Mobile GR Commission Meeting

Mobile GR Commission 50 Ottawa Ave. NW Minutes Packet Grand Rapids, MI 49503 February 3, 2022 @ 12:00 AM Mobile GR and Parking Services Conference Room I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 12:00 AM by Chairperson Lynee Wells PRESENT: Lunger, Wells, Winn, Monoyios, Patton, Parkes, Clark, Nyenhuis, Bennett, Kasper, Naramore, Gilles, Terpstra, Miguel-Cipriano, Kimura, Anderson ABSENT: Jones (Excused), Judd (Excused), Mathis (Excused), Batzer (Excused), DeLong (Excused) II. Approval of Minutes Approval of Minutes from December 2, 2021 RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] YEAS: Lunger, Wells, Monoyios, Patton, Parkes, Clark, Nyenhuis EXCUSED: Jones, Judd, Winn, Mathis III. Public Comment on Agenda Items IV. Action Items 1. Resolution authorizing a lease and license agreement with K & K Investors Inc. for use as a public parking surface lot • Jennifer Kasper summarizes the Action Item: Resolution authorizing a lease and license agreement with K & K Investors for public parking lot • Commissioner Wells asks if anything is changing, or if this is just extending the terms of the lease. • Kasper confirms that this is just extending the terms of the lease. • Commissioner Lunger asks if this agreement has been revenue positive. • Kasper says that the costs of construction for the lot have not been covered by the operational revenue yet, and if the agreement is not extended the property owner would have to pay those remaining costs. • Josh Naramore adds that it has not been as popular as the department hoped it would be. Generated 2/23/2022 01:01 PM Mobile GR Commission Meeting Full Page 2 February 3, 2022 RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS] YEAS: Lunger, Wells, Winn, Monoyios, Patton, Parkes, Clark, Nyenhuis EXCUSED: Joseph D. Jones, Kevin Judd, Kris Mathis V. Discussions 1. New Commissioner Introduction: Craig Clark • Commissioner Clark introduces himself to the commission. • Commissioners and staff welcome Commissioner Clark. 2. Welcome Craig Hubert as new Meter Enforcement Supervisor for Mobile GR • Jennifer Kasper introduces Craig Hubert as the new Parking Enforcement Supervisor. • Hubert introduces himself. • Commissioners welcome Hubert. 3. Social Zone/Parklet Proposed Policy Changes • Justin Kimura summarizes the Discussion Item: Social Zone/Parklet Policy Updates. • Commissioner Parkes asks if there is a consistent design for the parklets. • Kimura responds that there are suggested designs, to try to keep things consistent, safe and accessible. • Josh Naramore adds that there is work being done on a template system, that would allow for more consistent and simple designs. • Commissioner Wells asks if this program is specific to downtown, or will it be available city wide. • Kimura responds that this program will be available city wide. • Commissioner Wells asks if the approval process will be streamlined. • Kimura responds that the process will resort back to how it was handled prior to the pandemic, a standard permit approval process. • Commissioner Clark asks what the departments role in the permit process is. • Naramore responds that the department is the reviewer for the permits. • Commissioner Wells asks if this would apply to alleys and if this can be used by retail businesses also. • Naramore responds that he will look into if applies to alleys. In regard to retail it is a big part of the next stage of the program, as there has been a lot of interest in other business types being involved. • Commissioner Lunger comments that focusing on what success would look like with the program will be important in planning it’s future. • John Bartlett adds that a good example of a successful outcome of the program is the Garage Bar’s example. The street is undergoing a vital streets project and they will be building the new curbs around the Garage Bar’s outside eating area, making it a permeant change. Generated 2/23/2022 01:01 PM Mobile GR Commission Meeting Full Page 3 February 3, 2022 4. Uptown Pay Station Deployment Three Year Recap • Josh Naramore and Jennifer Kasper summarizes the Discussion Item: Uptown Pay Station Deployment 3 Year Recap • Commissioner Monoyios asks what the reason for the big dip in revenue is in November – December 2021. • Kasper responds that it is most likely due to the holiday season. • Commissioner Wells asks if the business owners at the meeting had similar experiences. • Naramore responds that not a lot of business owners attended the meetings, most of whom attended represented office businesses who were concerned with having to pay metered parking to go to work. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. Residential Parking Permit Program (RPP) Update • Erin Evenhouse summarizes the Discussion Item: Residential Parking Permit Program (RPP) Update RESULT: DISCUSSED 6. Special Event Sponsorship Update • Max Gilles summarizes the Discussion Item: Special Event Sponsorship Update. VI. Updates 1. February 2022 Project Updates • Josh Naramore highlights the Project Update focusing on the new elevator being installed in the Government Center Parking Ramp at City Hall. VII. Public Comment on Other Matters • Theresa Phillips provides public comment. Phillips is a 40+ year home owner in Grand Rapids. Phillips states that the process for handicapped signs needs to be tweaked. Phillips states that if someone visits in her area with a handicapped placard, they can park in the spot that took her information to be setup, leaving no parking spot for her to use to get to her house. Phillips also states that the handicapped signs have been fading, and had to reach out to a city worker to figure out the process on how to get it replaced. Phillips states that once she called it was replaced quickly, but asks that more information be available on how to get the signs replaced. • Commissioner Wells asks if there is any suggestions on how to better notify how the signs be replaced. • Phillips responds that putting something in 211 or 311 would be helpful, as they Generated 2/23/2022 01:01 PM Mobile GR Commission Meeting Full Page 4 February 3, 2022 did not have any information on the process when called. • Dean provides public comment. Dean comments that a lot of home owners in their area are renting out their homes to college students. This results in 4-5 cars being needed for each household. Dean states that they have set up a handicapped spot for their mother, but neighbors are constantly parking in the spot without authorization. Dean states that despite calling the police, nothing is done. Dean also asks how caregivers or visitors would be treated under the Residential Parking Permit Program. Dean states that because many of the neighbors do not follow the Odd-Even parking restrictions, they are unable to have their street plowed, which also causes issues for their parents. • Josh Naramore responds that he wants to be sure that Dean meets with staff after the meeting to coordinate on making parking complaints going forward, as Mobile GR is now responsible for taking those complaints instead of the Police Department. Naramore adds the Residential Parking Permit Program has permits for caregivers at no additional cost. • Dean states that there are a lot of issues at Campus School, with not only parking in no parking areas, but double parking. This results in it being very difficult to get around the area since the drive lanes are blocked. • Naramore responds that staff will follow up with GRPS staff and discuss the issue. • Commissioners and staff thank members of public for providing comments. VIII. Adjournment The meeting was closed at 1:10 PM Generated 2/23/2022 01:01 PM