2026-10-01 - Downtown Parking Advisory Committee

01:09to be first.

01:48And so it was supposed to

01:50>> we are on.

01:51>> All right.

01:52>> Audio only.

01:53>> All right.

01:56So it is 5:32. We will call this meeting

01:58of the downtown parking advisory

02:00committee to order. Um just for those

02:04that are tuning in remotely, we are

02:06having technical difficulties. Uh so we

02:09will not have video for the time being.

02:11However, we do have audio. So I want to

02:14make sure everyone's aware that we are

02:16actually in the room and live. So um

02:20we have a pretty solid agenda today. So

02:23the first item on the agenda is the

02:26parking proposal for 15minute spaces. Um

02:30I know there is information in our

02:31packet regarding those but does anyone

02:34from staff have comments or

02:37>> Yeah I'll just talk about it. Um before

02:39we do that though just because there is

02:41no it might be good if we go on

02:42introduce ourselves so everybody knows

02:44whose voice is. Um but I'm Ana. I'm the

02:46planning officer and you want to start

02:48with

02:51Smith economic development officer.

02:53>> Alton Buzzle director of marketing for

02:55Hollywood Casino and committee chair.

02:57Amanda Curry, assistant for downtown

03:00parking.

03:01>> Jake Burkeritz, general manager across

03:03turnby

03:07>> Kelsey Hobbs, uh, downtown resident

03:10member

03:11>> Clemens, Bangquin Park,

03:14>> Ann, director of community and economic

03:16development for the city.

03:18>> Thank you for that recommendation, Anya.

03:19>> Yeah. Um, so we had discussion about

03:22this at a previous meeting. Um, I

03:26believe it was based on some feedback we

03:28had got in a public workshop about

03:30having more 15-inute parking spaces. Um,

03:34and just based on the proximity to some

03:37takeout restaurants, we proposed a few

03:39locations. So, one in front of Harvest

03:42Moon. Um, and the and it wouldn't have

03:44to be all of these. It could just be one

03:46or more based on what you all think. Um,

03:49but one in front of Portland Pie. I will

03:52say at the time we proposed that um we

03:54didn't know Taste of India was closing.

03:56That was also what factored into that

03:58location. Um but another one was in

04:01front of Patty Murphy's just because

04:03that's also close to um Chimera for

04:06example where you can get some quick

04:08food. Um and then also down the street

04:11in front of Bagel Central.

04:14So,

04:18you want to um have no video, but Audia,

04:21do you want to just introduce yourself

04:23uh for the meeting that's live?

04:25>> Sure. Yeah. Um my name is Ann Ross and I

04:30am one of the business people on this

04:33committee. I own a Pilates studio on

04:35Harlo Street.

04:37>> Thank you. I was just um going over the

04:3915-minute parking space proposal um and

04:42how we were we located some of these

04:44proposed spaces based on the proximity

04:46to different takeout restaurants. So,

04:51>> did anyone have thought on those

04:52locations?

04:54>> So, were these just kind of um

04:58I guess is there a method behind the the

05:00number that we chose? I mean obviously

05:02it's close proximity to um takeout

05:05restaurants but was like is there a

05:07specific reason why we went with four

05:08proposed versus six versus two?

05:11>> No, there wasn't just it was just

05:13looking at you know where we kind of had

05:16a concentration of takeout uses or ones

05:19that are very popular like Bal Central

05:23um and just proposing spaces close to

05:25those. Um, but if you all see a need in

05:29a different area, we can look at that.

05:31And like I said, we wouldn't have to do

05:32all of these.

05:39>> The parking lot is across from Harvest

05:42Moon. So, there's a there's a lot right

05:44there. Um, is there a like 15 minute

05:48grace period for parking in there?

05:51>> No. Okay.

05:54I mean there already is that one 15

05:56minute spot right on.

05:59>> Yes. Pretty sure

06:02>> right

06:04>> the recommendations or alley too like by

06:08Patty's there's a 15 spot over there.

06:10>> Yes.

06:18Anyone have strong thoughts, feelings?

06:24>> Um, so

06:27I mean at least the one

06:30near Patty's like in the summertime

06:34there's like the blocking of some of the

06:37spots and I think

06:40the one in front of Harvest Moon too

06:43maybe gets blocked off. So they'll only

06:48>> um the area that gets blocked up might

06:50be further down.

06:51>> Okay. Yeah.

06:52>> By two feet.

06:52>> Yeah. By two feet. Yeah. I don't I don't

06:54know. I'm like I can't tell if parking

06:56spaces get taken up by the barriers or

06:59not, but that just might be something of

07:01like during busy summer.

07:04>> I like Patty Murphy's. I do think that

07:06>> Yeah, that one like wouldn't be

07:08available as a short quick spot during

07:10the summer, but that's, you know, that's

07:12fine because there's the one around the

07:14corner. So,

07:16>> well, it also feels like the one by

07:18Harvest Moon. It's always difficult to

07:21find to jump in there.

