CR 92-242 Parking Restriction - 5th To 11th Ave
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Council Report: 92-242
November 30, 1992
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PARKING RESTRICTIONS - 5TH TO 11TH AVE.
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Proposed Act1on.
Staff recommends adoption of
to extend the 1 hour parking
5th and 11th Avenues. II
the following motion: "Move to deny the request
restriction on Mainstreet to 9:00 p.m. between
Overview.
In June Mr. Hayne Cho of Best Buy Liquors submitted a written request to
restrict parking on Mainstreet on his block to 30 minutes, 8 a.m.-10 p.m, 7
days a week. The request states that Best Buy Liquors, and surrounding
businesses which also require short term, one stop parking, are being treated
unfairly by customers of other businesses who dominate Mainstreet parking
after the current parking restriction ends at 6:00 p.m.
The request was then taken to the Business council, who referred it to the
Design Review committee for a recommendation. The ORC reviewed the issue and
suggested a meeting be scheduled between Mr. Cho and a few of the surrounding
businesses. At a subsequent Business Council meeting on October 15, 1992, Mr.
Chofs request was discussed and the comments of the DRe considered, with the
following motion being passed:
lfMotion to extend the 1 hour parking restriction on Mainstreet to 9:00
p.m. between 5th and 11th Avenues. II
.he Business Council motion has been considered by the Parking Committee, and
he Parking Committee has passed the following motion:
Primary
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"Recommend that the city Council deny the request to extend the 1 hour
parking restriction on Mainstreet to 9:00 p.m. between 5th and 11th
Avenues."
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Issues to consider.
What are the current parking restrictions between 5th - 11th Ave?
What businesses would a change such as this affect?
Is there adequate parking off of Mainstreet after 6 p.m. for
businesses with short term parking needs?
What businesses currently utilize Mainstreet parking after 6 p.m.
on a long term basis?
Why did the Business Council include all Mainstreet parking from
5th and 11th Avenues?
What cost would be associated with changing the signage to reflect
a change in the hour of restriction?
What are Police Department concerns relative to this request?
What is the basis for the staff recommendation?
How would this new restriction be enforced?
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supportinq Information.
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Paul T. st . man, ~ommunity Development
o Letter from Police Department
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Letter from Hayne Cho
Map
Specialist
Council Report 92-242
Parking 5th-11th Ave.
Page 2
4Itrimary Issues to Consider.
Based upon the information provided, the City Council has the following
issues to consider:
o What are the current parking restrictions between 5th - 11th Ave?
The parking restriction on Mainstreet between 5th and 11th Avenues currently
reads:
"1 hour parking, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. No parking 2 a.m. to 6 a.m."
The 1 hour limit was established to allow for easy and quick parking access
for customers utilizing businesses along Mainstreet.
o What businesses would a change such as this affect?
Bars would be probably the only type of business which would most often
require longer term parking needs after 6 p.m.
If the 1 hour parking restriction were changed to 9 p.m., as is being
requested, customers of bars such as Archies, Mainstreet, Vie's Red Door, and
Mitches Tavern, will no longer be able to utilize Mainstreet parking on a
.ong term basis after 6 p.m. Customers of these businesses would be required
o park in municipal lots until 9 p.m. at the rear entrances of these
businesses, rather than on Mainstreet.
There currently is adequate off street parking for these businesses in
municipal lots 200, 800, 700, and the ramp.
Additionally, a development project such as an entertainment type of facility
on the Suburban Chevrolet property, or the Rudy Luther block (7th - 8th),
would potentially create a demand for longer term parking beyond 6 p.m.
o Is there adequate parking off of Mainstreet after 6 p.m. for businesses
with short term parking needs?
The following businesses have made it known that they are affected by
customers of other businesses using Mainstreet for long term parking after 6
p.m.:
o Best Buy Liquors
o Broadway Pizza
o Abe's
o Boston Garden
There currently is adequate off street parking for these businesses in lots
~500 (behind Boston Garden), and #300 (behind Mainstreet Bar/Grill), in
"'ddition to a minimum of 4 private spaces serving Best Buy Liquors, 6 serving
Broadway Pizza, and 6 serving Abe's.
