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Legislation seeks to fix City’s parking problems, public perception
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Changes in the City’s parking policy could affect now people perceive Downtown, officials say.Drafted legislation could favorably alter how people perceive Downtown’s parking situation by adding flexibility in how the City can implement its policies, officials said Tuesday.
City Council President Bill Bishop and Council member Don Redman met with City Public Parking Officer Jack Shad, City Office of Economic Development Interim Director Paul Crawford and others to discuss the legislation, which proponents said will increase Downtown’s economic development.
The current form of the legislation details methods that include, but are not limited to, graduated parking meter rates, installation of technology to show open meter spaces, offering free or reduced rate parking, dismissing parking tickets, offering valet parking, increase marketing and signage efforts and offering long-term leases at City-owned facilities. The drafted legislation does not yet have a bill number.
Shad said that despite the abundance of parking, the perception of a problem exists, an idea Crawford also stated.
“We do have this perception that parking is a big issue in Downtown. And perception is reality,†Crawford said.
“We recognize the need for a parking plan,†Crawford said, indicating it needs to include available tools instead of physical structures.
He said the changes in language would allow the City to favorably respond to major employers that are looking to relocate Downtown and request a large number of spaces and seek long-term parking leases. He said both are unavailable in the current ordinance code.
“It allows us to address the market,†he said.
For discussion purposes, Bishop “threw a grenade†in the conversation by suggesting the idea of eliminating fees for on-street parking, making it free for up to two hours. In addition, he also suggested an idea of charging private vendors $1 a year per each spot in their lots, with the funds going toward signage and a wayfinding system.
He said technology allows for easier enforcement of the two-hour window â€" or whatever time would be determined â€" and it would afford people visiting Downtown ample time to eat or shop.
Shad said such a policy would require stringent enforcement policies and that it is his impression that it’s not the cost of parking that dissuades people from coming Downtown, but something else.
“Nothing turns people off of coming Downtown more than parking tickets,†Shad said.
The language within the proposed legislation would ease fine accruals on tickets. According to the current language, no late fees will be applied to any outstanding fee invoices for parking in City facilities for the first 30 days. After that, late fees will calculated at 50 percent of the original invoice amount if paid within 60 days and an additional 50 percent of the original invoice amount if paid thereafter.
Pam Smith, representative for EverBank Center owner Elad National Properties, attended the meeting and said the parking policy changes are needed to change perceptions and attract people and business Downtown. That includes changing the perception of businesses that employees don’t have available parking.
“They just need it to be comfortable,†she said, referring to parking. “We have to compete with the suburbs and parking.â€
dchapman@baileypub.com
356-2466
Bishop has the right idea. Let's hope and pray he can get everyone else on board.
Would this also require cleanup of the existing surface lots?
Many people don't like metered spaces, and don't feel safe in parking garages.
How about letting the city owned lots accept SunPass for payment? According to FDOT that's the system they will be using on their new express lanes and on Branan Field - Chaffee. I think the Orlando Airport does this.
QuoteWould this also require cleanup of the existing surface lots?
That was already adopted about a year ago.
^and they were given 3 years to comply. Not surprisingly, most will be waiting until 2 years and 6 months go by to do anything about it.
Quote from: dougskiles on August 29, 2012, 07:39:18 PM
^and they were given 3 years to comply. Not surprisingly, most will be waiting until 2 years and 6 months go by to do anything about it.
The eager beavers will wait 2 years 6 months, most will wait 2 years 11 months, then ask for an extension because they haven't had enough time to comply. An extension that will be granted, so as not hurt business and jobs.
Quote from: dougskiles on August 29, 2012, 07:39:18 PM
^and they were given 3 years to comply. Not surprisingly, most will be waiting until 2 years and 6 months go by to do anything about it.
Doug, Is there an ordinance number on this? Was this JEDC? DVI? City Council? Does this immediately go away with the new Authority? I'd say YES.
Having lived in Jax 40+ years, I agree with Charles. That's what happens anytime there's an unpopular ordinance. The opponents wait until just before it's to take effect and then sue or ask for an extension to drag it out longer. They don't do this right away, oh no, because that could cause the issue to be resolved and the ordinance to go into effect on time.
This isn't hard. Put plastic bags over the meters. Or just announce parking is free all the time and metered parking won't be enforced. To keep downtown workers from parking for free all day, instead of shoppers, make it two hour parking. That's what they used to do. There used to be people riding downtown on golf carts with yellow crayons on a long stick all day. They'd mark the tires of parked cars, and if they came back by two hours later and saw a car with a marked tire, the car got a parking ticket. Paying one person to do this to allow for two hour parking would be a cheap investment in downtown. It could be implemented in a matter of days while a longer term solution is worked out.
Quote from: Noone on August 29, 2012, 09:43:07 PM
Quote from: dougskiles on August 29, 2012, 07:39:18 PM
^and they were given 3 years to comply. Not surprisingly, most will be waiting until 2 years and 6 months go by to do anything about it.
