09-17-2007 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Councl Minutes September 17, 2007 Page 3 • ' Future surplus of spaces will be able to support approximately 15,700 S. F. of additional development, including the city lots north of Highway 10. If the lots north of Highway 10 axe not considered, the surplus will be able to support about 6,500 S.F. of additional development. • The I{ing Avenue parking lot is the best potential site for a parking structure in downtown Elk River. Mr. Suma reviewed the four conceptual designs that were developed. Mx. Surna indicated that construction cost estimates range from $4.6. million to $7.9. million. He noted that the total project cost per added space ranges from $25,500 to $32,200. • Typical annual operating and maintenance costs for a parking structure total about $184 per space. This does not include labor costs for cashiers. • A single city depaztment should be assigned responsibility fox all aspects of the parking system. Mx. Surna suggested that guiding prinaples be developed fox the parking system. • The pedestrian routes from the parking areas to downtown destinations should be enhanced. The lots north of Highway 10 should also be improved to help promote their usage. In conclusion to his presentation, Mx. Suma offered the following recommendations: • Establish Guiding Principles • Improve lots north of Highway 10 • • Intersection improvements Pedestrian paths • Maintain good lighting • Assign single depaztment responsibility • Surface lot solutions first • Accommodate part-time employees Communicate with downtown Stakeholders • Avoid community "peer pressure" • Monitor occupanry and turnover levels • Land bank of School District property • Funding for pazking system Ms. Mehelich reviewed the five items the Council is asked to provide staff direction on as included in her staff report. Mayor Klinzing indicated that due to the complexity of the parking study, the Council would like to receive public comment and allow Mr. Suxna to answer questions tonight and continue the discussion on the study to the woxksession. Chatr Wilson questioned if one day is enough time to observe parking to obtain accurate findings. Mr. Suma explained that it is common practice to conduct the study for one day and that additional days could be added but it is unlikely the outcome would change. He indicated in areas that observation has been fox more than one day, the counts have changed by only one or two percent. • Commissioner Toth questioned if more accurate figures would be obtained by observing the parking for three or five days and taking the average. Mr. Toth noted that Wednesday is the