Council Report 92-242
Parking 5th-11th Ave.
page 3
. Why did the Business Council include all Kainstreet parking from 5th and
11th Avenues?
Mr. Cho's request was only to change the parking restriction in front of his
store, Broadway Pizza, and Abes. The Business Council motion is to extend the
1 hour parking restriction all the way from 5th Ave. to 11th Ave. Mr. Cho's
request was expanded to include all of Mainstreet in the Central Business
District specifically to address the issue of parking enforcement
consistency.
The Business Council and DRC discussed that restricting parking in 1/2 block
segments, or even single block segments, would create confusion for
customers. In an effort to remain consistent it was discussed that any change
to the current system on Mainstreet should be made on a CBD-wide basis.
o What cost would be associated with changing the signage to reflect a
change in the hour of restriction?
PUblic Works has informed staff that there would be minimal cost associated
with changing the signage between 5th and 11th Avenues. This change would
require the 116" to be changed to a "9". Public Works has discussed that it
may be possible to apply the "9" in matching green reflective tape over the
top of the "6".
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What are Police Department concerns relative to this request?
Attached is a letter from Captain Jim Liddy of the Police Department stating
concerns relative to changing the hour of restriction.
Part of the Staff recommendation on this item is based upon Police Department
concerns about additional enforcement. P.D. has informed staff that they feel
it will not do any good to sign for additional hours of restriction, unless
these additional hours are enforced on a fairly regular basis.
o What is the basis for the staff recommendation?
staff concurs with the Police Department in that if this area cannot be
enforced on somewhat of a regular basis, it would not have any direct affect
on the current parking situation. Staff is concerned that an expectation of
enforcement will be placed upon the Police Department if the request is
approved. As Captain Liddy has stated in his memo, P.D. does not have the
budgetary ability to enforce the new hours on a regular basis.
staff concerns:
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Public works time/cost involved in changing the signage
P.o. concerns
Future changes may be necessary when other redevelopment
projects occur
Costs associated with enforcement
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Council Report 92-242
Parking 5th-11th Ave.
Page 4
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Is this change favored by most business/property owners in the
area?
Expectation for enforcement
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o How would this new restriction be enforced?
P.D. has informed staff that if enforcement of the additional hours were to
occur, it probably will not occur more than 1 or 2 times per month at the
most. P.D. feels that enforcement needs to occur at least 1 or 2 times per
week to be effective.
Normal daily hours of enforcement would have to be compromised if enforcement
of this area was to occur between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. For instance, if the
Parking Enforcement Officer was to work the hours of 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. instead
of the regular daily hours. Also, the only area which would be enforced
between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. would be Mainstreet, and expired tab violations.
staff does not feel this is as efficient a use of time for the Parking
Enforcement Officer as regular daily hours of enforcement.
P.D. has also expressed concern to staff that we will be primarily ticketing
customers by enforcing this area until 9 p.m. In the past, the parking
enforcement effort has usually been aimed at employee abusers of the system,
and every attempt made to avoid ticketing customers if possible. The areas in
question on this issue currently are being used primarily by customers of
4IJainstreet businesses, rather than employees.
Alternatives.
Based on the information given, the City council has the following
alternatives available to them at this time:
1. Approve motion as recommended by staff.
2. Adopt Resolution 92-113 approving the request to extend the 1 hour
parking restriction to 9 p.m. on Mainstreet between 5th and 11th
Avenues to 9 p.m.
3. continue this item for further information from staff.
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June 19, 1992
Paul Sleinman
Community Development-City of Hopkins
1010 First Street South
Hopkins. MN 55343
Dear Mr. Steinman;
I am making a request .to appear before the City Council and the Parking Commillee 10 make a
request as follows:
Myself and some of my business neighbors feel we are treated unfairly by some shoppers and
customers who dominate the parking on Main Slreet.
The purpose of Main Street parking was 10 permit shoppers quick easy parking to make their
purchases.
We are making a request to the Hopkins City Council and the Parking Committee to restrict (not
enforce) parking on our block and particularly in front of our stores, for 30 minutes, 8am to
10pm, 7 days a week.
