HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-1018_SSMINMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
October 18, 2000May 17, 2000May 17, 2000May 17, 2000May 17, 2000May 17, 2000May 17, 2000
Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street
Council Chambers, 1175 East 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. Fleuter 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 tracking vehicles and notifying the parking control 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. Fleuter 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 the 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. Fleuter explained that parking ordinance amendments
would be needed in order to adopt this program. Summers stated that turnover parking is essential to downtown merchants and the 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 parking issues.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
Submitted by
Barbara Christensen
City Recorder/Treasurer
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Council Study Session 10/18/00