03-22-76 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 22r 1976 REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED (CONTINUED) 1. All City- operated flat lots shall charge a monthly rate of $14.00 per month. 2. Rates at the Jefferson Street Parking Garage shall be set as follows: (a) The monthly rate shall be $25.00 per month (b) Hourly rates shall be,as follows: One hour or less One to two hours Two to three hours Three to four hours Five to six hours Six to seven hours Seven or more hours one calendar day ADOPTED THIS 15TH DAY OF MARCH, 1976 ATTEST: S/ Patricia DeClercq Clerk $ .35 $ .50 $ .75 $ .95 $1.25 $1.40 $1.50 Maximum BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS S/ Rollin E. Farrand S/ Thomas J. Brunner, Jr. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, that the foregoing resolution of the Board of Public Works be, and is hereby approved by the Common Council and shall be in full force and effect on April 1, 1976, after its adoption by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. S/ Mary Christine Adams Member of the Common Council A public hearing was held at this time on the resolution. Mr. Peter Mullen, City Controller, said the effective date of this resolution should be changed from April to May 1, to coincide with the expiration of the present parking passes. He said the city was requesting approval of the increase at the Jefferson Garage as well as the flat lots. He said this would result in approximately $28,100 in additional revenue for the remaining eight months of the year. He read the budget for the parking garages. He said they were requesting this rate increase to help make the term bond requirement. Mr. Bob Blakeney, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Downtown Parking Committee, strongly urged the Council to pass this resolution. He said they appreciated the changes that have been made in the parking situation. He said he felt if the city did not get this additional revenue the pre- sent parking system could be jeopardized. He said there could be a problem of locating new offices downtown because of high rates, but this could possibly be worked out. Council Member Taylor said he was going to make a recommendation that this resolution go to a committee we mentioned last meeting, in order that they could take a comprehensive look at the parking situation. He said that the downtown was in a state of change. He said no one knows exactly how and when it is going to change. He said Council is concerned in maintaining the fiscal responsibility of the city. He said the Council was highly concerned about additional merchants coming into downtown. He said it was not the Council's intent that the parking situa- tion become a political football. He said if it does, we will all be losers. Council Member Taylor made a motion this resolution be referred to the South Bend Parking Facility Study Com- mission, seconded by Council Member Horvath. Council Member Kopczynski said all the parking garages should start paying for themselves. He said they had been subsidized long enough. He said the Commission that is being formed is a step in the right direction, however, the sensible approach is to adopt the resolution and form the commission to study the parking situation. He said he was against sending this to the Commission. Council Member Serge asked for a comparison of parking fees. Mr. Mullen said that right now we are less than the other garages. He said with the proposed increase we will still be less than the National Bank, and with the exception of the sixth hour on we will be less than the American Bank. Council Member Szymkowiak said he strongly believed this resolution should be passed. Mr. Peter Mullen said there were 156 monthly parkers at the Colfax Garage and 240 at the Jeffer- son Garage. He said their permits expire at the end of April which would give the Commission a very short time to get together and make a decision. He said the city had to have time to notify the monthly parkers of a rate change. Council Member Taylor said they might have to go on a mont to month basis. He said the Council needed to have the total picture of what is happening down- town. He said he would like to see the Council act on this thing in the most comprehensive way possible.