Presenter/Contact
Presenter
Kristi Aday, Assistant City Manager, and Amy Niles, River Operations Manager
Contact Info
(830) 221-4285 - kaday@nbtexas.org
(830) 221-4628 - aniles@nbtexas.org
Subject Header
SUBJECT:
Title
Approval of the second and final reading of an ordinance amending Section 86-7 to include $10 paid parking at certain city-owned parking lots located on Elizabeth Street.
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BACKGROUND / RATIONALE:
The City Council unanimously approved this ordinance on first reading at its March 26, 2018 meeting with an amendment that all revenues should be deposited in the River Activities Fund and that an update be provided during the summer.
The River Advisory Committee has been reviewing the adjustment of various river- related fees, working towards making the River Activities Fund revenue neutral and passing the cost of river management onto the users/customers of the service. Per the City Council’s direction, City staff reviewed adding a $10 parking fee at the parking lots on Elizabeth Street and makes the following recommendation:
• Charge $10 per space on the 155 spaces across from Circle Arts Theater, every day May 1- Labor Day from 8AM-7PM, leaving the 43 spaces in front of the Park Operations building reserved for staff parking.
§ Half of the revenue collected will go to the River Activities Fund, while the other half will go to the general fund and be ear-marked for Landa Park parking lot maintenance.
• Utilize the ParkMobile system and install Pay-by-Phone parking signs throughout the parking lot. The lot will need some additional attention by the Park Rangers as we implement the new system. (More about the Park Mobile System is provide in the Council presentation.)
• Reserve additional staff parking at Landa Recreation Center for staff parking overflow.
§ Create a “Staff” window hangers as a parking control mechanism.
§ Landa Recreation Center guests will still park at the LRC for events.
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Signage and monitoring will be needed.
Circle Arts Theater
Staff has been meeting with representatives from the Circle Arts Theater. The City and Circle Arts have a lease agreement which allows the Theater to use the parking lot in between the Theater and Parks Maintenance Building. Customers also use the parking lot across the street (the proposed paid parking lot.) The Theater staff is concerned about the impact paid parking will have on their attendance. Therefore, we have worked with Theater representatives on the following:
• During the river season, close off the lot between the theater and the Park Maintenance Barn, for use by theater staff, rehearsals and guests.
• Ask the Circle Arts Theater to create a theater parking pass system for the paid parking lot across the street for overflow parking on the Sunday 2PM shows. This is the show that they believe will be negatively impacted. This would exempt the patrons from the $10.00 fee.
Wurstfest
Staff has been in contact with Wurstfest officials about the change in parking. Mrs. Herbelin has noted that the Wurstfest facilities have been rented for four events this summer. We have been provided those dates and will accommodate parking for each of them. Mrs. Herbelin has indicated for future events, she will notify the guests of the parking situation and the $10.00 parking fee.
Mini Golf
We will reserve five mini-golf parking spaces in the Park Operations staff parking lot. These spaces would be appropriately signed and painted. We will monitor the parking throughout the year and should we need to add more, we can do so.
ADDRESSES A NEED/ISSUE IN A CITY PLAN OR COUNCIL PRIORITY:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are 155 spaces in this particular parking lot. Using the $10.00 fee, multiplied by the 120 days of the season, gives a conservative estimate of $186,000. Of course, this does not count for any turnover, which will occur. As stated, the revenue is proposed to be split between the River Fund and the General Fund, earmarked for Landa Park parking maintenance.
Recommendation
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Both the River Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Board considered this proposal at a joint meeting of the Committees and then again in separate meetings. They have the following recommendations:
River Activities Committee
The River Activities Committee unanimously recommends that the City Council charge a $10 parking fee at the Landa Park Parking lots on Elizabeth Street from a period of May 1 to Labor Day. The recommendation also includes the following:
• That the City have the ability to institute “variable pricing.” That means that the City has the authority to raise or lower the price of parking based on demand.
• The Parks and Recreation Department having appropriate staff to control the parking lot.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted 5-2 on the recommendation to implement a $10 parking fee on the Elizabeth street lot with the following additions:
• The recommendation from the River Activities Committee to institute variable pricing.
• The recommendation from the River Activities Committee that the department be allowed to staff appropriately for additional need to control the parking lot.
• That the City Manager (or designee) be given the authority to exempt certain special events from paid parking. Specifically, the discussion centered on swim meets during the summer.
• A program review at the end of the summer (Labor Day) to evaluate the impacts and changes of the new program.
• Adopt the paid parking at the Elizabeth Street lots as a pilot program for the first year, and that a report be made monthly to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
• A statement to the City Council about the Board’s concern about the impact paid parking will have on Landa Park.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the following:
1. Implementation of a $10.00 parking fee for the 155-space parking lot on Elizabeth Street, starting May 1 of each year, through Labor Day from 8AM-7PM.
2. The City Manager be given the authority to waive fees when it is in the best interest of the City. This will assist us in any conflicts we may have with Circle Arts or Mini-golf parking complications.
3. Staff provide a review of the program in July and after the first season. The River Manager shall include this in her yearly end-of-season Council report.
4. Staff does not recommend implementation of variable pricing at this time. While we understand the proposal and the possible benefits, the recommendation needs more details worked out.
5. Revenues from this will go to the River Activities Fund.