PARKING BOARD
MINUTES
JUNE 4, 2007
1. CALL TO ORDER 4:37 p.m. by Mr. Spatafore
2. ROLL CALL Mr. Spatafore, Mr. Caggiano, Mr. Needham, Ms. Hensley and Parking Director James Hacker.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Needham made a motion to approve the minutes of May 7, 2007. Mr. Caggiano seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
4. REPORT OF BOARD MEMBERS
Mr. Spatafore stated that he drove around Salem, as though he were a tourist, and provided a draft report on his observations and recommendations concerning parking signage. He stated that he felt that signage should be the standard “P”. He stated that the draft would give members something to start thinking about.
Mr. Hacker stated that for tourists, signage should direct drivers primarily to the garages, but noted that the lots should also be identified because merchants will want visitors to park near their stores. He suggested developing a system for bus parking for dropping off passengers and then having a place for busses to wait, where there could be a shuttle for the bus drivers.
Mr. Hacker cautioned having too many signs littering the streets. He noted that they don’t have the ability to do all the signage for the garage, for lots and for the meters indicating 2 hours. He suggested tackling the directional signage this year and the rest next year. He noted that the DPW may be able to make some of the signs.
5. INFORMATION & CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Caggiano distributed copies of a Salem News article written by Tom Dalton regarding Front Street. The article stated, “parking is limited on the street and customers sometimes get tickets. The city needs better signs, merchants say, so visitors will know they exist.” Mr. Caggiano stated that, as a citizen and front street business, he sent an email to Mr. Dalton in which he stated “retail owner’s knew the parking situation when they moved in” and “I see these owners park in the two-hour lot and feed their meters with quarters all day and then complain that there is no parking. Or complain that the meter maid gave them a ticket because they parked on the sidewalk to unload supplies.”
Mr. Hacker stated that the city striped the parking spaces in the downtown, except Bridge Street and a few spots that the couldn’t get to. They may have to close down a few streets for a couple hours in order to complete the striping.
Mr. Hacker stated that they are finishing the stairwells at Museum Place Garage today.
Mr. Hacker stated that as of 6/1/07, every parking meter has been inventoried and all are working.
Mr. Hacker stated that he did not have the revenue figures through May, yet.
Mr. Hacker stated that he has a budget meeting on June 20th with the City Council Subcommittee.
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Hacker stated that he mailed a copy of the finalized recommendation letter to the members and to Councilor Sosnowski. He stated that he did not believe Councillor Sosnowski brought it up to City Council yet. Mr. Hacker stated that he sat with the Mayor and she was impressed, although she did not agree with all the recommendations.
Mr. Hacker stated that he would like four motions and believed the Mayor would forward them to the City Council for immediate action:
1. Increase the parking violations from $10 to $15
2. Increase the penalties by $5.00 for 1st and 2nd notices. Notice at 21 days from $5 to $10 and notice at 30 days from $10 to $15
3. Increase snow violations to $50
4. Increase Haunted Happenings parking fees on the 4 weekends in October, on Columbus Day and after 3:00 pm on Halloween to $20
Mr. Caggiano asked how these four differ from the recommendation letter.
Mr. Hacker stated that they are the same, except for #4. These recommendations will be sent to the Mayor, so that the Mayor can submit them to the City Council, rather than wait for Councillor Sosnowski.
Mr. Caggiano made a motion to Mr. Hacker to submit the four recommendations to the Mayor. Ms. Hensley seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
7. NEW BUSINESS/VISITORS
Mr. stated that last year the city charged $5 per entry to the garage for July 4th parking for the fireworks. He stated that it saves time exiting the garage and is probably cheaper for someone versus the hourly rate.
Mr. Caggino made a motion to charge $5 per garage entry for the evening of the fourth of July fireworks. Mr. Needham seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Mr. Hacker stated that the $5 after 5:00 does well during the season, but is not effective during the off-season. He would like to suspend the program from December 1 through April 30 annually.
Mr. Needham made a motion to charge $5 after 5:00 only from the May 1st to November 30th annually. Mr. Caggiano seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Mr. Hacker stated that there needs to be a solution for parking for construction workers when the courthouse project starts and there are 50+ workers on the site.
Mr. Caggiano suggested contacting the trolley owners.
Ms. Hensley asked if the Congress Street lot is still available.
Mr. Hacker stated that Shetland owns it and that they may or may not rent the spaces to Pickering Wharf.
Mr. Hacker suggested that the city sit down with the state and sell them the monthly sticker parking passes for Bridge Street. In that way the trucks that can’t fit in the garage can park nearby. He will suggest this to the Mayor.
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Ms. Hensley made a motion for the next meeting to be July 9, 2007. Mr. Caggiano seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. Caggiano made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Needham seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane A. Guy
Secretary
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