04/18/07 Committee Meeting Minutes

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Health and Public Safety Committee April 18, 2007 Page 4 Council Member White then called upon the Public Works Director for his comments on the proposed regulations. Public Works Director Gary Gilat noted that his office is located on the 13th Floor of the Counfiy-City Building, and that he and City Engineer Carl Littrell appreciate the opportunity to address the Council. Mr. Gilot stated that Council Member White requested detailed data and maps on many parking issues. He sees that information as being beneficial wi#h regard to public right- of-way issues; mobility issues and parking access issues. He noted that a secondary use of public streets is parking. Supply and demand of parking is becoming an increasing challenge in many areas of the city. He noted that with regard to programs such as shared parking and pilot parking, that discussion needs to take place an how much of the costs should be private and how much of the casts may be public. Sound public policies need to be developed, and the proposed ordinance would permit that dialogue to take place. He Hated that a common area maintenance fee as well as CED programs need to be discussed. In response to questions from Council Member White, Mr. Gilot stated that the Common Council has done a very good job in asking for relevant data and material on this topic. He stated that his department is still analyzing "pressure paints". He Hated that his department has studied parking from a maintenance perspective such as street sweeping, snow removal, etc. They have struggled with alternate parking cancep#s and haw best #o address the needs of the disabled and their parking needs. He suggested that the City needs to look creatively and should use and consider maintenance agreements. In response to inquiries from Council Member Kirsits, Mr. Gilot stated that pocket parking lots may utilize vacant lots in areas where the parking demand exceeds the current space on city streets; and that such lots would have landscaping and lighting. City Engineer Carl Littrell noted that information had been sent earlier to Council Member White in response to her request for information. He then summarized a series of large maps depicting parking throughout the city. He noted that seldom are residential streets 30' wide or wider. He noted that one (1) map attempts to light the analysis of taking each residential parcel and divide it by the parking restrictions in that area as an attempt to show "hat spots". He questioned whether that analysis was particularly useful in its current form, but represents a beginning point for discussion. He stated that the City and the public need to know where the parking problems are, and also needs to determine what is causing those problems. Mr. Littrell stated that the Public Works Department needs to evaluate whether any new curb cuts are needed based on the specific factual situation in each area.