Doug, Is there an ordinance number on this? Was this JEDC? DVI? City Council? Does this immediately go away with the new Authority? I'd say YES.
I don't believe there is anything in the DIA ordinance that would reverse the changes made in 2010-0901.
If anything, the new DIA should be motivated to enforce these requirements.
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Bill Type and Number: Ordinance 2010-901
Introducer/Sponsor: Council President at the Request of the Mayor
Date of Introduction: December 14, 2010
Committee(s) of Reference: R, LUZ
Date of Analysis: December 16, 2010
Type of Action: Ordinance Code Amendment
Bill Summary: This bill makes various Ordinance Code changes relative to surface lot parking in the downtown core. Section 656.131 is amended to require an exception for surface parking lot uses in specified downtown districts. Surface parking lots in the Central Civic Core are prohibited. Section 656.132 is corrected to reference “variances†rather than “exceptions†in the text. Zoning Code provisions concerning the Downtown Overlay Zone and Downtown District Regulations are revised. Definitions are amended, and the terms “Commercial Surface Parking Lot†and “Temporary Surface Parking Lot†are defined. Commercial parking lots are included as a permitted use in the Cathedral, Riverfront, and Southbank districts. Section 656.361.16 is amended to require current surface parking lot owners to meet specified design standards and licensing criteria prior to January 1, 2014, and to meet other specified licensing criteria prior to January 1, 2012. Certain existing accessory or commercial surface lot uses which are not allowed and are deemed legally conforming uses shall cease upon a change of property ownership. The requirements of Section 656.361.17 are made applicable to existing lots, and landscaping requirements based on parking spaces are revised. A new Section 656.361.24 is added relative to the licensing of surface parking lots, with license fees ranging from $150 to $450 based on capacity and with a site plan review fee of $250. Other provisions address signage, location of attendant buildings and ticket machines, charges, tickets, protection, police notification of missing or abandoned vehicles, use of sidewalk or streets, transfer of vehicles, maintenance, revocation or suspension of license, penalties, and posting of a bond. A new Section 656.361.25 is added relative to vacant lot regulations to create development and maintenance requirements for vacant downtown parcels. Temporary parking lot regulations are provided in a new Section 656.361.26, regulating those properties temporarily used for surface parking.
Background Information: Information from the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission states that these changes are necessary to improve the parking lots in the downtown core area.
Policy Impact Area: Planning and Zoning; Downtown Development; Parking
Fiscal Impact: Undetermined
Analyst: Campbell
Finally, someone has the right idea, get rid of paid parking altogether. That, combined with the one way streets, and exorbitant rents, is a main thing holding downtown back.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 30, 2012, 08:33:49 AM
Finally, someone has the right idea, get rid of paid parking altogether. That, combined with the one way streets, and exorbitant rents, is a main thing holding downtown back.
The 2-waying of streets was also talked about in that meeting. Both Bishop and Redman seemed to be very much in favor of (as well as everyone else in the room). It makes wonder - why is it taking so long to get this done?
They have automated license plate recognition systems to enforce time limited parking already. One system on a parking mobile and one enforcement person is all it would take.
Two way streets would also be great. At lease make all of the N/S streets two way liek they started to do with Laura. I also think they should make Main St two way like it should be instead of a 4 lane wide race track.
Additional motorcycle only parking would be nice with PROMINANT signage for it!!!
Quote from: dougskiles on August 30, 2012, 10:43:02 AM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 30, 2012, 08:33:49 AM
Finally, someone has the right idea, get rid of paid parking altogether. That, combined with the one way streets, and exorbitant rents, is a main thing holding downtown back.
The 2-waying of streets was also talked about in that meeting. Both Bishop and Redman seemed to be very much in favor of (as well as everyone else in the room). It makes wonder - why is it taking so long to get this done?
My guess is it's the money it would cost to re-stripe and replace/reconfigure traffic signals and signs.
Quote from: urbanlibertarian on August 30, 2012, 12:26:31 PM
Quote from: dougskiles on August 30, 2012, 10:43:02 AM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 30, 2012, 08:33:49 AM
Finally, someone has the right idea, get rid of paid parking altogether. That, combined with the one way streets, and exorbitant rents, is a main thing holding downtown back.
The 2-waying of streets was also talked about in that meeting. Both Bishop and Redman seemed to be very much in favor of (as well as everyone else in the room). It makes wonder - why is it taking so long to get this done?
My guess is it's the money it would cost to re-stripe and replace/reconfigure traffic signals and signs.
So instead, we give away $3.5 million for another parking garage downtown.
Probably, Libertarian, but meantime downtown still suffers. If we had a thriving downtown, how quick would pay back for restriping be? Oh, and good point, Doug. The $3.5 million would probably cover the whole thing.
That said, I remember when you had to have one way streets downtown, lest there be gridlock trying to get people out of downtown during rush hour. Those were the days.... :-)