MORGANTOWN PARKING AUTHORITY

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Regular Meeting

The regular meeting of the Morgantown Parking Authority was held at 3:00 P.M., Wednesday, September 12, 2007, in the Conference Room at the Public Safety Building.

PRESENT:  Vice-Chairman Bill Byrne, Jeanne Hagan, Charlie McEwuen, and Tom Arnold.

ABSENT:   Chairman Ernest Fortuna and George Papandreas.

OTHERS PRESENT:  None.

            Vice-Chairman Bill Byrne called the meeting to order at 3:05 P.M.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

            Upon a motion by Mr. McEwuen, seconded by Ms. Hagan and approved by unanimous vote, the minutes of the regular meeting of August 8, 2007 were approved as presented.  

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Semi Annual Meeting with Merchants and Property Owners:

            As a result of the semi annual meeting with the merchants and property owners the Parking Authority has been working with the WV Junior College on a permit program for its students.  So far there have been fifteen students that have purchased parking permits in Lot D on Pleasant Street.  This permit program will free up parking spaces in Lot E. 

Update on Parking Garage Message Sign Program:

            Mr. Arnold has been working with CTR Systems on purchasing scrolling signs for the garages.  The signs will provide information to the public and will notify them about the availability of spaces in the garage and if the garage is full it will let them know if there is available spaces in the other garage.  Since the beginning of the WVU fall semester the University Avenue parking garage has been selling out and the full light then turns on.  The software is outdated so Mr. Arnold has put this project on hold to wait for the software update. 

Ordinance to Raise Fines and Establish Zone Parking to Target Business Owners, Employees, and Resident Student:

Main Street Morgantown is interested in zone parking for the 200-400 block of High Street, Lot B and also Lot E with a graduating fine structure of $5, $10, and $25.  The purchase of new enforcement handhelds have made it possible for the graduating fine structure to be accomplished.  Mr. Arnold has spoken with the City Attorney regarding this issue and it was expressed by Mr. Fanok that the merchants should police themselves and not park at the meters in front of their stores.

Since the “Customer Friendly Zone’ is an initiative of Main Street Morgantown Mr. Arnold would like Main Street to approach City Council to endorse it.  Mr. Arnold will determine how the ordinance will be written and how the zones are established.  He doesn’t want to discourage the public from shopping downtown as a result of this ordinance therefore; the Parking Authority will advertise this in the newspaper.  The problem Main Street Morgantown is seeing is different businesses and professionals move their vehicles up or back one space.  Also, there are residents who live on High Street that often park overnight on the street and pay the meter after 9 AM.  The Street Department did not replace the “Street Sweeping” signs therefore the Police Department can not enforce the street cleaning ordinance.

Mr. McEwuen moved, seconded by Ms. Hagen and approved by unanimous vote to proceed with the ordinance “Customer Friendly Zone

NEW BUSINESS:

Ordinance to Enforce On-Street 2-Hour Parking for 24 Hours:

            The proposed ordinance to enforce on-street two-hour parking for 24 hours is an ordinance that will not allow vehicles to park overnight for more than two hours at two-hour on-street meters.  This ordinance is particularly important on High Street because on any given night there can be up to eighteen vehicles that park between midnight and 9 AM restricting cleaning services. 

Mr. McEwuen suggested signs be placed on the street informing people that there is no parking from 4 AM to 6 AM for street cleaning.  Mr. Arnold said the Parking Authority doesn’t have the authority to enforce the time restriction on the street that is the reason for the ordinance.  He said this is not a revenue issue but an issue that is aimed to get people off the street for street cleaning.  Mr. Byrne said the Parking Authority doesn’t want to collect any fines for this but it is the only way we can shape behaviors of those individuals who is using the street as a parking lot from midnight to 9 AM.  This will help to get the message that we are trying to create a customer friendly zone. 

Mr. Arnold said this ordinance is different from item agenda item C under Old Business.  This ordinance will make parking from 9 AM to midnight be 24 hours on the two hour spaces.  Mr. Byrne asked if this would take away the free overnight parking on the street.  Mr. Arnold said this will only affect the two hour on-street meters not the 10 hour meters.  Mr. Byrne said it seems that if the people are using the main customer areas as parking lots then just as Mr. McEwuen said the proper answer is to place signs that restricts parking for certain hours for street cleaning.  Mr. Arnold said the Parking Authority doesn’t have the authority to enforce the time restriction on the street; it is up to the Police Department to issue the ticket after 4 AM.  Mr. Byrne said the Parking Authority should recommend to City Council to place signs that restrict parking for street cleaning. 

Mr. Byrne questioned how this would be enforced because no one puts money in the meter after midnight and how would the officer know when the meter was expired to give a ticket.  Mr. Arnold said if parking is restricted between 4 AM and 6 AM then there shouldn’t be an issue.  Mr. Byrne corrected Mr. Arnold and said the time frame is 4 AM to 9 AM.  Mr. Arnold said this ordinance would not affect downtown customers such as those patrons who stop at Slight Indulgence for coffee at 8 AM.

Mr. Arnold will meet with Public Works Department to determine what the street cleaning hours are because it may be as early as 3 AM.  He will inform the Police Department that the Street Department can’t clean some of the spaces on the streets due to vehicle parking there and ask that they monitor the area.

Director Taking on Extra Duties as Contract Compliance Officer:

            Mr. Arnold was asked by the City Manager and a few Council members to take on some extra duties to assist with the waste contract compliance for City Council.  Mr. Byrne said this recommendation came about at a City Council meeting in which they wanted to hire a Contract Compliance Officer within the City and Mr. Byrne recommended Mr. Arnold for the position because of his background with BFI. 

The Solid Waste Advisory Board was originated from the original BFI Plan from fourteen years ago.  There are numerous issues that are now being addressed in the new contract with Allied Waste that will take affect October 15^th for five years.  One such issued is the cleanup of any debris that is left after the garbage is collected.  Allied Waste will set aside funds in an account that will allow City Council to withdraw from the account when there is an occurrence with debris. 

            The new position that Mr. Arnold will hold will not affect his ability to perform his work or time spent from the Parking Authority.  He will alter his work schedule from 8 AM – 5 PM and will now work 6 AM to 5 PM, approximately 10 hours per week.  Mr. Arnold has long and short-term goals for this. 

            Allied Waste went to the Public Service Commission and was granted a Common Carrier Certificate that limits the City’s ability to contract with other waste management facilities.  With the conditions of the new contract the City will try to alleviate the problems of the past.

OTHER MATTERS:  None.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business Mr. McEwuen moved, Ms. Hagen seconded and the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 P.M.

_____________________________              ______________________________

                           DATE                                          Bill Byrne, Vice-Chairman

Prepared by:  _____________________________________

                                      Dianna L. Kovalcheck