MORGANTOWN PARKING AUTHORITY

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Regular Meeting

 

The regular meeting of the Morgantown Parking Authority was held at 3:00 P.M., Wednesday, March 14, 2007, in the Conference Room at the Public Safety Building.

 

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

        Tom Arnold.

 

ABSENT:   Chairman Ernest Fortuna.

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  None.

 

            Vice-Chairman Bill Byrne called the meeting to order at 3:10 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 February 14, 2007 were approved as presented.  

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Bus Transfer Station (update):

 

On Thursday, March 1st the City of Morgantown hosted a meeting with the Downtown merchants and property owners concerning the bus transfer station that was proposed for Lot B.  Mr. Arnold attended the meeting and said that it was an excellent, well-managed meeting and was well attended by concern citizens who voiced their concerns about the proposed location.   

 

Mr. Bruffy would like an analysis on where the bus transfer station should be located in the future and what the impact it would have on the downtown.   Mr. Arnold will continue to follow the status of the bus terminal and where it will be relocated.  He will meet once a month with West Virginia University and the Transit Authority on future parking issues.

 

Renter’s Association Meeting:

 

            On February 22nd Mr. Arnold met with the Renter’s Association to discuss the Parking Authority’s initiative to inventory and manage parking for the student in the B4 Zone.  The members of the Association were acceptable to the Parking Authority’s initiatives to get tenant parking downtown under control.    Since the meeting was a success he would like to meet with them on a regular basis (every 1-3 months). 

 

            Mr. Arnold has been working with area landlords who have apartments in the downtown.  The landlords will be given the first opportunity to get their tenants into the garage with a permit. 

 

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Director Addressing the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization:

 

Mr. Arnold will be attending the MPO meeting on Thursday, March 22nd to address the members in the Public Portion concerning parking, park and ride, and public transportation in the downtown. 

 

New Enforcement Program:

 

            Mr. Arnold informed the Authority that he plans to purchase a new parking enforcement software and handhelds for approximately $40,000.  The current parking program is 13 years old and the hardware is out of production.  Recently the Parking Authority staff attended a presentation on new enforcement technology and was impressed with the presentation.  The new technology will allow for plate recognition (without having to manually input data) for each citation. 

 

The enforcement program that was purchased 13 years ago cost over $50,000 with a yearly maintenance agreement over $7,500.  This new enforcement program will cost $40,000 and the yearly maintenance agreement will be under $3,500. 

 

New Garage Signs:

 

            The Parking Authority is looking for digital signs for the entrance to the Spruce Street and the University Avenue parking garages.  The signs will inform motorists of how many spaces are available in each facility and will also have a programmable scrolling message board to display additional information.  Mr. Arnold presented information on the type of sign he is interested in.  Two signs will cost $19,000 plus an additional $7,000 to tie the signs into the current CTR gate access system.

 

            Mr. McEwuen stated that the signs are need to inform motorist whether or not there is an available parking space in the garage because he has witnessed a vehicle backing up and turning around at the entrance because the garage was full.  The current sign requires the vehicle to turn into the entrance of the garage before the motorist is made aware of the garage being full.  Mr. Papandreas also would like to see the signs placed on High Street letting people know how many spaces are available in each garage.  

 

OTHER MATTERS: 

 

Security Cameras in the Parking Garages:

 

            Mr. Papandreas asked about security cameras in the parking garages.  Mr. Arnold said he would like to install cameras in the pay stations and at the gates.  He said he was concerned with the liability of the cameras if they are not being recorded or what the liability is to make sure all blind spots are monitored.  Mr. Byrne said that as long as it is not posted that there is 24 hours surveillance then there should not be an issued.  Mr. Arnold said the cameras in the garages were removed because the optic fibers had been cut. 

 

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

            The Parking Authority upon a motion by Mr. Papandreas, seconded by Mr. McEwuen and approved by unanimous vote went into Executive Session at 4:15 P.M., pursuant to 6-9A-4 of the Open Government Proceedings Act specifically subsection 9 to consider matters involving the purchase, sale, or lease of property, the investment of Public Funds or other matters involving commercial competition, which if made public might adversely affect the financial or other interest of the City or this Parking Authority.

 

            There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 P.M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________              ______________________________

                           DATE                                                  Ernest Fortuna, Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:  _____________________________________

                                      Dianna L. Kovalcheck