07:23>> Oh, yeah. Yeah. That road is just

07:26>> Yeah. narrow. And it's always being

07:29used. I know. I I park illegally to run

07:32in and get my stuff. [laughter]

07:34>> I'm going to admit it.

07:36>> Um [clears throat]

07:40>> So, do you think that makes the

07:4015-minute parking in front of Harvest

07:42more important or less important?

07:44because it's it's going to be difficult

07:45and potentially a traffic issue.

07:49>> I think it's going to be a traffic

07:50issue. That's a high parking area.

07:53They're try on the street. It's always

07:56full.

07:58>> And I don't know what they're doing now.

08:01Are doing the same thing I do. Park

08:02where the little lines are on the

08:04corner.

08:04>> That's 100% what they do.

08:06>> Yeah. Well,

08:08>> that spot is currently a 60-minute and

08:10every time I go, it's already it's

08:12always full. It's always fault.

08:14>> I think I would think changing to 15.

08:18>> It's not going to change the traffic

08:21>> could make it more convenient for

08:23customers. I don't I [clears throat]

08:25mean personally speaking, I always park

08:26in that, but it is that 15 minute

08:27current spot and it's always open. So, I

08:29don't think people know it's a spot, but

08:31it is a legal 15-minute parking spot.

08:35So, I would I don't know what the

08:36numbers are, but I would assume half of

08:38the customers in there are picking up

08:40and quickly leaving. They're not sitting

08:41down in more than they're not there for

08:43more than 15 minutes.

08:45>> It could be um two I think cross streets

08:47one way going up. So people who don't

08:51do I think it could be in the I think

08:54that one the one that you circle could

08:55be in a good 15 minutes but it makes

08:58sense.

09:00Did I I'm sorry that I was late

09:01finishing teaching that when you circled

09:04some of these places, did you talk with

09:06the owners to see if what their use of

09:09those 15 minute slots were?

09:11>> No, this was just very poignant.

09:13>> Oh, yeah. Yeah.

09:16>> I mean, I I know the one in front of the

09:18spot that's identified in front of

09:19Portland Pie, like they have a ton of

09:21to-go like Door Dash, like tons of it.

09:24And so I think at least from my

09:26perspective I think that one makes a lot

09:29of sense.

09:30>> I would agree with you and maybe when

09:32you stop there and you able to get in

09:34there is that a to go

09:36>> for harvest moon. Yeah 100% every time I

09:37go there pick up [clears throat] in

09:41I've never seen any other car there but

09:43you're you're probably right close to

09:45the one turn.

09:47>> Thoughts on the big old central one

09:49because I feel like people illegally

09:51park there. I was going to say I feel

09:53like there's one of those like line line

09:55or like spot things close to there

09:58anyway. [laughter] So

10:01>> that's hard to know, isn't it? Because

10:03they you want to there's a lot of people

10:05that want to go they're going to go and

10:06eat and then they're going to go

10:08shopping or they're going to go by the

10:09river, maybe go by the gallery

10:14or to take that one away like

10:17>> Yeah. I mean, do we have any idea of

10:20what vehicle central's to go? Like like

10:22like Harvest Moon is pretty consistently

10:25to go. Um, Portland Pie is probably a

10:27good mix, but they have a high volume of

10:29to-go. Do we have an idea of

10:32>> I mean I don't know, but I know from my

10:34personal experience I almost always do

10:36to go there.

10:38>> [clears throat]

10:38>> Yeah,

10:39>> probably one of the highest I mean and I

10:41can talk about but that hash out area is

10:44probably one of the highest uh areas for

10:47citations

10:48>> people getting there

10:52at all.

10:53>> Oh yeah.

10:55>> They're adding spots.

10:58>> It is a problem. just yeah because

11:02there too

11:03>> will make that better or does that

11:06>> not really impact that particular issue?

11:09There there is a 50 I mean according to

11:11this is it's a 15-minute pl spot across

11:13the street in front of WBRC somewhere

11:16over there.

11:17>> An odd place.

11:18>> I'm actually not sure about that.

11:20>> Yeah,

11:20>> it doesn't look familiar to me.

11:23>> Isn't that a loading space over there?

11:25>> Perhaps. Perhaps.

11:26>> I think it's a hashtag.

11:27>> Yeah.

11:28>> I mean a hashing for loading over there.

11:34>> I don't we don't know. I mean, as we've

11:36talked about before, I mean, of course,

11:37there's no way to enforce the 15th,

11:40>> right?

11:41>> I mean, after

11:43you

11:44>> because so, you know, the enforcement

11:48vehicle goes around every 90 minutes.

11:51>> So, if somebody's there,

11:52>> right,

11:53>> 90 minutes, just we're not going to be

11:55able to enforce whether it's 15 minutes

11:57or 90 minutes.

