Parking Commission - June 24, 2021
Unofficial minutes - not approved by the Board
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Parking Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, June 24, 2021.
The Parking Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Chair Mike Williams (via conference call), Brian Hayer, Randy Thorson, Jay Krabbenhoft, Austin Morris
Absent: None
Vice-Chair Thorson called the meeting to order.
Item 1: Approve Order of Agenda
Member Hayer 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 August 27, 2020
Member Morris moved the minutes of the August 27, 2020 Parking Commission meeting be approved. Second by Member Hayer. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3: Interstate Parking Report/Financial Data
a. 2020 Year End Financials
Fargo Operations Manager Vanessa Hernandez, Interstate Parking (IP), presented the year-end financials for 2020. She reviewed the information included in the packet, and talked about the decrease in revenues reflected by the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Ms. Hernandez stated that in December of 2020, the City of Fargo introduced a flexible rate plan to provide financial relief to downtown businesses/parkers. Ms. Hernandez clarified that the flexible rate is still in place, and staff is working with businesses as they bring employees back into the workplace. She continued with an update on the completed changes and improvements to specific parking facilities.
b. January 2021 – May 2021
Ms. Hernandez provided the report for the months of January 2021 through May 2021. She stated projected revenues reflect an increase as workers and the public return to businesses and activities in the Downtown area.
Discussion began regarding parking activity at the Mercantile Garage, how the pandemic affected parking facilities managed by Interstate Parking in other cities compared to Fargo, and staffs projected outlook as we return to pre-pandemic operations.
Chair Williams present.
Item 4: Request for Temporary Use of Parking Lot: APPROVED
a. Main Avenue Lot – Interstate Parking and the DCP
Lora Larson, Development Coordinator for the Downtown Community Partnership (DCP), presented this item regarding the upcoming Downtown Fargo Street Fair, July 15 through July 17. She stated DCP is requesting the use of the parking lot at Main and Broadway, to provide parking to food court vendors and utility workers for their vehicles/trucks during this event.
Addressing questions from Commissioner Piepkorn and Vice-Chair Thorson, Ms. Larson noted she believes the City still owns the lot, which has remained empty for the past few months, and use during the event will not affect any parkers.
Director of Strategic Planning and Research Jim Gilmour added staff is working with the developer, and the City will still own this lot during the dates of this event. He added they are not leasing this lot for parking so it is available.
Member Krabbenhoft moved approval be recommended to the City Commission to allow the use of this parking lot as requested. Second by Member Morris. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 5: Request for Vendor Parking Along 4th Street North during Street Fair: APPROVED
Ms. Larson presented this request to accommodate parking for vendors located in this section of the event route, for easy access to restock their items.
Discussion was held regarding other parking options that may be available.
Member Morris moved approval be recommended to the City Commission to allow the Street Fair/Downtown Community Partnership to utilize 4th Street for vendor parking, based on the premise of putting signs up and not ticketing. Second by Member Hayer. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 6: Street Fair Parking (Interstate Parking): APPROVED
Ms. Hernandez stated they have charged for Saturday event parking downtown in certain City-owned facilities in the past few years. She is requesting this be consistent across the board for all the facilities. Ms. Hernandez is recommending the existing fees for parking in the ramps on Thursday and Friday remain as is, and a $5.00 fee be charged on Saturday’s for downtown event parking.
Additional discussion was held.
Member Hayer moved to approve the fee be consistent across the board for Street Fair parking on Saturday for all city-owned parking facilities. Second by Member Krabbenhoft. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 7: Citations & Collections
Ms. Hernandez stated she did not have anything to report today, but will provide an update at the next meeting.
Member Thorson asked if the recommendation to utilize a collection agency for uncollected citations made at the August 27, 2020, meeting was in place. Ms. Hernandez confirmed it is and provided further details on IP’s process. She noted the collections would be part of the report at the next meeting.
Item 8: Staff Report
a. Jasper Hotel
Mr. Gilmour reported the Jasper Hotel is in need of additional parking spaces for a valet service provided to guests. He noted a lease is in place for 27 spaces on the north side of the main floor, as well as other designated spots on the upper floors of the Mercantile Garage.
Item 9: Other Business
Chair Williams shared he will no longer be serving on the Parking Commission.
Item 10: Adjourn
a. Next Meeting: Thursday, July 29, 2021
Chair Williams moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:32 a.m. Second by Member Morris. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carrie