R2009-95 AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH CARL WALKER, INC.

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r � Request for Proposals (RFP) Issued The City's Motor Vehicle Parking System(MVPS)oversees parking in downtown Decatur and is comprised of four surface parking lots with over 300 parking spaces, two parking garages with approximately 1,400 parking spaces and over 1,100 metered on-street parking spaces. The FY 2009-10 budget projects parking revenue collections of$513,200, with operating expenses projected to be $653,938. The budget deficit of$140,738, approximately 27.5%of revenue, is made up by transfers from the General Fund and Planning Fund. The current funding situation suggests that a top to bottom review be made of the City's parking system to identify changes that would return the system to being self sufficient. In addition, visual observation of the condition of both parking structures indicates that a more detailed evaluation of the two structures by qualified structural engineers is needed. The City issued an RFP on October l, 2008, and received 6 proposals of which two were interviewed by a committee consisting of City staff the chairman of the City's Traffic and Parking Commission and a representative of City Centre Decatur. The committee recommended Carl Walker, Inc., as the firm that could best serve the City in providing a professional assessment of the parking system and a structural review of the parking garages. Two recommendations are placed before the City Council for action. The Parking Garage Assessment is recommended as necessary to assure the ongoing safety of the City's parking structures. The Parkirig System Assessment is recommended as an option to perform a significant professional review of the City's downtown parking system. It is expected that the parking system evaluation will produce a set of recommended changes to make the parking system solvent, and that a rate increase will likely be recommended. As an alternative, Council could elect to forego the parking system evaluation and decide that a rate increase is needed now. If Council prefers this course of action, staff could prepare a recommendation for possible rate increases. Parking Garage Assessment Under Federal requirements, the City performs a structural review of its bridges every two years to verify that no major structural defects exist and assure their safe operation. Like bridges, parking garages are large structures that are subject to traffic loads and open to the environment. They must be regularly reviewed to assure their continued structural safety and determine major maintenance needs. Parking System Assessment The purpose of a parking system assessment is to provide an in-depth review of all facets of the City's parking system. This review will include parking meter rates and collection, parking enforcement, parking fines and collection, system maintenance, etc. The ultimate goal is to provide an opportunity for public input and prepare recommendations that will: • Improve the current downtown parking system ' • Meet future parking demands • Develop strategies to produce a self-supporting parking system Page � 2