Downtown Development Authority Minutes

Approval of Minutes: There being no corrections or additions, the minutes of the February 17, 2004 meeting were approved.

Review of 2004-2005 DDA Budget – Director Ward and Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Bateson reviewed the specifics of the fiscal year 2004-05 DDA Budget. Line items of note included:

- The taxable value of the DDA increased by 10%; the Headlee State-allowed tax increase was less than 3%. Projected revenue of the DDA District for FY 04-05 is $1,030,840.

- Expenditure line items showing significant increases included signage for the downtown parking program, additional parking enforcement, and a sculpture/fountain to be located in the Main-Hutton park.

- Capital Improvement Program items for FY04-05 included funds for planning and landscaping architectural drawings for the downtown streetscape to be used in applying for grants, the construction and installation of two directional kiosks, and the purchase of a laptop computer.

- The Fund Balance projected for FY04-05 is $315,635. The balance reserved for future parking expansion is $1,005,000.

Motion LaChance, seconded by Shaffner to accept the DDA budget as presented and recommend to City Council for approval. Motion carried unanimously.

The budget is to be presented to City Council at a special meeting scheduled for Monday, April 26, 2004.

DDA Monthly Meeting Date – Due to significant conflicts in schedules, it has been suggested that a change of date be made for the monthly meeting of the DDA.

Motion Long, seconded by Shaffner to change the regularly scheduled monthly meeting date of the DDA from the second Tuesday of the month to the third Tuesday of the month, with the time of 8 a.m. remaining the same. Motion carried unanimously.

Downtown Parking Management Plan – In investigating possible solutions for the enforcement of current parking restrictions, Chief Petres offered the following:

- Use of a "parking enforcement employee" instead of a part-time officer.

- Use of less obvious methods of marking tires.

- Raising the fine for repeat offenders with the help of an automated citation device.

- Institute a pay-for-park system, with possible use of European-style parking meters (installation of a parking meter in the center of the lot which dispenses a timed parking ticket).

Additionally, a report was made on the recommendations of the Downtown Parking Committee to improve the parking management plan. The recommendations were as follows:

- Reduce the number of orange dots in the Wing Street and Marquis lots to coincide with the construction of the Long project. Downtown employees would be required to find long term parking in other downtown locations, along Cady Street, and adjoining neighborhoods.

- Increase the parking fines from $5 to $10.

- Increase the amount of time spent on parking enforcement with either increasing the hours of a part-time officer or the hiring of a part-time parking enforcement employee.

- Purchase of hand-held electronic equipment to aid in the enforcement of an escalated fine system to discourage repeat offenders who use the ticket fees as a parking program.

- Enforce the 3-hour parking limit for the entire lot vs. three hours of parking in a specific space.

- Change current 2-hour on-street parking spaces to 1-hour spaces.

- Request the Planning Commission to revisit the method of calculating the number of parking spaces required for a development from gross square footage to rentable square footage of the project.

- Have two downtown lots, currently lacking public parking signs, signed for public use.

- Increasing the cost of parking credit fees.

- Purchase snow removal equipment for use on sidewalks in the downtown.

Further action was deferred until after the joint meeting of the City Council, DDA, Planning Commission, and Historic District Commission on March 23, 2004.

Parking Deck Construction – Matt Jobin of Rich & Associates reviewed the most recent designs of two decks proposed to be built in the downtown area. The decks are proposed to be located at the Main and Wing Street parking lot, and in the parking lot behind the Marquis Theater. Further, Jobin presented two options for each deck. The options were similar in size; however, the construction of one option allowed for future expansion.

Discussion took place regarding the appropriate method of calculation to represent the existing and potential number of parking spaces in each location. Factors in question included the actual existing parking spaces that will be eliminated by an approved project (Long’s building), the parking spaces that have been determined to be needed by the approved project, and number of actual parking spaces in the deck(s). Further discussion centered on possible questions to be asked at the upcoming joint meeting of March 23^rd.

Construction cost estimates and owner’s (City’s) direct costs for both decks were reviewed. Concern was expressed on the DDA’s ability to fund future downtown improvements if the decks are built. It was pointed out that tax revenue from future developments would be a source of additional funds.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz
Recording Secretary