Title
Resolution for Parking Rates for On-Street and Parking Lot Parking, Southwest Downtown Parking Garage and Restricted Long-Term Off-Street Parking (B)
This item involves a Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Gainesville, Florida; establishing maximum rates for off-street parking, parking meters, parking lots and parking garages in accordance with Chapter 26, Article III, Division 2, City of Gainesville Code of Ordinances; authorizing the City Manager to establish operational criteria for group rate parking; authorizing the City Manager to establish rates up to the maximum rate; providing a repealing clause; providing an immediate effective date.
Explanation
In December 2005, the City Commission established daytime group rates for the parking garage. The intent was to increase daytime usage of the garage by attracting downtown employees. The current group rate is a reduced fee of $25 per month, restricted to the hours of 7 A.M. to 7 P.M., and excluded special events. To date, no group rate purchases have been made at the garage. Discussions with potential users of the group rates determined that the time restriction on the group rate is a disincentive for its use. To make the group rate more attractive, it is recommended that the City Manager be authorized to (1) establish the monthly fee for group rates, not to exceed $40 per month, and (2) to establish the operational criteria (minimum number of individuals needed for a group, days of week/hours of day group rate parking is allowed, payment options, etc.) for group rate parking. With this flexibility, the City can respond to market conditions and should be successful in increasing daytime usage at the parking garage.
While researching this item, Public Works and the City Attorney's Office noted that the establishment of a rate for restricted long-term, off-street parking (permit parking) in city parking lots was inadvertently omitted from the Resolution the City Commission approved on November 22, 2004, when the current parking rates were established. To address this, the rates for restricted long-term, off-street parking have been included in the attached Resolution. The maximum rate is $30 per month. In addition, the current rates for on-street and off-street metered parking have been included in the Resolution for reference.
The establishment of parking rates for all paid parking should be driven by market conditions. This requires the City be able to quickly change parking rates if the need arises. The attached Resolution establishes the maximum parking rates and authorizes the City Manager to set the parking rate at or below the amount listed in the Resolution. This procedure will give the City Manager the authorization and flexibility to adjust parking rates (up to the established maximum) to market conditions.
Fiscal Note
Giving the City Manager the flexibility to respond to market conditions for establishing parking rates will allow the City to maximize parking revenues. There are no additional expenditures associated with this approach.
Recommendation
Recommended Motion: 1) The City Commission adopt the proposed Resolution.
Alternative Recommendation A: The City Commission decline the motion to adopt the proposed Resolution; however, the City Commission direct staff to return with an amendment to the existing Resolution(s) enabling the establishment of long-term, off-street parking rates.
Alternative Recommendation B: The City Commission decline the motion to adopt the proposed Resolution.