THE MORGANTOWN PARKING AUTHORITY

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Regular Meeting

The regular meeting of the Morgantown Parking Authority was held at 3:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 13, 2005, in the Conference Room at the Public Safety Building.

PRESENT: Chairman Ernest Fortuna, Charlie McEwuen, George Papandreas and Tom Arnold.

ABSENT: Vice-Chairman Bill Byrne and Ron Bane.

OTHERS PRESENT: None.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ernest Fortuna at 3:05 P.M.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Upon a motion by Mr. McEwuen seconded by Mr. Papandreas and approved by unanimous vote, the minutes of the regular meeting of June 8, 2005 were approved as presented.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Ordinance Passed to Increase Fines and Reduce Tows:

Mr. Arnold said City Council passed the ordinance for fine increases in tow-away-zones and will be enforced once new signs are installed. Allegheny Power will be upgrading the lighting in Lot E allowing the Parking Authority to install lighted signs that will blink at night. There will be some initial maintenance cost for this project but it will be worth it. Mr. Arnold said this ordinance should create enough incentive to make people leave the parking lot by 2:00 A.M.

Mr. Fortuna said people are concerned with the increase $7.50 to $100. Mr. Arnold reminded the Authority the $100 ticket is only for lots that close at night (Lot E). Mr. McEwuen agreed that the additional signs and the two blinking signs would help solve the problem.

Illegal Parking in the Wharf District:

There is an ongoing problem with illegal parking in the Wharf District. Mr. Arnold requested the City Manager look into the problem. Cohen’s Furniture once used the vacant lot next to their building for customer parking. Since the closing of the Cohen business the lot was not brought up to code. Ever since Oliverio’s Restaurant moved to the Wharf the vacant lot is being used for parking.

The City is currently installing brick pavers on Wharf Street next to Cohen’s vacant lot. Mr. Papandreas asked why the City installed a curb cut into the Cohen lot. He said he went to Oliverio’s Restaurant and noticed vehicles parked on the sidewalks and other illegal places within the area. He agreed that there is a parking problem in the Wharf.

Maintenance Projects in Public Safety Garage and Pleasant Street Deck:

The maintenance project for the Public Safety garage and the Pleasant Street parking deck is underway. Upon inspecting the Spruce Street garage it was determined that ten additional joints on the lower level will also need repaired, increasing the cost by $13,000. The Spruce Street parking garage will close on Monday, July 18^th for two weeks and will not be completed in time for the Mountain Fest Motorcycle Rally. The work should be finished by the first of August and repairs to Lot D should begin. Lot D will have a gravel-mixed top coating applied to the top level of the garage.

NEW BUSINESS:

Review Rate Structure on Event Parking Program:

The Parking Authority currently has two event parking rates, which includes $1 for two-hour parking and $2 for all day. Mr. Arnold questioned whether $2 was sufficient for all day parking. On July 4^th the Authority offered all day parking for $2 and had to pay employees overtime to monitor it.

Mr. Fortuna said the Parking Authority is running a business and the money generated is used to pay expenses and would like to increase the all-day parking to $5.

After a brief discussion it was moved by Mr. Papandreas, seconded by Mr. McEwuen and approved by unanimous vote to change the event rates as follow: 4-hour event parking (parades) will be $2 per day and all-day event parking will be $5.

Mr. Fortuna asked about the United Way’s Greatest Garage Sale. Mr. Arnold said the Parking Authority donates the garage to the United Way for the day and event parking is not offered. Mr. Papandreas said the Parking Authority is basically sponsoring the garage sale event and should be recognized as such. He would like to send a letter to United Way requesting that all fliers and written material state that the event is sponsored by both the United Way and Morgantown Parking Authority.

Mr. McEwuen agreed that the Parking Authority is running a business therefore it should officially change its name to “Morgantown Parking Service”. He said there is no State law that prohibits the changing of the name. The official name would remain Morgantown Parking Authority on the letterhead and other correspondents but change to Morgantown Parking Service on everything else. He said it would cost very little to change the name and to improve the Parking Authority’s image. Mr. Papandreas suggested changing the name to “Park Morgantown”.

After a brief discussion it was moved by Mr. Papandreas, seconded by Mr. McEwuen to consider a name change from Morgantown Parking Authority to Park Morgantown. Mr. Fortuna suggested the Authority members research this and vote on it when all members are present.

Willey Street Project:

According to a recent Parking and Transportation study the Wiley Street project is becoming more viable for WVU. At meeting Mr. Boroff attended President Hardesty spoke for ten minutes to WVU staff on the importance garage on Wiley Street.

The Square at Falling Run project will be privatized and financed by a company in Atlanta, Georgia. This will take the Parking Authority out of the equation and will allow for the Wiley Street garage project to proceed. Mr. Arnold has been working with Mr. Boroff on the funding for this project. He will meet with Tim Haus Associates during the week of July 18^th. They are currently involved in a 500-car garage with retail shops on the ground level.

With the current footprint of the Wiley Street lot the garage should have approximately 652 spaces. If the Authority chooses to include office spaces on top of the garage it may lose fifty spaces. Offices on top of the garage will help with maintenance and keep the garage in good condition. Spaces on top of the garage will depend on how it lookswhen constructed. Mr. Arnold wants the garage to be aesthetically pleasing.

Mr. Papandreas and Mr. McEwuen both agreed that the Parking Authority should not be in the rental business therefore they are not in favor of retail spaces in the garage. They are however are in favor of leasing spaces to the University perhaps for a downtown police area or to Main Street Morgantown. Mr. McEwuen would like to proceed with this project.

OTHER MATTERS:

Business Owners and Employees Parking on High Street

Mr. Papandreas said there are several individuals downtown that constantly park on High Street. Both Phil Magro and Steve Shuman park all day on the 200 block of High Street while AA, owner of the Mediterranean Market, parks in front of his store on the 300 block of High Street. A majority of the time they have money in their meters however the biggest problem is the lack of turnover for those spaces.

Mr. Papandreas suggested that the Parking Authority consider increasing the hourly rate on High Street. Mr. McEwuen said people like the convenience of parking on High Street and to some people it wouldn’t matter how high the hourly rate is. Mr. Arnold suggested making High Street “Customer Parking Only” and to tow employees and business owners if they are parked there.

Mr. Papandreas is concerned with Pita Pit’s delivery drivers who park too close to the corner of Fayette and High Street. Mr. Fortuna said he was not in favor of the courtesy spaces that were recently created in front of Pita Pit. Mr. Arnold said that next year when the City is doing the streetscape he would like to see meters on that side of the street.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business Mr. McEwuen moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Papandreas and approved by unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 4:50 P.M.

_____________________________ ______________________________

DATE Ernest Fortuna, Chairman

Prepared by: _____________________________________

Dianna L. Kovalcheck