2004-43 DESIGNATING CUSTOMER PARKING ZONE IN DOWNTOWN DECATUR

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Y ♦• � : • ♦ , III ECONOMIC A1�1D URBAN DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM I No. 04-66 May 11, 2004 I TO: Mayor Paul Osborne and City Council Members FROM: Steve Garm ity Manager '�� Dane C. B , Director of Economic and Urban Development�' ' /- SUBJECT: Chapter 34 Amendments—Downtown Parking �' SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the attached amendments to City Code Chapter 34 regarding downtown parking. The proposed amendments include returning to a metered enforcement system in the Customer Parking Zone, increasing meter rates in the CPZ area to $0.25 / hour, reducing the parking rates for Garages B and C, and enhancing parking options for downtown residents. The attached summary provides detailed information regarding the proposed system improvements. If approved, the amendments will become effective July 1, 2004. City staff is working with the Downtown Decatur Council to prepare a marketing and awareness campaign with respect to the new system features. BACKGROUND: The City Council enacted a Customer Parking Zone in July, 2002. The purpose of the zone was to provide free parking for customers frequenting downtown merchants. Since that time, the City has conducted several parking workshops to solicit input regarding changes to the system. The City Council last reviewed the proposed changes in May 2003 and recommended consideration by the Traffic and Parking Commission. The Commission reviewed the changes in July, 2003 and recommended adoption of the changes with the proposed $0.25 / hour fee structure. Since that time; staff has met with representatives of the Downtown Decatur Council and made minor changes to the proposed system, including expansion of the Customer Parking Zone area and rate reductions for the parking garages. Staff conducted a meeting with all DDC membership in April and found the membership generally supportive of the proposed changes. POTENTIAL OBJECTION: No objections have been received at this time. With the inherent sensitivity to individual user needs in the downtown parking system, the possibility always exists for objectors to be present. INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: The proposed changes have been reviewed by the City Engineer, Downtown Decatur Council and Traffic and Parking Commission. STAFF REFERENCE: Any additional questions may be forwarded to Dane Bragg at 424-2727 or dbra��i,�decaturnet.org. _ BUDGET/TIME IMPLICATIONS: Staff will continue monitoring the revenue stream generated to the Motor Vehicle Parking System Fund (77) by the proposed changes.