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7 <br />coordinated plan for how on-street spaces are designated nor is there coordination with <br />enforcement. 5) While there may not be a need for an additional parking structure at this <br />moment, there will be in the very near future, and the City should identify a location and <br />begin planning for construction now. Mr. Tolbert said there are approximately 6,000 <br />parking spaces, of which about 5,000 are off-street and 1,000 are on-street. Mr. Tolbert <br />said the following is the action plan recommended to implement the changes: 1) Change <br />the on-street parking system to the recommendations outlined in the study. This <br />recommendation proposes to: Restrict delivery by tractor trailer to Water Street, Market <br />Street and both mall crossings at 2nd and 4th Streets. After 11:00 a.m. these vehicles will <br />be restricted to Water and Market Streets; Create a temporary delivery placard to be <br />given to each business to allow them or their customer to use spaces on the numbered <br />side streets for delivery; Maintain the same number of handicap spaces as currently exist; <br />Where 30 minutes and 2 hour spaces exist intended for short term parkers, convert those <br />to one hour; Convert approximately 15 of the spaces in the block around the ACAC and <br />Gleason’s properties from all day to two hour parking; Create 12 Vespa/Motorcycle <br />spaces where all day parking is allowed. 2) Initiate a zoning text amendment for <br />planning commission action that would eliminate the parking exempt zone for downtown <br />projects and require parking at a suggested rate of one space per residential unit and fifty <br />percent of the currently required non-residential use requirement. The developer would <br />have the option to meet the requirement either on-site, within 1,000 feet of the site, or by <br />paying “x” dollars into a fund to build or pay for the next public garage. They would <br />then receive spaces in that garage. The “x” dollar fee would be set by the Economic <br />Development Office annually. 3) Direct the City Manager to move parking enforcement <br />from the Police Department to the Department of Neighborhood Development Services <br />including the seven positions and equipment. This division will be created under the <br />direction of the Traffic Engineer and will also serve as Downtown Ambassadors. The <br />intent will be to create an efficient division with fuel efficient transportation and time <br />efficient technology. The placement with the Traffic Engineer should provide <br />coordination between enforcement and the position that makes changes and issue <br />temporary permits. 4) Make changes to the parking ordinance as needed to implement all <br />recommended changes. 5) Direct the staff to evaluate and choose a location for the next <br />parking garage and develop a financing plan to present to Council. Mr. Tolbert said that <br />public meetings will be held on the parking study on November 14 and 18, and it is <br />recommended that Council hold a public hearing after those meetings. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris clarified that responsibilities are recommended to be shifted, but no <br />new staff added, and Mr. Tolbert said that is correct, and it is hoped that the number of <br />employees could actually be reduced. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said the City’s parking policy has been described as generous, but he <br />said it does not appear that the cost of parking is a deterrent. He said he does not <br />understand the logic of not recouping the cost. He said the committee may have been <br />heavy with merchants. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolbert said the committee’s recommendation is to not implement the new <br />parking meters immediately, but to consider them later. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he would not oppose parking meters, and asked what is estimated <br />to be raised if they are added. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolbert said it is estimated that the amount, including fines and meters, would <br />be $700,000 annually. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he thinks we should look into meters and expanding the number <br />of spaces for vespas. He said a pet peeve of his is blocking off space for tour buses when <br />they are only used for brief periods of time. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolbert said they are also looking into a camera system for parking <br />enforcement. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said a system that does not impede traffic would be good. <br /> <br /> <br />