07/02/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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" . IV. DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD'S RESPONSE TO EMPLOYEE PARKING CONCERNS . (memo distributed) Mr. Henry introduced Chuck Wickizer to provide the response. Mr. Wickizer, chairman of the Downtown Development Board, stated that there are differences of opinion between the board and staff. They are trying to encourage alternative modes of transportation and enforce the free parking. Mr. Wickizer stated that the Downtown Development Board operates the free parking district for the City Council. The reason this matter is before the council is that an employee group has objected to the way their concerns have been handled by the Downtown Development Board. The group's concerns were varied but they primarily involved the adopted increased parking rates and the fine and bail schedule. The Downtown Development Board began holding meetings with the employee group in March of 1980. The concerns which the employees raised and the Downtown Development Board felt they could address are: 1) too high a fine and bail schedule for violation of the Downtown Development District; 2) too high a monthly parking permit rate; 3) lack of employee parking areas; 4) no alterna- tive to monthly parking permits for those who used alternative transportation the majority of the time; 5) extension of the employee shuttle bus hours; 6) an additional pick-up and drop-off point for the shuttle bus in front of the Pacific Northwest Bell building; 7) security concerns in the parking garages and on the mall; 8) inequality in the parking rates in the City parking lots between City employees and the public; 9) the parking surface of the Fairgrounds was in bad repair. e At the May 7, 1980, meeting of the Downtown Development Board, actions were approved to address some of these problems: 1) recommend to council approval of a revised fine and bail schedule; 2) recommend to council approval of continuance of the monthly parking as it presently exists until the Performing Center garage opens, at which time the rate would be made equal; 3) allow pre-purchased daily parking ~ermits to be sold for use in the garages; 4) changes were made in the employee shuttle bus hours and operation to closer meet the needs of the employ- ees; 5) continuation of the additional police patrol officer in the mall; and 6) writing a letter to the City Manager recommending that the parking rates on the City Hall parking lots be equalized. Jim Hanks, Traffic Engineering, stated that in the meetings between the Downtown Development Board and the employees, they came up with quite a few items where there was complete agreement, including some of the ones Mr. Wickizer named. The first offense for parking violations is now less than a monthly parking permit but offenses after the first one go up substantially. The only area where the board and staff really disagreed was in the reduction of parking rates. They would like to reduce the differences between private and City employee rates. He indicated that the intent of the parking program is to reduce the use of the automobile and increase alternative modes of transportation, which includes increasing the parking permit fees. This seems in opposition to the need for revenue from the parking structures to payoff the bonds. Staff is recommending retaining the present rate schedule. - 7/2/80--7