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Mr. Petry noted that the City's parking program had been designed with the goal of reducing the number <br />of parking tickets issued. He noted that parking tickets issued by the City were typically half the amount <br />of parking tickets issued in the private sector. <br />Mr. Petry demonstrated how the number of parking citations issued since 1973 had steadily decreased. <br />Mr. Petry briefly described the primary elements of the parking strategy that had been presented to the <br />council at its February 17, 2010, meeting. <br />Mr. Petry also described how an easy payments strategy had been incorporated into the City's existing <br />parking system and noted that credit card compatible parking meters had been installed in the campus <br />parking district near the University of Oregon after a successful pilot run in the downtown area. He <br />further noted that “pay-by-cell” phone parking capabilities had also recently been implemented. <br />Mr. Petry noted that the previously described easy payment strategies had not resulted in the elimination <br />of any of the previous payment options. <br />Mr. Petry briefly described efforts to market the City's downtown parking program. <br />Mr. Petry described additional projects designed to supplement the City's parking program including the <br />use of mobile phone applications and on-street bike corrals. <br />Mr. Petry provided information regarding the City's Parking Enterprise Fund and noted that the fund was <br />unfortunately projected to decline to a zero balance within the next two years. He stated that 70 percent <br />of the overall decline had been attributed to increases and enhancements in the City's parking garage <br />security. He briefly described the various strategies that had been planned to help balance the parking <br />enterprise fund over the next year. <br />Mr. Petry shared graphic representations that delineated the jurisdiction of the City's Parking Services <br />Program and both off-street and on-street parking availability in downtown Eugene. <br />Mr. Petry summarized the direction provided by the City Council at its February 17, 2010, meeting <br />regarding the implementation of additional free parking strategies. He reviewed the three options <br />prepared by staff. <br />Mayor Piercy called on the council for comments and questions. <br />Mr. Clark expressed appreciation for the staff presentation. He said he believed free parking strategies <br />were an integral part of the City's comprehensive plans for the continued improvement of the downtown <br />area. <br />Ms. Taylor noted that she had served on the City Council’s Downtown Parking Subcommittee and in that <br />context had suggested that the free parking areas be extended south as far as 16th Avenue and east as far <br />as High Street. She believed that such a strategy would make downtown Eugene a more welcoming <br />environment. She further suggested that any free parking areas have their time limits increased to three <br />hours in order to be competitive with the free parking areas of certain local businesses. <br />Mr. Poling agreed with Mr. Clark's previous comments and appreciated the breadth of information <br />provided by staff. <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Eugene City Council August 11, 2010 Page 5 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br />