Presenter/Contact
Presenter
Kristi Aday, Assistant City Manager
Contact Info
kaday@nbtexas.org
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SUBJECT:
Title
Discuss and consider approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances Section 86-7 Operation of Vehicles in Parks revising Subsection (d) by establishing a resident parking pass for Prince Solms Park and Landa Park parking lots located off Elizabeth Avenue.
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BACKGROUND / RATIONALE:
Prince Solms Park and Landa Park parking lots located off Elizabeth Avenue (sometimes referred to as Elizabeth Avenue Parking Lots) have paid parking in place from May 1 - Labor Day each year. Fees charged are $20 and $10 respectively. The purpose of the parking fees are to help recover costs for the City’s river management operations. As the vast majority of people who park in these lots from May 1 to Labor Day each year are visitors, it is an effective way to pass on the costs to those non-residents.
In 2014, City Council established a Resident Tennis Parking Pass at a cost of $20 to allow tennis players to park without paying the daily fee. The pass was expanded in 2018 to a Prince Solms Resident Parking Pass to include basketball and disc golf players. In 2018, 100 Prince Solms Resident Parking Passes were sold.
With the inclusion of the Elizabeth Avenue lots for paid parking, staff heard many concerns from residents regarding the requirement to pay while using the park for activities such as running, picnicking, dog walking, etc. This concern was voiced at several River Committee meetings and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meetings.
As a follow up to the 2018 River Season review, the River Committee discussed and supported the idea of a Resident Parking Pass. The Committee ultimately made recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board who discussed the matter at their December 18, 2018 meeting.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted 5-2 to recommend the establishment of a Resident Parking Pass at a cost of $40. The pass would be valid for the Elizabeth Avenue parking lots only. (The River Committee subsequently added Hinman Island parking spaces, which is discussed in another agenda item.) The Board also recommended that the Prince Solms Resident Parking Pass fee be increased from $20 to $40 for consistency and in order to fully recover administrative costs.
Prince Solms Resident Parking Pass (Current):
• Currently $20 per person/Recommended to increase to $40
• Recommended to rename to Prince Solms Sports Pass for clarity
• Must be actively participating in tennis, basketball or disc golf
• Valid seven days per week
• Valid for one year
• Individual pass includes picture of pass holder
• Pass must be displayed in front window of vehicle
• Revenues generated from pass are deposited to the River Fund.
Resident Parking Pass (Recommended):
• Recommended $40 per vehicle, must be affixed to vehicle
• Valid seven days per week
• Valid for one year
• Valid for Elizabeth Avenue parking and Hinman Island lots only
• Revenues would be deposited to the River Fund
ADDRESSES A NEED/ISSUE IN A CITY PLAN OR COUNCIL PRIORITY:
X |
Yes |
City Council Strategic Priorities |
Infrastructure - Use a variety of funding sources for operational and capital needs. |
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be a negligible amount of revenue generated from the administrative costs associated with the passes; however, that will likely be offset by the loss of revenue from the free resident parking in the Elizabeth Street parking lots. Revenues from the parking pass is deposited in to the River Fund.
Recommendation
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
The River Committee supported the Resident Parking Pass at their meeting on November 15, 2018. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted 5-2 in favor of these changes at their meeting on December 18, 2018.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the fee change for the Prince Solms Sports Pass to $40 and the establishment of a Resident Parking Pass for $40, valid for the Elizabeth Avenue parking lots, seven days per week.