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<br /> <br />REQUEST FOR ACTION <br /> <br />To <br />City Council <br />Agenda Section <br />W orksession <br /> <br />Meeting Date <br />May 14,2007 <br /> <br />Item Number <br />5.3.E. <br />Prepared by <br />Catherine Mehelich, Director of <br />Economic Develo ment <br />Reviewed by <br />Scott Clark, Community Development <br />Director <br />Reviewed by <br />Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator <br /> <br />Item Description <br /> <br />Authorize Carl Walker, Inc. to Complete a Downtown Parking <br />Study <br /> <br />Action Requested <br /> <br />The Council is asked to authorize Carl Walker, Inc. to complete a Downtown Parking Study as described <br />in the attached proposal. <br /> <br />B ac kgro undiD i sc u ss ion <br />At its April 9th meeting the Council authorized staff to expedite the process for completing a study on the <br />feasibility of a downtown parking ramp. In addition, it was briefly discussed by the Parking Focus Group <br />and at the City Council meeting that an accurate analysis of the current and future downtown parking <br />demands may best be conducted by an outside agency with greater expertise, rather than basing <br />recommendations and decisions on public perception of parking needs. <br /> <br />Over the past month a staff work group (Engineering, Planning, Community Development, and Finance) <br />have explored options for completing the study and met with two parking (planning/ engineering) firms, <br />based on recommendations by various cities, to discuss a process for completing a parking needs and <br />alternatives analysis. The following firms were considered: <br />. Carl Walker, Inc. (I<alamazoo, Michigan) <br />. Vedi Associates, Inc. (11inneapolis, MN) <br /> <br />Following a tour of the core downtown area, the firms were asked to submit a proposal for p.rofessional <br />services and to outline a process they would recommend to achieve the city's goal to: <br />1) Identify current and future parking demands <br />2) Identify alternative parking solutions <br />3) Conduct a parking ramp analysis including timing, sizing, issues and estimated costs <br /> <br />The proposals primarily differ in their approach and process for completing the analysis, which can be <br />discussed in greater detail at the Council meeting. The staff work group and Chief of Police Beahen have <br />reviewed and discussed the attached proposals. In addition, the Downtown Parking Focus Group will <br />discuss the proposals and staff recommendation at its May 14th morning meeting. <br /> <br />Staff recommends the approach proposed by Carl Walker, Inc. appears to best meet the city's goal and <br />objectives in determining an actual amount for current and future parking needs, identifying a series of <br />