PRESENTER: Presenter
Amy Niles, River and Watershed Manager
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and Consider a Proposal to Expand Paid Parking to River Acres Park on Fair Lane.
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DISCUSSION:
City staff has been looking for ways to create more opportunities for residents to enjoy the City’s Guadalupe River Parks in light of the recent growth in popularity for these parks. Paid parking around the Comal River has expanded over the last few years, which has inadvertently pushed non-resident visitors to River Acres and Cypress Bend parks due to the free access. River Acres Park is located along Fair Lane. City staff has prepared a proposal for paid parking on Fair Lane that will charge non-residents but be free for all residents with a Resident River Parking Pass.
17 parallel parking spaces can be striped on Fair Lane next to River Acres Park. There will be a reserved zone to preserve access to the park for emergency response. A map of the proposed layout is attached. Peak overuse of the park occurs on weekends and holidays between May 1st- Labor Day, which is the proposed time frame to charge a parking fee. In 2024 there are 40 weekend days and holidays between May 1st and Labor Day. A fee of $20 per space is proposed to make the fee high enough to deter out of town visitors looking for a free location, to open up availability for residents to park for free.
If the space is paid for once per day, the estimated revenue is as follows:
$20 parking fee X 17 spaces X 40 days = $13,600
Fees would be collected through ParkMobile. Expenses to set up paid parking on Fair Lane include striping the parking spaces (estimated $2,400) and printing and installing signage (estimated $1,300) which can be paid for in the current River Fund operating budget.
Next steps:
February 6th- discuss proposal with City Council, along with RAC input, to get feedback and direction from the City Council.
February 13th- Based on RAC and City Council feedback, present to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
City staff will write ordinance revisions to reflect direction received from City Council and then take to City Council for consideration.
Begin outreach campaign contingent on City Council direction and approval.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommends approving the proposal to request an ordinance revision from City Council to add a paid parking zone to charge $20 to non-residents on Fair Lane by River Acres on weekends and holidays from May 1st to Labor Day.