11:59But I mean there just psychological

12:02some folks will see it and will just

12:04automatically like

12:06>> others that are in the in the no will

12:09just [laughter]

12:11>> it might get caught.

12:13>> Well, I mean we could also just trial it

12:16and

12:18>> because we don't really have any numbers

12:19on customer traffic versus stay in any

12:23of those places. So might as well just

12:25try it.

12:29And we have camera.

12:31>> Sorry. I mean it would be interesting to

12:33get a a track on that because um

12:37I mean I do to go at bagel but I walk to

12:41it

12:42>> and I'm guessing that there are a lot of

12:44people that are walking because when I'm

12:46there I see the to go and I see the bags

12:49but

12:50with the names on it ready to go but I

12:52don't see a lot of like Door Dash people

12:54going to pick up and take it out but

12:57people going in getting their food

12:59exiting.

13:05>> [clears throat]

13:14>> I don't know.

13:17I think they're also like a pretty high

13:24>> think about that.

13:28>> So maybe the position of that 15 like

13:30not necessarily eliminated but

13:32>> closer to the corner the traffic light

13:34you're thinking

13:37>> and then so well because that then I'm

13:38thinking of 11 central.

13:40>> Yeah. Does that go away at night

13:43>> when people are going to have dinner at

13:4511 central and they can't

13:47[clears throat]

13:54>> does look like there might be a 15inut

13:57space close to where Bangor sandwich was

13:59before.

14:00>> Yeah. Is that 15 minutes?

14:04But we can um we can look into that and

14:08um if it's not 15 minute then maybe we

14:11look at doing doing one like you said

14:13further down closer to that corner.

14:16>> It does sound like transition one of

14:18those spots to 15 probably makes least.

14:23>> Yeah, there's one around.

14:31So, it sounds like

14:34we're all in favor of the full proposed.

14:38So, any motion? Right.

14:44I'll make a motion to

14:46pass or make a motion to move forward

14:49with these four posts. Transition to the

14:5215 minute part.

14:53>> And do do we make the motion as a

14:56recommendation or do we make the Okay.

14:59recommend

15:01release.

15:04>> Um, just clarification, the one at Patty

15:06Murphy

15:09on that. So,

15:12>> yeah, I mean that's that's Thank you,

15:14Anya. Um, I mean, it sounds like that

15:16one would be essentially null and void

15:19during the summer, which is probably the

15:21highest traffic time. So, I'm not sure

15:23that it really, in my opinion, I I don't

15:25know that it really would serve a great

15:27purpose. Um,

15:30>> I don't know how others feel.

15:33>> Yeah. 601 half a dozen the other on that

15:35one. That's just more of one note that

15:38it won't be a 15minute in the summer

15:40which is fine.

15:44>> Yeah, I think so. Do you want to amend

15:47the motion? [laughter]

15:51>> Motion to be recommended to move forward

15:54three to four. The fourth one, four,

15:58five. Right.

16:00>> No, you're right. Sorry. The three

16:04[laughter]

16:05one closest to Patty members, we

16:07recommend to not make a 15 minute. The

16:09other three we recommend to move close

16:11to

16:12Do we have a second?

16:15>> Second.

16:17>> Um, so we will go starting Kelsey.

16:23How do you vote?

16:26for the motion. [laughter]

16:32>> I vote four as well.

16:34>> So with that, the motion passes

16:36unanimously.

16:38>> Um the next is

16:42>> um the next is more of an update, but we

16:45um welcome your feedback and if you do

16:48have feedback, we can look into

16:50incorporating that next winter. But um

16:53this proposed snow removal plan for

16:55downtown is proposed for this winter.

16:57Oh, did you have a question?

16:58>> I do. I'm sorry. Going back on this, we

17:01said this as a trial. Do we need to set

17:03the time of the trial of how long we

17:05want to look at this or so it doesn't

17:07get shoveled down underneath?

17:09>> Um yeah, three might make sense. What do

17:14you all think makes sense?

17:19>> Want to try for a full year? I I I think

17:21at least a full year, right? Because our

17:24business community is so seasonal. I

17:26think we really need to have a good

17:28understanding.

17:28>> The things are different throughout the

17:29years.

17:30>> Correct. And this would be a good time

17:31to

17:32>> do that. Okay.

17:34>> So, I I will do this a little bit. Does

17:38anyone object to amending

17:41the prior prior motion?

17:44>> I don't think I don't know if we need a

17:46motion for that.

17:48>> I mean,

17:50Yeah. [laughter]

17:51>> Okay. Even better.

