Meeting Summary
The City Council held a special meeting to discuss downtown parking needs and potential management systems. A report from the parking steering committee highlighted a surplus of parking spaces downtown but also issues with convenience and turnover. The council also discussed the potential sale of a city-owned parking lot on Washington Street.
Key Decisions & Votes
Downtown Parking Management System
00:20:00The council approved the recommendation to send the concept of a downtown parking management system to the Business Improvement District (BID) board for discussion and to explore similar systems for other areas of the city, such as the Greek neighborhoods and the form-based code corridor.
Sale of Washington Street Parking Lot
00:41:00The council decided to wait for the appraisal of the Washington Street parking lot before making a decision on its sale, acknowledging that selling it could generate more revenue than charging for parking.
Financial Matters
Potential Revenue from Downtown Parking Management
A parking management system charging $1 per space for 8 hours a day in 350 spaces could generate roughly $1 million annually, which could be used for downtown improvements like streetscapes and parks.
Potential Revenue from Washington Street Parking Lot
Charging $1 per hour for 8 spots from 8 AM to 5 PM could generate $23,000 annually. Renting the 8 spaces at $350-$400 per year per space would generate $2,800-$3,200 annually. The assessed value of the property with improvements is $211,000.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Decision on the sale of the Washington Street parking lot (pending appraisal)
Watch For
- Discussions with the BID board regarding a downtown parking management system
- Exploration of parking management systems for Greek neighborhoods and the form-based code corridor
- Information on the cost of implementing a parking management system and potential revenue generation
- Comparisons of parking systems in other university cities
Agenda Summary
General Orders: Report on Downtown Parking Needs
Presentation by the parking steering committee on the 2005 Puma plan and 2013 parking study, highlighting a surplus of downtown parking but issues with convenience and turnover. Recommendations included considering a parking management system and engaging the BID board.
Report on Washington Street Parking Lot Potential Revenue
Discussion on the potential revenue generated by charging for parking at the city-owned Washington Street parking lot, and the ongoing appraisal process for the property.
Request for Executive Session
Request to enter executive session to discuss labor negotiations with the International Association of Firefighters Local 295.