|
<br />with the passage of Ballot Measure 5, the City returned to a customer-paid parking system, with free
<br />parking on weekends in garages, first hour free in two garages, and a parking validation program
<br />provided by downtown businesses. Currently there are 15,000 parking spaces in downtown Eugene, of
<br />which the City of Eugene manages 3,150 off-street spaces and 1,000 on-street metered/signed spaces, or
<br />28% of all downtown parking. The remaining parking spaces are privately owned and managed.
<br />
<br />The purpose and mission of the Eugene Parking program is to supply, allocate and manage, adequate,
<br />safe parking to meet the parking needs of the business and residential communities in a manner that
<br />supports transportation system needs, growth management policies and goals, and City Council and
<br />community goals.
<br />
<br />Parking is a development tool that integrates with the vision of an active and vibrant downtown. New
<br />and existing public parking can be used to support desired private and public development.
<br />Appropriately managed parking encourages downtown business and cultural activities, and creates a
<br />positive experience and perception of downtown.
<br />
<br />A strategic approach to parking management requires a balance of competing priorities. Parking must
<br />be perceived to be easily located and available. At the same time, businesses require frequent turnover,
<br />especially of key locations, such as on-street spaces. Management strategies include fine-tuning of
<br />factors such as type and location of parking, hours of enforcement, rates, and signage.
<br />
<br />The City of Eugene has designed a downtown that promotes compact urban growth and a pedestrian
<br />orientation through policies, finances, and physical design. Zoning requirements encourage lot line to
<br />lot line developments with no on-site parking requirements (the City’s Parking Exempt Zone was
<br />created in 1948). By not requiring on-site parking, development must use parking structures to meet
<br />employee and customer demands, as well as encourage use of alternative modes of travel (bikes, bus,
<br />carpool, or walk). Physically, our downtown streets are narrow with parallel parking in most cases,
<br />including parking bays, which promote a more pedestrian friendly environment. Additionally, bike
<br />lanes and bus lanes have removed on-street parking spaces. Our physical design limits the available
<br />supply of on-street parking, further encouraging use of off-street parking locations.
<br />
<br />The majority of off-street public parking in Eugene is in structured parking, as the City has developed
<br />th
<br />most of its surface lots. The downtown Library, WestTown on 8, LTD Downtown Station, Broadway
<br />Place development, The Tate, and the US Bank building are examples of public surface parking lots that
<br />have been converted to a higher and better use development.
<br />
<br />While parking management is a tool to support downtown development, downtown parking also has a
<br />financial role in the City’s fiscal strategy. Downtown parking is financially designed to support the
<br />General Fund, directly and indirectly. The Parking Enterprise Fund operates a $4.7 million budget, with
<br />half the budget directly or indirectly supporting common General Fund activities. The Parking Fund
<br />contributes 12% of its resources to the General Fund each year (FY08 = $585,100) and pays General
<br />Obligation debt service ($678,000) that is backed by the General Fund. Additionally, the Parking
<br />Enterprise Fund fully supports programs that are traditionally maintained in the General Fund, Road
<br />Fund, or Urban Renewal Funds. Examples of programs that indirectly benefit the General Fund are
<br />parking structure maintenance ($980,000), Municipal Court – Parking Services staff ($400,000), and
<br />enforcing community complaints on abandoned/stored vehicles in the public right of way ($75,000).
<br />
<br /> Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M081029\S081029A.doc
<br />
<br />
|