17:54>> Um, okay. So, going to the downtown snow

17:58removal plan. Um, so this was based on

18:00feedback we heard. Um, I can't remember

18:04if some of you all also suggested this,

18:05but we did hear it from the public at

18:07the parking meeting we had before and on

18:10social media, splitting downtown into

18:12zones for snow removal so that parking's

18:14not banned in all of downtown for

18:16several days. Um, so we worked with

18:18public works to come up with the map in

18:20your packet, splitting it into two

18:22zones. And they're supposed to be

18:24putting out signage. I don't know if

18:25they started on that, but um, signage

18:28that would be there year round in each

18:29zone saying what the zone is. Um, and

18:32so, you know, if parking is banned in

18:34zone east, then while snow removal was

18:38going on there, then people can park in

18:39zone west and vice versa. Um, if there

18:42are, you know, we'll look at the

18:43feedback that we get over the winter

18:45from people and if there's changes that

18:47need to be made, we can just move the

18:49signs next year and change the map. Um,

18:53but I know they're looking at doing a

18:54lot of public outreach on this map to to

18:57make sure people know about this new

18:58system this winter. It's kind of a trial

19:01pilot um until we get this feedback.

19:04But, um, do you all have initial

19:07comments on that?

19:10I was just curious, is it still this way

19:12because of like the amount of work

19:14needed for the roads because one seems a

19:16lot bigger but

19:17>> yeah and it is to clarify it's not for

19:20plowing it's to remove snow from like

19:22the sidewalks.

19:24>> Um so I don't know the exact I I think

19:28it was just based on the time frame they

19:29think they thought was needed for each

19:31of these areas.

19:32>> Yeah. I left it kind of up to public

19:34works to say what they needed. Any

19:42other thoughts, questions?

19:45>> I think it's a good idea. It makes

19:47sense.

19:47>> Yeah, exactly.

19:49>> Do we have any details on what the

19:50communication plan is going to consist

19:53of? I mean, I feel like this is going to

19:54be a pretty significant change for a lot

19:56of downtown residents in particular.

19:58>> Um, our communications manager, David

20:01Warren, is overseeing the communications

20:05plan. I'm pretty sure he would fit their

20:06own socials, highlight press release, um

20:10maybe go to the news stations, but I can

20:12follow up with him on what that is and

20:13it'll definitely be on the website. Um

20:16but yeah, I can get more details from

20:17them. But I think I know he wanted to do

20:20an extensive outreach and also we'll

20:23have the board out there. So when there

20:24is a snowb it would say on that board

20:27which zone.

20:31Just a question for our residents of

20:34downtown. Um,

20:37how do you typically get the the

20:40information for stuff like that? Like

20:41what would be the best way as a resident

20:43or

20:44>> I do the text messages from the I don't

20:47know if it's the whole like the city or

20:49like the parking ones, but that's the

20:51like the easiest way. I get them sent to

20:53my email as well, but I like that I get

20:55them on my phone and then I don't have

20:57to worry about reading the signs or like

20:59confusing what the signs say. So, I like

21:02the text system a lot actually.

21:04>> Great. And public works has really been

21:06trying to encourage people to sign up

21:07for that.

21:07>> Yeah. Yeah. I I've been using it like

21:10since I could and I really like it. So,

21:13>> do you have any idea what the

21:14penetration is for that service within

21:17downtown residents?

21:18>> I don't know. Um, I thought a mailer had

21:22gone out recently to people to get them

21:25to sign up for it so we can reach as

21:27many people as possible. I don't know

21:28how many people downtown or

21:30>> we can find out. Yeah,

21:32>> but it would be great to have everybody

21:33in the city signed up for other areas.

21:36We're plowing parking vans.

21:42>> Any any other questions, comments,

21:44concerns? We are flying through this

21:47thing.

21:48The last one I didn't this last one I

21:51think is gonna

21:53>> do some some some discussion. So the

21:56third item on the agenda is the parking

21:59rate and on street parking report. So um

22:02I know we have the report from park um

22:04detailing revenue projections and and

22:07all of the fun information here. So

22:09rather than rehashing what's already in

22:11our packets um part do you just want to

22:14share like high level the the synopsis

22:17if you will of

22:18>> right so we were asked by Anya and the

22:21community economic development to kind

22:23of give us give the committee some ideas

22:26of what kind of revenue can be

22:30uh anticipated if you [clears throat]

22:32put readers on the street. Um, we're not

22:36saying you should or shouldn't, but

22:37we're just giving you some estimations.

22:39And so this is some projections that

22:41were done by the president of our

22:44company. Um, and actually we did

22:47something similar to this in 2016, I

22:50think, um, for the same committee,

22:53different members, but um, the the idea

22:55of on street meters is obviously not

22:57new. Um, it's been talked about before.

