Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Supporting the Downtown Parking Committee Short Term Strategies for Downtown Parking
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Direction for Strategic and Economic Growth
MEETING DATE: April 19, 2016
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
CONTACT: Barry Shelton, Assistant City Manager
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Staff recommends approval of the resolution.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The City Council appointed a Downtown Parking Committee to study the current and future parking needs for downtown and to make recommendations to the City Council on short term and long term solutions.
• The committee has been directed to prepare its recommendations by the May 16th City Council meeting.
• The Downtown Parking Committee has met four times over the past month to discuss these issues and has developed recommendations that will address some of the immediate parking needs.
• These short term strategies increase the supply of public parking spaces and promote better utilization of the existing spaces. The proposed strategies are as follows:
o Negotiate a long term land lease on a property on the southwest corner of Kentucky Street and Lamar Street owned by First United Methodist Church for use as a public parking lot.
o Design and construct surface parking on the following downtown properties:
§ The First United Methodist Church lot on the southwest corner of Kentucky Street and Lamar Street, and
§ The old Wysong Hospital Lot located immediately north of City Hall on the northeast corner of Tennessee Street and Hunt Street.
o Improve wayfinding in and around downtown by providing additional parking lot identification and directional signage.
o Improve lighting of downtown parking lots and sidewalks where needed.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• Estimated construction costs for the two parking lots, which will provide about 200 - 210 new public parking spaces, will vary depending on whether complete reconstruction is needed or if the existing parking spaces can be kept. Estimates range from $450,000 to $800,000, or approximately $2,200 to $4,000 per new public parking space.
• Actual costs for the construction of the two parking lots and installation of additional wayfinding signage and lighting will be determined through the design process. Construction contracts for these items, with actual costs, will be brought to the City Council for approval.