Finance Committee Page 2
August 17, 2016
ON THE QUESTION
Alderman Clemons
Parking in the garages on the top levels... what happens is because we have a snow emergency a lot of people
will park in the garages and the lower floors will get filled up. | know that people pay for the under parking but
what happens is that those that pay for the parking in the morning can’t get in there a lot of times because
there is not enough space. So if you are going to work and your company or you have paid for those parking
spaces you can’t park underneath because it’s full and then when you get to the top it’s not plowed. | don’t
see it on the list but | am wondering if the top of the garages are going to be included or how that problem is
going to be addressed going forward.
Mayor Donchess
So the issue is during the snow emergency when the garages are open people who do not lease spaces use
the garage and thereby forcing the people with monthly passes or whatever to move up to the top where there
is no snowplowing. Mr. Cummings, do you have any thoughts on that?
Director Cummings
The contract before you today does not speak to that very issue. This is for the surface lots. There is exhibit A
in your packet which outlines the areas which will be covered under this contract. The garages, as |
understand it, are handled separately and | will make note of it so we can address that going forward. My
understanding is that it is done internally.
Mayor Donchess
Okay, can you please look into that and report back to the committee and Alderman Clemons as to how that it
is handled and how maybe it can be done better?
Director Cummings
Yes.
Alderman Cookson
Why are these funds coming out of economic development?
Director Cummings
Just to quickly clarify, it’s not coming out of economic development’s general fund. Economic Development is
now the overseer, a higher level of the umbrella if you will; this is coming out of the parking funds.
Mayor Donchess
A short time ago we approved a change to put the parking function under economic development; hence this
becomes an economic development responsibility.
Alderman Siegel
Traditionally the DPW has only used this as a last resort but that was when they had control. Now that it’s not |
am hoping that we will still have that level of coordination because the hourly rates for this equipment are really
high, like crazy high. Can we all be assured that this is really a last resort and we are not going to be using this
unless we really have to?
