97-57 ESTABLISHING PARKING ZONES AND RATES

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�O�.DEC9 � ti � C v o0 rr� ��LINO�Y June 10, 1997 PUBLIC WORKS MEMORANDUM NO. 97-59 MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: James L. Williams, Jr., City Manager Bruce A. McNabb, P.E., Director of Public Works Matthew C. Newell, P.E., Traffic Engineeriy� SUBJECT: Implementation of Pronosed Downtown Parkin� Changes: Increase of Parking Meter Rates and Moditication of Parking Meter Timings in City Parking Lots 1, 3, 4, 5, and 10 An item on the agenda for the City Council meeting of Monday, June 16, 1997, is an ordinance modifying parking lot meter timings and increasing parking lot meter rates. This ordinance is a major portion of the proposed downtown parking changes as requested by the Downtown Decatur Council and is consistent with direction given to staff from the City Council. The proposed parking meter rate increases are specifically addressed in the Downtown Council's proposal. The Downtown Council's proposal increases parking meter rates in the City Parking Lots from $0.10 and $0.20 / hour to $0.25 / hour. City staff is recommending that the proposed parking lot rate increases be applied to Parking Lot#1 along with the other lots. Unless this rate increase is made on a11 parking lots, undo parking pressure will be experienced in Lot #1 due to its cheaper rate, thereby causing greater parking problems in and around the lot. These revenue increases were proposed by the Downtown Decatur Council to offset the loss of revenue caused by the removal of parking meters in the downtown core area. It has been specifically stated by the Downtown Council that "a proposed parking plan should not adversely affect the net revenues generated for the City of Decatur." Staff is firm in its recommendation that current total revenues be maintained for the Motor Vehicle Parking System. If another source of revenue is not provided to make up for the significant reduction in on-street parking revenue, the Motor Vehicle Parking System will no longer be a self sustaining fund. While it is staffs belief that the maintenance of on-street parking revenue is the best revenue source, an increase to the parking lot rates appears to be the next best option for obtaining the needed revenue.