23:00Um and so this was just gave us some

23:03more specific numbers as to what uh

23:06revenue projections can be. Um if you

23:09did the on street parking, this is based

23:11on doing um meters on most the m the

23:15majority of the downtown area. Um

23:19Franklin Street um uh coming up Central

23:23Street, Main Street of course going down

23:27uh Columbia Street I think is also

23:29entailed. Um so we gave a number u Ana

23:32and I worked together for a number of

23:34spaces that we and it's just this is

23:36just a number speculative number um and

23:39then figured out what what we can

23:41anticipate for a number of paid days

23:43based on a dollar an hour what you can

23:45anticipate for citation revenue. So

23:48that's where we came up with these

23:49numbers conservative um moderate and

23:53aggressive. Again, [clears throat] these

23:55are estimations. Um, we can't anticipate

23:58what people would do if you put a meter

24:00on the street. Do people actually start

24:02parking in the garage more?

24:04>> Um, do they avoid our downtown

24:07altogether? Those are numbers we can't

24:10anticipate. Um, we do have some data, if

24:13you will, from other cities that have

24:15done this. And so, this is not new. Um,

24:18and Bar Harbor is an example of somebody

24:21that did it and it's been way over as

24:23far as revenue. But again, I think on

24:26street meters is a

24:29it it's not just simply a revenue pro,

24:32you know, it's it's a way of controlling

24:34parking, right? Of encouraging parking

24:36to turn over to use if you're going to

24:38stay there more than 90 minutes or

24:40whatever the parking rate is to go to on

24:43street I mean off streetet parking. Um

24:45so that's I think that's what the whole

24:48idea is and then we just gave some ideas

24:50of what that revenue could be used for.

24:53Um you know based on what the input from

24:56uh the parking communities have been and

24:58from what your uh input has been you

25:01know can we use that revenue to u

25:04discount M rates? obviously can. Um, can

25:08we use it to the Pickering Square

25:10garage? And that's so the Pickering

25:12Square Garage and I think we've talked

25:14about this before is, you know, it's

25:16getting along. It's getting long in the

25:17tooth and we're spending a lot of money

25:20to keep that uh up to snuff. I mean,

25:24parking garages, you know, depending on

25:26who you talk to, the length of life is

25:28only so long. It's limited um, as you

25:31know. And once you get it corrosive and

25:34you get salt in there, now now we're

25:36dealing with, you know, elements that

25:38are getting corroded that have to be um

25:40supported and so forth. So the number

25:43the amount of money that we're putting

25:44into that fund is is is increasing every

25:48year.

25:48>> Um and again, the parking fund is a

25:51enterprise fund. So any revenue that

25:54comes into parking stays within parking.

25:56It doesn't go out to the general fund

25:58and general fund money doesn't come back

25:59into the parking fund. um it stays

26:01within it. So um it is a I mean if if

26:04it's something the committee wants to do

26:06then it is a good opportunity to use

26:08that revenue for parking related uh

26:10infrastructure or signage or discount

26:13parking. So that's basically the the big

26:16view. Um, I just want to add a few

26:20things. Um, kind of like elaborating on

26:24the revenue piece of it because I think

26:26the turnover is a big benefit, but I

26:28think the revenue is also because of the

26:31infrastructure needs. If those costs

26:34continue to increase, you know, we may

26:36eventually have to put more of that

26:38burden on taxpayers. Whereas, if we can,

26:41you know, get more parking revenue,

26:43we're distributing that burden more so

26:45to visitors as well as taxpayers. So

26:47distributing that wider um and then also

26:52Park mentioned in the report um

26:54implementing the BPI study, you know,

26:57there's no available grant funding right

26:59[clears throat] now to make that happen

27:01and maybe there will be in the future.

27:03We don't know, but this revenue could be

27:05used to help implement that. Um and

27:08there was a lot of public support for

27:10that program. It could increase foot

27:12traffic to downtown businesses

27:14potentially. So, um I think that revenue

27:17could do a lot of good things for

27:19downtown.

27:23>> We'll open it. I have lots of things,

27:25but I will open it to the the group

27:28first. Has any thoughts?

27:30>> My first I think we've talked about this

27:32before. I'm I personally I think it

27:34makes sense. Favor

27:37thing are probably unique in the sense

27:38that we don't have parking uh paid

27:40parking. My only not push back but the

27:42thing I would want to discuss probably

27:45at a later time would be the

27:46communication if we move forward of the

27:49communication of rolling this out. It's

27:51definitely going to shock people. It's

27:52definitely going to scare people. It's

27:54definitely going to piss people off for

27:56lack of a better term. Um so kind of the

27:58story that Park just told is kind of how

28:00do we make that story not just we're

28:03trying to char we're not trying to take

28:05money from people.

28:07>> I definitely agree. I think um we would

28:10do extensive public outreach and

28:12>> you know provided you all are on board I

28:15think our plan would be to do some kind

28:17of softer public outreach like gauge

28:19people's interest at the polls. We go to

28:21polls um every year and just gauge

28:24interest in page street parking and then

28:27we would probably bring it to council in

28:29the winter I'd guess and then we would

28:32do a lot more extensive public outreach

28:33after that. But I think highlighting

28:36these things that the revenue could

28:38benefit and like you know what we're

28:41trying to avoid. We're trying to avoid

28:42burden on taxpayers. I think and the

28:45benefits to businesses I think that can

28:46help

28:50avoiding

28:53this.