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Sincerely,
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Hayne Cho ,
Best Buy Liquors
812 Main Street
Hopkins. MN 55343
ce. Jerry Steiner. Chairman, Parking Committee
Rich Bredeson, Member, Parking Committee
Jim Hance, Member, Parking Committee
Tony Richardson, Member, Parking Committee
George Jayc8, Member, Parking Committee
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MEMORANDUM
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DATE:
November 9. 1992
TO:
PauL Steinman
FROM:
Jim Liddy - Police Department
SUBJECT:
Extension of Parking Restrictions on Mainstreet
Question: What is the Police Department's position on the proposal
to extend the t hour parking limit from 6PM to 9PM from 5th Ave.
to 11th Ave.
From a strictly enforcement perspective. the Department is not in
favor of this proposal for several reasons:
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We do not have the personnel resources to adequately enforce
this type of parking violation. We have 1 parking enforcement
officer dedicated to enforCing the current parking re5trictions
in all of the ci ty lots. To extend the hours of enforcement,
we would have to add additional staff or adjust the current
hours of our present employee. Neither of these options seems
to be feasible or in the best interest of the City as a whole.
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The addition of another employee would result in additional
personnel costs to the City which. more than likely, would not
be recovered by the revenue generated by the issuance of
a limited number of citations.
Adjusting the hours of the present parking enforcement officer
could be done only on a limited basis assuming that the City
wishes to continue its current policy of parking enforcement
during the day. This would not only result in sporadic
enforcement during the extended hours but would reduce the
I~' r fee t i \'(;' n c: s,~ 0 f' t h (;' T r' g Ll 1 a l' cl tl Y L i III e ,.. Tl for c t' III r:o n t pro g r i1 m .
21 A suggestion was made at an earlier meeting that. even knowing
reguLar enforcement would not be possible. the mere presence
0f the parking restriction signs would resolve the problem.
The 0 r2 pal' tine n t . s po sit i (' n i s t hat est a b lis h l n gar u I '2 0 r
restriction knowing it won"t be regularly enforced is a poor
practice and i~ counter productive and could create more
problems than it wa~ design~d to solve.
:'Ion en for c e me n t l" e I ate cl 0 b s e nr at ion ~j : Wh i I e not d ire c t lye n for c e In e n t
relnted. we believe that several issues should be considered before
a final decision is reached on this current proposal.
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I) Does a parking problem real ly exist? It has been stated that
a numbur of businesses are adversely effected because customers
of the Mainstreet Bar and Grill and Archies take up all of the
on street parking available on the blocks between 8th and 9th
Avenues and between 10th an 11th Avenues. The business
adversely effected have been noted as; Boston Subway, Sunshine
Video. Abe's Deli and Knutson's liquor. Knuston's is probably
the business most mentioned.
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During the last week of October. I worked the evening shift ~everal
nights and personally observed the parking situation on Mainstreet
during the hours from hPM to QPM. ~y observations were that.
bctv.een 8th & ~th Avenues. there was always at least one parking
spuce open on the south side of MainsLreet and usually several on
the north side. Were these always right in front of Knutson's~
No. but no business can expect to have store front parking available
on a public street. At no time did I see a Juck of parking adjacent
to either Abe's or Sunshine Video. Abe's ha~ its own lot and there
was always plenty of parking on 8th Ave. So. for customers of
both Abes and Sunshine.
Regarding the Boston Subway, the only time that there were no parking
spaces on Mainstreet near the Subway was one of the nights when
Bingo is played there. Presumably, a number of the cars parked in
that block were bingo players. If the proposed parking changes are
implemented. these customers of the Subway would be negatively
impacted hec3use they would not be able to park on Mainstreet as
they do now.
It IS our opinion that. although parking spaces may not always be
available directly in front of a specific busines~, there is not
a big parking problem.
2) Is it reasonable to extend the parking restrictions for the entire
6 block business district when the perceived problem is only in
I or 2 of the blocks. Why place further restrictions in areas where
~ they are not needed?
J) What are the City'~ goals regarding business development and how might
the proposed parking restrictions effect these goals~
Presumably, the goals of the City are to draw more businesses to the
downtown area and to try and encourage the business to renlain open
into the evening hours to better be able to serve potential customers.
