Item 3: Contingency Funds for Eugene Celebration Parking

Home Browse Search

ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: Approval of Contingency Funds for Eugene Celebration Parking Meeting Date: August 14, 2006 Agenda Item Number: 3 Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Susan Muir www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-6077 ISSUE STATEMENT This item is an opportunity for the City Council to take action on a request to use General Fund contingency funds for underwriting the parking for the 2006 Celebration. BACKGROUND Councilor Kelly’s June 21, 2006, email to the City Manager asked: Q: How much revenue would be expected from the $5 fee during the Eugene Celebration weekend? A: The net revenue for the past three years has ranged from $5,000 to $10,000. Q: Can some combination of existing department funds (LRCS and/or PDD) plus council contingency funds be used to "buy" free parking for that event? A: Currently, there are no LRCS and/or PDD funds budgeted to subsidize free parking for the Eugene Celebration. Discretionary funding from the General Fund contingency could be tapped for such a subsidy. Similar to previous years, for Eugene Celebration 2006, event parking will only be charged in the four garages closest to the venues: Overpark, Parcade, Broadway Place North and South. The Pearl Street and Hult Center garages will be open and free-of-charge. In recent years, event parking charges have been limited to a few high-demand garages downtown during the Eugene Celebration. During the 2005 Eugene Celebration, event parking was charged at the Overpark and Parcade garages from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, after the parade from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday. Despite poor weather conditions, the City grossed approximately $6,400 for event parking. This amount was similar to the revenue collected during the 2004 event, which also experienced poor weather. The 2003 Eugene Celebration parking revenue grossed slightly more than $13,000, with better weather and event charges that were collected at four of six City garages. When accounting for the cost of collecting the revenue, the net revenue from the Eugene Celebration event ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 over the past several years. These additional revenues offset the cost of additional security and clean up required for the event. Parking charges are designed to cover maintenance, security and administration of the parking facilities. Currently, the parking funds are being challenged by aging infrastructure, increased maintenance and security costs coupled with relatively stagnant revenues. For FY07, the City-adopted budget includes a L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060814\S0608143.doc