley Parking Structure
during construction
• Free first hour, $1.00 for each additional hour
• Project Wayfinding
• Implement a Downtown Parking Campaign/Marketing Plan
3
Additional On-Street Parking
4
Pine Street
5
Existing Spaces – 42
Proposed Spaces – 57
New Spaces - 15
Jefferson Surface Lot
6
Existing Spaces – 57
Proposed Spaces – 59
New Spaces - 2
Net Gain with FAPS
7
Added Removed Total
Alternative A-1 &
FAPS 216 -30 186
https://www.fcgov.com/parking/downtown
Structure Spaces Cost Dist. To Linden
FAPS 216 $1.00/hr, 1st hr free* 400 ft
OTPS 324 $1.00/hr, 1st hr free 900 ft
CCPS 900 $1.00/hr, 1st hr free 1100 ft
Jefferson Lot 53 Free 800 ft
* Pricing model adjusted for duration of construction
Thank you & Questions
8