These goals and the proposed parking restrictions seem to be at odds
\\"jth each (,ther. nn the 0ne hand. we W,H1t people to cC'me to town
and shop hut on the other hand. W~ will put an obstacle in their
desire to do so. Should the City be successful in its attempt to
draw an entertainment/restaurant complex to the Mainstreet area. as
is currently under study. is it feasible to have a 1 hour parking
I imi t or. if this is adopted. wi I! it be necessary to go back anel
change the parking restriction times yet again7
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There are presently severa] eating establishments and non-] iquor
bU':.iinesses on I\lilinstreet open during at least part of the c'venin:;
hours. Where now it is possible for someone to park on Mainstreet
and go eat and then perhaps shop for carpeting. furniture etc.. this
would not be possible with the expanded restrictions becaus~ it
could not be accomplished within the] hour time limit~tion. If
one of the intentions of the redesign of the mall was to allow
customers more parking on Mainstreet. this purpose will be defeated
in the evening hours.
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RECOMMENDATION: The Police Department recommends that the
proposal to extend the hours of Te~tricted parking to 9PM
on Mainstreet bt; denied. The magnitude of the problem being
addressed does not seem to be as serious as it is perceived and
certainly not serious enough to warrant changing the parking
restrictions for the entire length of the Mainstreet Business
District.
The Department does not have the current resources to enforce the
extended hours of restricted parking.
The solution being considered will marginall)' benefit a very small
number of businesses but, particularly in the long run. has the
potential to have a negative impact on a much larger segment of the
business district.
Option 1. Change the restrictions and put up appropriate signage
knowing enforcement will not be done. Current lack of enforcement
of street parking restrictions on Saturdays proves the point that
even though the restrictions are there. if they are not enforced.
the public pays no attention.
Option~. Alter the hours of the 1 person currently employed to
enforce the City's parking plan on a daily basis. Although this
may improve the ability of some busine~ses' customers to park closer
to those establishments. it can only be done on an infrequent basis
and will have a negative impact on regular daily parking enforcement
when the parking problems are more serious.
Option 3. Hire a part-time person to do parking enforcement during
the proposed extension hours.
Option~. Pay the current parting enforcement officer overtime pay
1 or ~ ntghts per week to work the extended hours. While possible.
this would be only sporadic enforcement.
S u nEn fl r:; : r tis <:: '{ t rem €' 1 y r arc t. 0 fin d any C i t Y w hie h e 11l p 1 O:V e s
parking restrictions b~yond 6P~I. To issue citations to business
customers may well do more to drive customers out of Hopkins than
to make it easier for them to shop here. When one considers that
suggestions have been made to find a system to cancel tich.ets given
to Hopkins bu~iness customers who have violated the current parking
restrictions. the logic for issuing even more tickets to business
c u s t () mer S lTlll S t 11 e b r' 0 ugh tin t l) q 11 est ion .
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CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin county, Minnesota
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RESOLUTION NO: 92-113
RESOLUTION APPROVING EXTENDING THE 1 HOUR
PARKING RESTRICTION ON MAINSTREET TO 9:00 P.M.
BETWEEN 5TH - 11TH AVENUES
WHEREAS, the Hopkins city council may by resolution designate specific
parking issues, and
WHEREAS, pursuant thereto, the Public Works department shall cause the
posting and maintenance of appropriate signs at the locations so
designated, and the pOlice Department shall enforce these signs,
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the request, the City Council feels it is necessary
for the welfare and benefit of customers of the local Mainstreet
businesses, and the businesses themselves, to enforce the 1 hour
parking time until 9:00 p.m. between 5th and 11th Avenues on
Mainstreet, and that all previous restrictions in the defined
area be rescinded.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City council of the city of Hopkins,
~the following mandate:
Mainstreet signage between 5th and 11th Avenues shall remain as it
presently is except to designate that the current 1 hour parking time
limit will be enforced until 9:00 p.m.
Adopted this 6th day of October, 1992.
Nelson W. Berg, Mayor
ATTEST:
~James A. Genellie, city Clerk