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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-05-24 work session1 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION, MAY 24, 2021 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Carrie Tergin called the May 24, 2021 City Council Work Session to order at 5:31 P.M. ROLL CALL The f ollowing Councilmembers were present for roll-call: Present: Fitzwater, Lester, Schreiber, Spencer, Spicer, and Ward Absent: Hensley, Kemna, Vogt, Wiseman ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Ward and seconded by Councilmember Lester to adopt the agenda. The motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Wiseman arrived at the meeting at 5:33 P.M. UPDATE ON AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING City Administrator Steve Crowell presented an update on the American Rescue Plan Act Funding. The City has received the first of two funding allocations. The first amount, $3,793,290.50 has been received. The second allocation will be received sometime within a year of the first allocation. Staff continues to attend training webinars that provide guidance on how the funds can be spent. The U.S. Treasurer’s office has put out an interim final rule, but is continuing to take comments and will revise guidance. PARKING GARAGE UPDATE This work session was scheduled to discuss prior parking studies and bill 2021 -003 related to a possible new parking garage in downtown Jefferson City. The City Counc il did not intend to take any action on the bill at this work session. Matt Morasch, Director of Public Works gave a presentation on prior parking studies and an update on a potential new parking garage in downtown. During and after the presentation, Mr. Morasch and Britt Smith, Director of Public Works Operations answered City Councilmembers’ questions. Councilmember Wiseman asked about the condition of the Jefferson Street garage and if there are height restrictions. Mr. Morasch indicated maintenance has continued on the two-story garage. There isn’t necessarily a maximum height requirement, but the footprint for that garage is too small 2 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION, MAY 24, 2021 to allow for adding a driving lane, and parking; therefore, it’s not cost effective to add more levels. Councilmember Spencer expressed his concern with the potential of damaging historic buildings nearby when demolishing the warehouse on the proposed site. Mr. Morasch referenced the most recent, careful demolition of 200 E. High Street. He felt confident that it could be done. Councilmember Spencer stated that he’s also concerned of potential damage during the new construction, not just the demolition. Councilmember Spencer mentioned that he had walked through the Madison Street garage earlier in the day, and he was very worried about the condition of that garage. Mr. Morasch briefly addressed the maintenance that has occurred and would need to be done to maintain the garage. He said the work is very intrusive and it’s hard to conduct maintenance and maintain parking availability in the garage. His hope is to have the new garage available to shift customers to that garage while major maintenance can be done on the Madison Street garage. Councilmember Wiseman asked what the estimated cost is to tear down the warehouse on the proposed garage site. Mr. Morasch said the department has a planning level number of $100,000 based on experience with 200 E. High Street. Councilmember Spencer noticed there were two proposed sites that were “neck-and- neck in the 2019 parking study. Is it possible to construct the garage at the other site (Site B)? Mr. Morasch said the City had pursued Site B many times over the years; however, the bank was not interested in selling their property to the City for a new garage. Councilmember Spicer asked how long ago an appraisal was done on the proposed property. Mr. Morasch said the most recent property appraisals were conducted in 2019. Councilmember Ward asked if there were any known developers or individuals whom have been interested in property on High Street, to restore or renovate, but decided not to do that because of parking issues. Mr. Morasch said parking is always a consideration for development. He noted that Wymore Place apartments has submitted a letter of support for a new parking garage. Although Wymore Place did restore the apartments, they did question where their tenants could park. The City Council at the time passed a code allowing more parking in front of the building. That’s one example. Mayor Tergin listed a few other instances. Haute Salon moved from their downtown location because there was no longer term parking available for clients visiting longer than 2-hour parking. There have been a few developers looking at the JC Penney building for possible office space, but they couldn’t find a place where the workers would park. Mr. Morasch indicated that there are residential developers that have expressed a need for more downtown parking to attract potential buyers/residents. The 3 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION, MAY 24, 2021 Convention and Visitors Bureau moved their location due to lack of parking. When developers were wanting to renovate the Governor’s Hotel Office building, it was contingent upon the City providing parking in the Madison Street garage. Councilmember Fitzwater asked if there are any businesses that provide parking vouchers. Mr. Smith said Madison’s restaurant and a few law firms do offer vouchers ranging from 1 hour to the amount of time needed. It’s a customer decision on the amount of time on their part. Councilmember Fitzwater also felt that this would be a good time to begin discussion on the meter rates as a part of this process, and reevaluate our entire parking structure. He asked if the numbers of the study propose 100% occupancy and how many of the spaces are occupied in the City’s current garage. Mr. Morasch did agree with reviewing the parking structure. Mr. Smith stated that of approximately 540 spaces, the City would take 400 leased customers and the rest hourly. These are rounded numbers. The City is currently operating in approximately the 350-360 range. Mr. Morasch said that per Councilmember Fitzwater, the Chair of the Public Works & Planning Committee, Public Works would go over the current parking code in the next committee meeting. Councilmember Wiseman asked if funds from the American Rescue Plan could be used to enhance parking, i.e. touchless parking in the City. Mr. Morasch said rates would need to be raised to cover the cost of the touchless provider service. PUBLIC COMMENT Robert Kraus, owner of the property with the warehouse for proposed garage site, spoke in favor of the garage. Jack Deeken, 236 S. Bluff Street, spoke in favor of the garage if the state was also going to be a customer and could be self-funded. He said originally, he was against it if it is to strictly support uptown retail and restaurants. Mr. Deeken proposed the idea of diagonal parking on Jefferson Street. Angela Nale, Downtown Association secretary, planning committee for Thursday Night Live and Salute to America, as well as an employee of a downtown busin ess. She spoke in favor of the garage to support local events and festivals, as well downtown businesses. The Downtown Association has provided a letter of support. Mayor Tergin noted that after listening to public comment it’s a good representation of the mixed-use potential of this parking garage. CONTINUED COUNCIL DISCUSSION Councilmember Fitzwater asked Mr. Morasch to clarify, based on Mr. Deeken’s comments, that the decision for a parking garage is based on what our City needs, 4 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION, MAY 24, 2021 not what the state needs. Mr. Morasch agreed. The primary focus is for the City, but it should be noted that if the state would like to lease spaces in the garage, the City would be open to an agreement. Councilmember Spencer said there’s just a place holder/estimate for the Madison Street garage repair. He asked if there is a way to get a better number for that cost. Mr. Morasch said there would have to be a study before those numbers could be more definitive. Councilmember Wiseman asked if we could do the project without the warehouse property, and if not, why? Mr. Morasch replied that it could not be done without that property due to cost/space efficiency. Councilmember Spencer asked if adding floors to the Madison Street garage was an option. Mr. Morasch and Mr. Smith said information has shown that due to the age of the structure it would probably require a demolition and rebuild at this point. It’s not impossible but would be very expensive. Councilmember Wiseman asked City Attorney Ryan Moehlman what condemnation would look like for the warehouse property. Mr. Moehlman said it would be a 6 month to 1-year long process, possibly longer if decisions are appealed. In conclusion, Mayor Tergin said the discussion would continue at the next City Council. If the public has any questions, please reach out to your councilmembers. If City Councilmembers have questions, please reach out to Staff so questions can be answered at the next City Council meeting. ADJOURNMENT With no further discussion, a motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember Wiseman, seconded by Councilmember Lester, and approved unanimously at 7:03 P.M.