PARKING BOARD
MINUTES
JUNE 7, 2010
1. CALL TO ORDER 4:38 p.m. by Mr. Caggiano
ROLL CALL Mr. Bouchard, Mr. Caggiano and Mr. Doggett and Parking Director James Hacker. Mr. Walsh arrived later in the meeting.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Bouchard made a motion to approve the minutes of May 3, 2010 with minor amendments provided by Mr. Hacker. Mr. Doggett seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Mr. Bouchard provided an update on valet parking and stated that there are five restaurants currently negotiating with the valet company. No contract has been signed as yet. They are looking to recruit more restaurants.
Mr. Hacker noted that the sign has been installed and questioned if it should be taken down.
Mr. Doggett stated that he felt the sign should not be up if there is no agreement signed.
Mr. Hacker will have the signed removed.
- INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Hacker stated that he is working with Doug Bollen and Tom Watkins to put ATM machines on city properties. They are looking at one in the Parking office and one at the Church Street lot. It will need to go out to bid.
Mr. Hacker stated that for the pay-by-space, the credit card communication seems to be a little better. They have changed it to batching instead of individual uploading to the credit card company. They are also working on an issue with the machines timing out if over 1 minute passes from the time the user enters their parking space number to the time they insert their cash.
Mr. Hacker stated that the zipcars are in place at the Crombie Street lot, Riley Plaza and Church Street lot.
Mr. Hacker stated that his department has cleaned, weeded and mulched the Sewall Street and Church Street lots in preparation for repaving. However, the Engineering will be fixing a drain issue at the Church Street lot first.
Mr. Hacker stated that two drain pipes in the Museum Place Garage burst and they have a plummer scheduled to look at it. He noted that they had some damage in a couple of the mail units.
Mr. Walsh joined the meeting at this time.
Mr. Hacker provided the revenue spreadsheets for Fiscal Years 04 thru 10. He noted that there was a 6% increase in May from FY09 to FY10 for the parking garage and office revenue, which includes a 92.5% increase in Museum Place parking Garage gate revenues. The increase may be due to May, 2009 being very rainy, the current Peabody Essex Museum exhibit which is very popular and the fact that there are less annual passes purchased.
Mr. Walsh stated that he wondered if some people are using the garage to avoid using the pay-by-space on Church Street.
Mr. Hacker noted that parking lots and meter revenue are up by 70.7%.
Mr. Doggett stated that he was recently involved in a conversation regarding the high cost to park in Salem for those called to jury duty.
Mr. Hacker stated that he has sent the courts signs to post in the jury room regarding parking. He noted that grand jury members typically buy 12 hour stamps and split them up.
Mr. Bouchard stated that parking options were provided in a letter that he received when he was called to jury duty in Lawrence.
Mr. Walsh noted that there was a letter to the editor in the newspaper regarding parking and the writer noted that the pay-by-space ticket does not say where to go for a refund.
Mr. Hacker stated that he is in the process of adding a phone number onto the machine directions at each unit.
There was no unfinished business.
Mr. Hacker stated that for Heritage Days week, they would like to have the 1 hour stamps be valid for 2 hours in the garage as in previous years.
Mr. Doggett made a motion for the 1 hour stamps to be valid for 2 hours during Heritage Days week.
Mr. Bouchard seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Mr. Doggett made a motion to not have meetings in July or August and for the next meeting to be on September 13, 2010.
Mr. Bouchard seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
8. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. Walsh made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Bouchard seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion so carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane A. Guy
Secretary
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