28:57But I've had people like the cha

29:01they might like it during the summer

29:03>> but not during winter be easier to sell

29:06in some ways. But then I guess we still

29:08have the cost of the physical stuff,

29:10>> right?

29:11>> Um the cost of the physical stuff as you

29:13can see in the capital cost at the very

29:14bottom

29:15>> and that's a set cost that's going to be

29:17whatever it is. Yeah. Um, and you know,

29:20I think I don't there there are Bar

29:23Harbor, I think some of the beach

29:25communities in southern Maine do the,

29:28you know, back and forth where they

29:29cover up the machines. It's, it's a,

29:31it's certainly an option. Um, uh, I

29:34don't know.

29:35>> Typically in cities, you know, it's not

29:38done that way, but it's, you know,

29:41whatever you want to do. I mean, it's

29:43just a matter of what the what the

29:45desire is to meet these goals for

29:48revenue uh and return

29:52[clears throat]

29:53>> dollars cheap but and 8 to five um

29:57Monday through Friday

29:59>> and no

30:02>> um I can't remember if it was you and I

30:03that were talking about that there are

30:05some communities that have the ability

30:07to tie

30:10like the the license plate and their

30:12what their residency essentially to so

30:14that so that essentially you could make

30:16it so that

30:17um residents of Bangor could have like

30:21the first hour free or something like

30:23that um and and so looking into a

30:27possibility of something obviously

30:29that's going to pretty significantly

30:30impact the revenue figures but that

30:34could be um something to look into

30:36potentially depending on the software

30:37options and the cost that may be an

30:39upgraded premium software that costs

30:41more like I'm sure there are associated

30:44costs with it, but that may also be

30:45something that could be considered

30:48>> especially like during the winter maybe

30:50just to get to

30:51>> those comments in the winter. Um there

30:54are some communities too that you know

30:56during um a high shopping day like small

31:00business Saturday they might give free

31:03parking to encourage people you know to

31:06fill downtown but you know so I mean

31:09there's different options that you have

31:11ultimately

31:13>> you have

31:14>> well as the small business owner here um

31:18this is a tough cell for me. I have

31:20clients that come multiple times during

31:23the week and they're coming from they're

31:26coming locally, they're walking, but I

31:29have people that drive from Newport, Bar

31:31Harbor, Winterport, you know, Ellsworth

31:35and to ask them to pay for class and now

31:38you've got to pay a dollar every time

31:40you want to come. They're going to look

31:42at that. I've already asked them. I

31:43said, "How do you feel about this?" said

31:44well it will probably limit what what in

31:48just in terms of my business um what

31:51that does

31:52>> I think that when we are looking I agree

31:55we need to find some revenue

31:58we've talked about the need for looking

32:00at what the problems are in terms of

32:03turnover and providing those discount

32:07for business owners and employers that

32:10are doing the shuffle there's a lot of

32:14that and we in order for this to get

32:19implemented I don't think we do a very

32:20good job in terms of driving people to

32:23the parking areas those parking lots

32:26where are they um and providing those

32:30discounts so [clears throat] that we get

32:31the employers employees and business

32:34owners off of the main street and on

32:37Franklin Street I don't know why we have

32:39all the sheriffs and the employees now

32:41parking on Franklin Street when They

32:44have that parking lot behind them and

32:46they're there. I come in at 5 in the

32:49morning and they're there.

32:52>> Yeah. Um so for me

32:56there's the balance between how are we

32:58bringing in income? What are we doing to

33:00create spaces for those that we know are

33:03congesting the parking and doing the

33:05shuffle? because uh you know for many of

33:08us in the employees paying 78 $800

33:12$1,000 a year to park in a parking area

33:15is unacceptable. I can't afford that. Um

33:20so

33:21you know what are we going to do to help

33:24with that? Because now what are the

33:26employees going to do? They're just

33:27going to plunk money in there. Now

33:31>> I think part of the

33:36The idea was that if you're charging

33:39street parking, then that allows for

33:41reductions in the deck for employees and

33:44residents. So, being able to charge for

33:47street parking would help to

33:50significantly reduce those costs for you

33:54for for you. Like it makes I mean it

33:57makes someone going to Pilates have to

33:59pay an extra dollar or two, but I'm not

34:04convinced that's a huge ask, [laughter]

34:06but

34:08I understand that maybe some of your

34:10clients don't like the idea. I also

34:11don't like the like I'm like I know that

34:13we have a big benefit, but I'm also like

34:16looking at the numbers like this.

