Parking Commission - July 26, 2018 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Parking Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at 9:00 o'clock a.m., Thursday, July 26, 2018.
The Parking Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Chairperson Mike Williams, Randy Thorson, Jay Krabbenhoft
Absent: Margie Bailly, Brian Hayer
Chairperson Williams called the meeting to order.
Item 1: Approve Order of Agenda
Member Thorson moved the Order of Agenda be approved as presented. Second by Member Krabbenhoft. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 2: Minutes: Regular Meeting of May 31, 2018
Member Thorson moved the minutes of the May 31, 2018 Parking Commission meeting be approved. Second by Member Krabbenhoft. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3: Interstate Report/Financial Data
Operations Manager Andy Renfrew, Interstate Parking (IP), reviewed the May and June 2018 financial and operations reports.
Further discussion continued regarding tracking the turnover rate in the downtown time-zoned parking spaces; the current times allowed for free public parking in the City-owned parking lots and ramps, including the Roberts Commons (RoCo) Parking Garage; and the current occupancy numbers and future plans for the 7th Street Lot and the Main Avenue Lot.
Item 4: ROCO Dog Area – Garage Access: APPROVED
Assistant Planning Director Mark Williams presented a request from Kilbourne Group to add a pet amenity space to the RoCo Parking Garage. He briefly reviewed the information included in the packet, noting that a door would be installed on the east side of the 5th floor of the garage to access the proposed pet space on the east side of the garage rooftop.
Mike Zimney, Project Manager at Kilbourne Group, spoke on behalf of the proposal. He explained that the access door would be installed in a corner space location that is too small to accommodate a parking space. He stated that the proposed pet amenity area would be located on Kilbourne Group property, maintained by their property management group, and that they would incur the costs. He also noted this access would serve both RoCo and upcoming developments in the adjacent Dillard and Kessler properties.
Member Thorson moved to approve the garage access and the pet amenity area with the agreement that Kilbourne Group is responsible for all expenses, and that there is a lease arrangement that indicates the use of the parking spot is for pet access. Second by Member Krabbenhoft. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 5: ROCO Garage – Security Cage and Equipment Installation: APPROVED
Mark Williams presented this request from Kilbourne Group regarding a future restaurant tenant in Roberts Commons. Mr. Williams referred to the packet information identifying the areas and types of proposed amenities and improvements being requested. He stated according to City Attorney Erik Johnson, an easement agreement would need to be created to identify the specific areas and clarify who would be responsible for the maintenance of these areas.
Mike Zimney explained the proposal in more detail reviewing the original layout and why the tenant is requesting these items and improvements. He noted his staff is working with their attorney to compose amendments which will be presented to the Condominium Association for final approval. Mr. Zimney stated that he requests Parking Commission approval to move forward with the amendments to the agreement.
Member Thorson moved to approve the requested security cage and installation of equipment condensers/compressors as proposed and for staff to go forward with amendments to the original agreements to be presented before the Condominium Association for approval. Second by Member Krabbenhoft. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 6: Parking Garage Capital Improvement Updates
Jim Gilmour, Director of Strategic Planning and Research, shared an update regarding the RoCo Parking Garage. He stated that staff is finalizing a report of the total cost for the RoCo project, which will be presented at an upcoming Parking Commission meeting.
Mr. Gilmour continued with a report of the projected repair costs for the following three parking facilities: the Civic Center Ramp, the Island Park Ramp, and the Ground Transportation Center (GTC). Mr. Gilmour submitted a document to the Board detailing these costs, noting a correction to the Island Park Ramp remaining work amount shown on the report. Mr. Gilmour stated bids for the construction costs opened yesterday, and he is waiting for the recommendation of staff to present at the August 13 City Commission meeting.
The Board further discussed the projected costs and the funding available to cover these repairs.
Item 7: Roberts Ramp Smart Energy Pilot Project: APPROVED
Member Williams submitted a document to the Board regarding an opportunity for the City to utilize future-ready features built into the RoCo Parking Ramp design, as a prototype for a smart energy pilot project. He stated there is a grant application for $280,000 through the North Dakota Renewable Energy Commission (NDREC), matched by local funds and in-kind contributions. Mr. Williams explained that this agenda item was presented before the Board to approve a recommendation to the City Commission for approval of the City’s share of $50,000 towards the local matching funds for this grant.
The Board further discussed the benefits of this project, and how this opportunity would add value for other developments integrating smart controls in the future.
Member Thorson moved that approval be recommended to the City Commission of the proposed Fargo share of $50,000, upon approval of the City’s application for the Roberts Ramp smart energy ramp pilot project North Dakota Renewable Energy Funds. Second by Member Krabbenhoft. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 8: Parking Services Contract: APPROVED
Mr. Renfrew reported the results of a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by staff, to consolidate all parking enforcement for on-street, off-street, permit management, and collection processes to be managed by one provider. Mr. Renfrew stated that staff is requesting the Boards approval to award the City’s Parking Services RFP to Passport Labs Inc.
City Auditor Steve Sprague spoke on behalf of the staff review process and recommendation.
Member Thorson moved to award the Parking Services RFP to Passport Labs Inc. and to authorize the Auditor’s Office to negotiate the contract. Second by Member Krabbenhoft. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 9: Other Business
Member Thorson added the following items for discussion:
- Status of Maintenance to Downtown Surface Parking Lots - Andy Renfrew provided an update on what staff has completed and what is planned to be done in the next few months.
- Parking Issues/Citations during the Street Fair – Mr. Renfrew stated that staff did not issue any citations during the Street Fair, but staff does enforce the no-parking and handicap parking space violations during event. He further added that he will provide additional data at the next meeting regarding parking use during the Street Fair in the City’s other parking facilities.
Item 10: Adjournment
The time at adjournment was 10:20 a.m.