HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-1018.SS.MINMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
October lg, 2000
Council Chambers, 1175 E~st Main Street
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Shaw called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
Councilors Laws, Reid, Hauck and Hanson were present. Staff present included City Administrator Greg Scoles, Police
Chief Scott Fleuter and Captain Mike Bianca.
DISCUSSION OF PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND PRESENTATION BY ASHLAND POLICE DEPT
Police Chief Scott Fleuter explained how the current system of parking enforcement is done, including curb and
handicap markings, and blocked byways. There are two part-time people, working a total of 38 hours per week,
patrolling the city's parking areas. The hours are spread out to cover six days a week, but only during peak times. This
does not allow for enough coverage. In addition, police clerks are spending a large amount of time fielding calls
regarding parking. Flauter urged the council to consider who is going to maintain possible future parking issues such
as structures or lots with permit systems and paid parking. He clarified for council that.if the city decides to contract
the job out, trial funding could be developed that would not increase the budget, and then it could be evaluated and
renegotiated for the next year.
Larry Summers, Regional Vice President of Diamond Municipal Parking (DPS), presented the proposed parking
enforcement program. He explained that the program could be designed to meet the needs of the community through
the guidance and direction from the council and city ordinances. Summers stated that DPS has been in business since
1922, and was the first to establish and implement the token/validation system. DPS provides a variety of parking
services to a number of municipalities, administering a variety of parking permit programs. Summers explained that
a handheld computer is used for Wacking vehicles and notifying the parking con~'ol person when a citation needs to be
written. The program is able to track vehicles from space to space, as well as time accumulated by each vehicle. He
stated records and reports are maintained through the data that is collected by the handheld computers. This information
could then be used to show the legitimacy for a citation should it be appealed in municipal court. Summers explained
the collection process, how the citation is paid, and what happens when the citation is appealed. He proposed having
DPS continue the current process for collection while evaluating how the process could be performed more efficiently.
Reid noted her concern with displacing current employees who now have the duties involving parking control. Flenter
clarified that this program would not displace any current clerks in the Police Department, but instead allow them time
for other aspects of their duties.
Summers presented an estimated projection of revenue collected on citations, and explained that more citations can be
written using the same number of personnel. DPS estimates that the collection rates remain the same, but that the
dollars received would be higher due to the higher number of enforcement hours.
Laws voiced his concern regarding privacy and the city's tracking of individuals. Summers explained that thc program
could be designed however the council deems appropriate.
Hauck stated his concern regarding employees of local businesses and the ordinance prohibiting their parking in the
downtown area. Flenter explained that parking ordinance amendments would be needed in order to adolx this program.
Summers stated that turnover parking is essential to downtown merchants and thc viability of their businesses. He noted
that the City has established plans and procedures providing for long-term parking for employees working in the central
business district. Summers brought up possibility of DPS offering assistance to motorists parked in patrolled areas.
He showed the council a sample citation which explained options to the motorist for handling payment and appeals.
In addition, he showed a sample ticket summary statement, which would be given to the City for review.
Scoles explained that parking patrol is not a police function and that parking management is a more efficient way for
the City to handle perking issues.
The meetingwas adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
Submitted by
Barbara Chriatensen
City Recorder/Treasurer
Council Study Session 10/18/00 Page 1 of I