Purpose
Advises the City Commission, City Manager, and Community Development Staff on matters related to parking issues within the Parking Districts.
At last week's City Commission meeting, we heard many comments from folks who do not want the parking fees increased downtown and who have problems with parking meters period. Some folks went so far as to blame all of downtown's problems on the meter issue, which Commissioner Bronson disputed.
We also heard from a member of the Parking Advisory Commission, who, from the looks of it, is the only member left who was appointed by the city. The terms of the others have expired.
According to this member, this commission has not met on a regular basis for quite some time and the problems didn't just start after April 2008.
Here we have an issue that for as long as I can remember has always been a sore spot and the committee that should be helping hasn't been meeting on a regular basis and currently doesn't even have enough members to form a quorum.
I checked the City Commission agendas since January 2008 (just to be safe) and there was not any mention of appointing anyone to this commission to fill the vacancies that occurred after April 2008. Why not?
I commend downtown businessman Phil Kiser (whom I do not know) and a few others who came to the meeting with some ideas rather than just criticisms.
Because of the budget, Commissioners Jolley, Bronson and Rosenbaum voted in favor of the increase, but they are all willing to give downtown 30 days to come up with an alternative plan for their review.
Let's hope the plan includes a working Parking Advisory Commission.
Advises the City Commission, City Manager, and Community Development Staff on matters related to parking issues within the Parking Districts.
At last week's City Commission meeting, we heard many comments from folks who do not want the parking fees increased downtown and who have problems with parking meters period. Some folks went so far as to blame all of downtown's problems on the meter issue, which Commissioner Bronson disputed.
We also heard from a member of the Parking Advisory Commission, who, from the looks of it, is the only member left who was appointed by the city. The terms of the others have expired.
According to this member, this commission has not met on a regular basis for quite some time and the problems didn't just start after April 2008.
Here we have an issue that for as long as I can remember has always been a sore spot and the committee that should be helping hasn't been meeting on a regular basis and currently doesn't even have enough members to form a quorum.
I checked the City Commission agendas since January 2008 (just to be safe) and there was not any mention of appointing anyone to this commission to fill the vacancies that occurred after April 2008. Why not?
I commend downtown businessman Phil Kiser (whom I do not know) and a few others who came to the meeting with some ideas rather than just criticisms.
Because of the budget, Commissioners Jolley, Bronson and Rosenbaum voted in favor of the increase, but they are all willing to give downtown 30 days to come up with an alternative plan for their review.
Let's hope the plan includes a working Parking Advisory Commission.
3 comments:
FIGHT BACK FOLKS, get downtown united at STOP the increase!
Montana Code Annotated Title 7, Chapter 14, Part 46 Parking Commissions.
http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/7_14_46.htm
I like to think I understand these things fairly well but this part seems to be very large and complicated to address something as common as parking.
The first thing that struck me but I was not surprised by was:
7-14-4634. Charges for use of parking facilities.
(2) All rates, fees, and charges shall be at all times fixed to yield annual revenue which together with other revenue shall be equal to annual operating and maintenance expenses,....
But more significant was:
7-14-4629. Manner of operating parking facility. (1) The commission or city may lease any project acquired by it under the provisions of this part to the highest responsible bidder after notice.
Someone please correct me if I am misinterpreting this but it seems that instead of the city maintaining control and contracting to collect fees, (is that what they do now?)they could simply accept a bid from a contractor for the right to collect the fees.
is this how it works?
Sorry I missed the meeting, I'd like to know what Phil's or other ideas are.
More games with the money ??¿¿??
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