34:18>> That's a lot of like

34:20>> it's daunting. And you're right, it's

34:21going to be a hard sell. I have talked

34:23to um as many of the business owners

34:25downtown that are going to be affected

34:27by this and they're all going some of

34:29them are going, "Yeah, stop the turnover

34:31or it will force people to plunk the

34:33money in uh and get out, move on." Um

34:38but there are those that real small

34:40businesses that are worried about, well,

34:42who's going to come to my business? I I

34:45is Bangor enough of a destination? Is my

34:48business enough of a destination to draw

34:50a customer to come in?

34:52>> Well, I make a few points. Um, for the

34:55sheriff's office, maybe page street

34:57parking would discourage them from

34:59parking there because they have to pay

35:01for it now using their free parking. Um,

35:05also would point out that we do have

35:07free parking for two hours at the

35:09parking garage and I think Abbott Square

35:10is is that not

35:13free. [clears throat]

35:14>> Well, still an hour free for the first,

35:16but And I I and I'll defer to these two,

35:20but I do think downtown Bangor is a big

35:22draw regardless if we have, you know, a

35:24dollar per hour paid street parking and

35:26there's many other, you know, towns that

35:29have done pay street parking hasn't

35:31impact.

35:32>> I think it's a shift in culture, right?

35:34Um it's just a matter of getting people

35:36used to it and initially you're going to

35:38see people push back just like any other

35:40change. Um,

35:43I say this very carefully, but we're all

35:45experiencing inflation, right? We're

35:47gonna have to pay a significant more m

35:50amount of money for simple things that

35:53we buy every day. I think a dollar I

35:55don't think a dollar is a big shift.

35:58I think the principle of park paid

36:00parking is a shift, but I don't think

36:02the dollar is going to really hurt

36:03people's pockets, especially when we are

36:05if you're able to consistently

36:07communicate the benefit.

36:10And I think Ellsworth is this going to

36:12paid parking too. I thought I saw

36:13>> I think I saw that too.

36:16>> One thing that just to go back many

36:19years, but I remember when we first

36:21started I started managing the parking

36:23garage and talking to people and

36:25realizing how far people walk downtown

36:28and just, you know, asking people, would

36:30you pay a dollar just park in the front

36:32row of, let's say, Walmart or Sam's Club

36:36in the middle of winter? I'm like, of

36:38course I wouldn't. you know, and it's

36:41just a it is a shift in thinking about

36:45things. And I I don't underestimate this

36:48because this is like I said, I've been

36:50through this once before, um, with this

36:53same committee and I know the push back

36:56that is going to come. Um, but also, um,

36:59I think we're seeing more and more

37:01communities adopt this as a way not only

37:03to create revenue, but also to make sure

37:07that that space in front of your

37:08business is open and is not taken up by

37:11a resident or an employee or the sheriff

37:14or somebody else that's supposed to not

37:16supposed to be there. And if they want

37:18to be there, great. They're feeding the

37:20revenue source that you want. So, and

37:23that in turn helps you to do marketing

37:26and signage and reduce parking for. So,

37:30that's just bigger picture.

37:32>> And then uh digital. [clears throat]

37:34So, we would have an app on the phone

37:36that would match with

37:38>> all of the downtown parking.

37:40>> Correct. That's that's already out. So

37:42we're already using part mobile in the

37:44in the lot and that would just be rolled

37:46out citywide

37:47>> and that's like used in lots of

37:49different like from Portouth, New

37:51Hampshire originally and they have it

37:52there. So it's like always really

37:53convenient because I'm just like oh I

37:54already have this app so like I'm good

37:56to go.

37:59>> Yeah.

38:00>> The nice thing about that too is you can

38:01add parking.

38:03>> Yeah. While you're in the restaurant

38:06>> sorry if I forgot this from our previous

38:08conversations. There wasn't a plan to do

38:10physical meters for people to add money

38:12to.

38:12>> There will be a plan and yes, there will

38:14be physical meters.

38:15>> Okay.

38:15>> Yes. But it's a limit. It's a limit.

38:17It's like 20 units, right? In the

38:19proposal. So them out, correct?

38:24>> You would figure out where they

38:28>> I've been to cities where the meters are

38:30sitting in dust.

38:31>> Yeah.

38:32>> We're in Colorado and they don't they

38:33don't they sit in dust because nobody

38:35uses them because they use part mobile.

38:36But I think in Maine, we're dealing with

38:38a different clientele. I think we need

38:39to continue to have that availability.

38:43>> And I'll be honest, I forget my phone.

38:47[laughter]

38:48>> Nice.

38:50>> Park, are these capital costs

38:51reoccurring?

38:52>> No, that's a one time. That 22,000 would

38:55be the one time. The other costs that

38:57are reoccurring are up on the next

38:59section above. That would be, you know,

39:01ongoing maintenance, collection.

39:04>> Yeah. I mean that and that number is

39:06based on buying 20. I mean if we bought

39:0915 it might be a little higher per per

39:11unit and it would go out to an RFP. You

39:14know it would go through a process. So

39:17>> that 202 in capital expenditure is that

39:20would that come from the existing

39:22enterprise fund or is that something

39:23that would have to go to city to get

39:26resources from general funds or

39:29something like that?

