PARKING ADVISORY PANEL MEETING - The PARKING ADVISORY PANEL (PAP) met on Tuesday, November 19, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. in the Economic Development Conference Room at 605 E. Main Street. The panel met for its regular monthly meeting on this date with the following members present: Mr. Knuppel, the Committee Chair, and Ms. Fenton. City staff including Mr. Engel and Mr. Ness were present. Mr. Siebert arrived 5 minutes late. Mr. Knuppel began the meeting noting that since the Panel lacked a quorum the draft minutes from the prior meeting could not be approved. The floor was opened for public comment. Mr. Sean Tubbs read from a prepared statement that is attached. During the comments Mr. Rodi arrived. There was no specific response to Mr. Tubbs’ comments. At the conclusion of the comments, Mr. Knuppel noted there was now a quorum present and the draft minutes from the previous meeting were unanimously approved. Mr. Siebert provided updates on remaining agenda items. Mr. Siebert indicated that the transition to the new parking equipment was largely compete and the new equipment was working well. He noted the integration of HUB JMS with Lanier Paris was still being worked. Mr. Ness presented the monthly City press release describing sidewalk closures include a link to the City’s public facing project web page. He then went on to demonstrate how the web page worked and what information could be found. Members of the Panel indicated they were unaware of this tool and expressed appreciation for what information on approved construction and road closure permits was available. Mr. Ness suggested all the members of the Panel ensure they are on the City’s email list for press releases. The following is a link to the web page: http://gisapp.charlottesville.org/cityoperationsviewer/View.html The panel continues to await a decision by the City Manager on advertising an RFP for supplemental contract parking enforcement. Mr. Engel noted that we had recently discussed the issue with the City Manager and that Dr. Richardson had indicated he planned to raise the issue with the new Council once it was seated in January. Mr. Siebert indicated that the Panel now had a formal decision by the Tow Committee that they could not support a recommendation by the Panel to increase the immobilization fee in the city code. It was noted that this position is unsurprising based on the idea that this proposal may lead to less private towing and less revenue for tow operators. There was a discussion of the merits of immobilization over towing and limitations for private property owners. Ultimately, the Panel directed Mr. Siebert to draft a change in the city code to increase the immobilization fee from $25.00 to $100.00 and to prepare a draft package to introduce this in Council. This draft would be reviewed at the December Panel meeting. Mr. Siebert briefed the Panel that the new automated pay stations on the surface lot located at the corner of Water and West 2nd Streets were operational. He indicated there had been an initial issue with the printer on one machine but that it had been resolved. He further indicated that he had used the smart phone enforcement app to survey the lot on a number of occasions and had noted that approximately two thirds of the parkers were paying for their parking. A few weeks prior to this meeting a city resident raised the issue of loading vehicles blocking parkers, particularly ADA parkers, on cross streets on the Mall, to a Council member. This Councilor had asked the Panel to review the issue and the original concern had been forwarded by email to the Panel members. There was a lively discussion of the issue by all Panel members. All related personal experiences with this issue and agreed that it is a concern. The discussion broadened into a more wide ranging discussion of ADA parking in general. It was agreed that there is no simple solution to the issue. The Panel asked Mr. Siebert obtain a City Attorney’s opinion on whether designated ADA spaces can be time restricted. The discussion was tabled to be reopened at the next regular meeting and to invite the City Traffic Engineer to participate. No new business was introduced and the meeting was adjourned at 4:37 PM.