MORGANTOWN PARKING AUTHORITY

Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Regular Meeting

The special meeting of the Morgantown Parking Authority was held at 3:00 P.M., Wednesday, August 9, 2006, in the Conference Room at the Public Safety Building.

PRESENT: Chairman Ernest Fortuna, Vice-Chairman Bill Byrne, George Papandreas, Charlie

McEwuen and Tom Arnold.

ABSENT: Ron Bane.

OTHERS PRESENT: None.

Chairman Ernest Fortuna called the meeting to order at 3:10 P.M.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Upon a motion by Mr. Papandreas, seconded by Mr. Byrne and approved by unanimous vote, the minutes of the regular meeting of June 21, 2006 were approved as presented.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Kane Core Parking:

Mr. Arnold updated the Authority members on the status of satellite parking for the Kane Core project. The proposed satellite parking on Tower Lane in Westover was not approved by Westover’s City Council because the Westover City residents were concerned with an increase in vehicular traffic. He said the majority of the vehicles parking on Tower Lane would have been stored at the satellite-parking area and not used on a daily basis. Three Hundred satellite parking spaces are planned at the Mountain Line bus terminal in Westover. It is rumored that Mon County employees will park there and ride the bus to work. This satellite parking facility will create an increase in vehicular traffic because the vehicles will be driven on a daily basis.

Several property owners have contacted Mr. Arnold to offer their parcel of land for possible satellite parking. He is in favor of satellite parking for the residents of Riverview Court because there are other large residential projects being built in the downtown. The Summit Hall and Place Property proposed residential building would not provide for parking for its tenants. Panco (Panico) Properties is building an eleven-unit apartment building on Chestnut Street next to the K-C building.

Mr. Papandreas said that the proposed Kane Core project is zoned B-4 and the Parking Authority should have a parking plan in place before the building is constructed. Mr. Arnold said that Kane Core requires in its lease that all renters have permit parking. Kane Core will be attending the next City Council meeting and during the public portion of the meeting Mr. Arnold will speak on behalf of the Parking Authority in favor of Kane Core.

Update on University Avenue Parking Garage Sealing Project:

The sealing project for the University Avenue parking garage ran from June 15^th to July 15^th. All of the foyers were coated, cleaned and sealed and the project came in on budget. Mr. Byrne said he would like to see the exterior of the garage improved.

NEW BUSINESS:

Garage Usage for Events:

The United Way Annual Garage Sale went smoothly. Ms. Tina Zeff took over for Saundra
Britton and the event encountered very few problems. The Triathlon and Bike Fest, however, had major problems. During the two events parking was restricted for four days in the Wharf parking garage because vehicles could not enter or exit during the event. This severely affected the parking revenue for those four days.

Mr. Byrne suggested the Parking Authority develop an event-parking program. He would like to survey area colleges such as State College in Pennsylvania on its event-parking procedures. Mr. Arnold has spoken with State College in the past and was informed that they rent spaces out for event parking.

Student Parking Permit Program:

A new student parking permit program was discussed. The new program should help reduce the amount of fraud being committed by the overnight permit holders and should also improve the administration aspects of the program. The permit system has changed to a white form, pink form and green form depending on the time frame of the permit. The permit times are as follow:

White: 5 AM – 9 PM (sold monthly, 4 months, or yearly)

Pink: 7 AM – Midnight (sold by semester)

Green: 24 hours (sold by semester and requires a sticker & hangtag)

This new permit program will allow the Parking Authority a more efficient way to handle student parking.

Mr. Papandreas had concerns with the hourly rate for the permits being too low. The hourly rate for permits averages to .14 ¢ per hour while meter rates is .50¢ per hour. He would like to increase the proposed monthly rate on each of the garages. The fee for permit holders that are in the white permit time frame will not change. The fee for permits in the pink time frame will increase to $50 a month at the Wharf garage and $75 a month in the Spruce Street or University Avenue garage. The fee for permits in the green time frame will increase to $75 a month at the Wharf garage and $100 a month in the Spruce Street or University Avenue garage.

Mr. Papandreas moved, seconded by Mr. McEwuen, and approved by unanimous vote to increase the rate on student parking permits as follow: The fee for permits in the pink time frame will increase to $50 a month at the Wharf garage and $75 a month in the Spruce Street or University Avenue garage. The fee for permits in the green time frame will increase to $75 a month at the Wharf garage and $100 a month in the Spruce Street or University Avenue garage. The replacement fee for lost permits will be $50.

Discuss the Possible Change of Monthly Meeting Times:

Authority members had asked Mr. Arnold if the meeting times could be changed to an earlier time to help accommodate members with their business priorities. Mr. Papandreas and Mr. McEwuen said they were neutral about the proposed time change and they would be available if the meeting time were to change. Mr. Byrne was in favor of the time change and Mr. Fortuna member was against the change. The meeting time will remain the same.

OTHER MATTERS:

None.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 4:40 P.M.

_____________________________ ______________________________

DATE Ernest Fortuna, Chairman

Prepared by: _____________________________________

Dianna L. Kovalcheck