MORGANTOWN PARKING AUTHORITY

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Regular Meeting

The regular meeting of the Morgantown Parking Authority was held at 3:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 9, 2008, in the Conference Room at the Public Safety Building.

PRESENT:  Vice-Chairman Bill Byrne, Charlie McEwuen, George Papandreas, Jeanne Hagan, and

        Tom Arnold.

ABSENT:   Chairman Ernest Fortuna.

OTHERS PRESENT:  None.

            Chairman Charlie McEwuen called the meeting to order at 3:00 P.M.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

            Upon a motion by Mr. Papandreas, seconded by Ms. Hagan and approved by unanimous vote, the minutes of the regular meeting of December 12, 2007 were approved as presented.  

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Open Permit Lot-A for Evening and Weekend Use:

            At the December 12, 2007 Parking Authority meeting it was approved to accept City Council’s recommendation to change Lot-A on Spruce Street to public parking from 5 P.M. to 3 A.M.  The lot will remain permit parking from 3 A.M. to 5 P.M.  Mr. Arnold said new parking meters would be installed as soon as the meter poles have been cut and painted.  Each meter will have a sticker next to the coin slot listing the time regulations for the lot.  The Parking Authority Maintenance Department is currently working on signage for the lot that will not be confusing to the public. 

Ordinance to Enforce Street Meters 24 Hours:

            An ordinance to enforce street meters 24 hours a day was passed by City Council in November 2007.  The Parking Authority will place stickers and other notifications on each meter to inform the public of this change.  The Parking Authority enforcement officer will issue warnings until the public gets use to the program changes.  Mr. Arnold hopes that the stickers will be ready before the students return from Christmas break. 

NEW BUSINESS:

Review Holiday Parking:

            During the Christmas holiday the Parking Authority offered the same parking program that was in place for the Thanksgiving holiday.  The gates to the parking garages were opened the evening before Thanksgiving and reopened the following Monday morning.  The Parking Authority opted to open up the gates to the parking garages allowing free parking; the free parking also included the streets and lots. 

Mr. Arnold said there was only one complaint about the free parking and that person was a permit holder who was mad because he didn’t get free parking during this time and had to pay for his permit.   Since the holiday parking program worked out very well Mr. Arnold would like to offer it again next year. 

Customer Service Brainstorming:

            Mr. Arnold, along with the Parking Authority staff together has been brainstorming on ideas that will help with customer service.  The issues that are being discussed have been broken down into categories; they include maintenance, enforcement, operations, and customer service.  Mr. Arnold asked the Authority members for their ideas on ways to improve customer service and the image of the Parking Authority.

            The first item discussed was maintenance and the items of concern were:

§ Upgrade the Steiner (snow removal equipment)

§ Upgrade the 1999 GMC truck

§ Purchase core bits – 4”, 6”, 10”

§ Purchase new generator (15,000 watt)

§ Install a canopy over Spruce Street gate entrance

Mr. Arnold asked the Authority members for items they would like to add to the maintenance list.  Mr. Papandreas said he has seen motorcycles illegally exiting the Spruce Street garage by using the walkway next to the soda machines.  He would like to see posts or barricades that would prevent motorcycles from fitting through the walkways.  He also suggested installing a camera system that would help reduce the number of people who try to leave the garage without paying.  Mr. McEwuen would like to see a larger help button decal on the pay stations. 

The second item discussed was enforcement issues:

§ Meter pole information stickers

§ Smaller vehicle for nighttime enforcement officers

Mr. Byrne asked if an energy audit has been done for the proposed vehicle.  The audit could help reduce the gas consumption of the vehicle and he also asked if a natural gas vehicle was an option.  Mr. Arnold said an audit hasn’t been done for the proposed vehicle; however, he is concerned with the availability of natural gas.  Mr. McEwuen would like to see the parking spaces on the streets marked better because people can’t tell if they are in the parking space correctly, therefore, they are parking over the yellow line.  Mr. Papandreas would like to see better/adequate signs for the lots and also would like to have signs places between the meters.

            There were a few items discussed regarding the operations and office needs:

§ Phone for enforcement desk needs programmed

§ Purchase color printer

§ Purchase server for Integrated Parking Program

In the fall there was bulletproof glass installed at the front customer window in the Parking Authority office.  The cost for this was paid from the amount paid by the Parking Authority for its yearly rent. 

            The final items discussed was customer service:

§ Software that would allow permit customers to be contacted (email customers)

§ Promote quick pass program

§ Promote cash key program

§ Give customer benefit of the doubt

§ Customer service tickets for customers who have been inconvenienced

§ More holiday signage

§ Clear policy on selling permits (student, downtown employee, nighttime parkers)

OTHER MATTERS:

Public Relations Brochure:

            Mr. McEwuen and Mr. Byrne both asked about the progress of the public relations program.  They would like to see money allocated for public relations that would cover the cost for articles and advertisements in the new paper as well as parking brochures informing the public what the Parking Authority does and why.  Mr. Arnold said he would like to have the money that the Parking Authority currently pays the City for rent and fire fee go toward that cost.  If that weren’t possible then the Authority would have to raise revenue to cover the $20,000 per year cost for advertisement.  Ms. Hagan suggested inviting Ms. Kim Polumbo, a marketing professional, to attend a Parking Authority meeting for public relations insight.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business Mr. Papandreas moved, Mr. McEwuen seconded and the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 P.M.

_____________________________              ______________________________

                           DATE                                          Bill Byrne, Vice-Chairman

Prepared by:  _____________________________________

                                      Dianna L. Kovalcheck