39:31>> That's beyond mine. That's

39:33>> I think have to look at that but we can

39:36just see how that works.

39:37>> I think that's also an important

39:38question. Absolutely.

39:39>> It's be hard to get through

39:45it costing you to $3,000

39:47[laughter]

39:48>> fact where we start it's all about the

39:50story we tell of

39:51>> Exactly.

39:52>> Absolutely.

39:52>> End game being all these suggestions

39:55that FAR has laid out for us.

39:57want that to be.

39:58>> You also have the ability as your

40:00parking management company to be able to

40:03purchase these and finance them back to

40:05the city

40:07>> so you don't get hit with a big cost.

40:09>> So that's just I'm bringing that out

40:11there.

40:12>> No, that's valuable to to know

40:16that. Yeah. I will say though, even if

40:19it costs $200,000 to buy these, we would

40:22be looking at getting about $400,000

40:25income just

40:27>> pay back.

40:29>> Yeah.

40:32>> And even if I mean, you can't super bank

40:35on these numbers, right? conservative,

40:37moderate, but even if we go like lower,

40:41like 40% conservative, we're still going

40:44to get a significant amount of revenue

40:46after the first year. We talked about

40:48this

40:51ticket costs. So, this is the

40:58number

41:00>> which I thought I saw somewhere about

41:01that was also recommendation was to

41:02increase that as well. Was that a

41:04separate is that a separate

41:05conversation?

41:06>> That's something that was something I

41:07think we discussed as I think it's part

41:10of

41:10>> Well, I did I noted it in the summary

41:13that um we had talked about it that the

41:17current fee is $15 that was updated in

41:192009, but $25 is typically standard for

41:22parking tickets. So that would also

41:24increase revenue.

41:26>> Isn't

41:28that at all? I you get information about

41:31you know when people park instead of

41:33doing the rounds

41:35>> it would it doesn't help or hurt either

41:38way it's going to be yeah the data

41:40collect it's not we're not collecting

41:42any data we're just using it to do the

41:44enforcement so either the person right

41:47now either the person stayed more than

41:4990 minutes or not

41:50>> and in this scenario it would be have

41:52they paid or not just like they do at AB

41:54square we go through have they paid

41:56>> but would you guys have to man manually

41:58go through or would you get an alert on

42:00some sort of or something like that.

42:02>> You get the alert just like we do on the

42:04on Abbott Square. You get the alert.

42:07>> So then

42:09uh

42:11are these going into where we're already

42:13within 90 minute and are they the

42:16parking going to be constrained by the

42:18time limit in that area?

42:20>> That would have to be another discussion

42:21because I mean you can

42:24Yes. So based on the conversation the

42:27onion had had would be taking some of

42:30these 60 minutes or 90 minute spaces and

42:32making them paid parking. So at that

42:35point though the committee would have to

42:36decide do we want to limit it.

42:38>> Do you want to say you can only pay for

42:41two hours and that's it

42:43>> because you can in the software you can

42:44adjust that

42:45>> or do you want to say you can pay all

42:47day if you want a dollar an hour you

42:50could pay all day. So that's something

42:52that's a larger discussion, but we can

42:55control all that with the meters and the

42:57software. So

43:00>> you can control the the software by

43:02saying you pay per one hour, right? So

43:05you're encouraging people that they'd

43:07have to come out from wherever they are

43:09to pay again. Can you do that where you

43:11pay $1 for the first hour, right? So

43:14most places you can pay for five hours

43:16at a time or whatever, however, it's

43:18unlimited. But if we want people to turn

43:22over, then we'll decide

43:24>> you say

43:24>> how much they pay at one time.

43:26>> Right. So like the meters a lot of the

43:29the on Columbia Street the price the

43:32cost per hour goes up

43:34>> after four hours.

43:36>> Um and that was discouraged people

43:38monthly people from parking there all

43:39day. You can do the same downtown. You

43:41can say yeah it's a dollar an hour for

43:43two hours and after that it goes up to

43:45$6 whatever. So if you want so there's a

43:49lot you can do but it's not I mean the

43:52costs are worked in here so the c you

43:54know the software is all there so you

43:55can just do it

43:56>> well those could maybe be things that

43:58are evaluated if this were to roll out

44:01right we roll it out in a trial period

44:03on however it's decided but then we have

44:06that flexibility right like there's

44:08[clears throat] is there an

44:08administrative fee to make those changes

44:10is that something you guys do directly

44:12>> no

44:15>> yeah because you may want price it such

44:17that it's cheaper if you're going to be

44:19eight hours it's cheaper to go into the

44:21parking lot

44:23you know so after two hours it does go

44:26up exponentially so that it's cheaper

44:30>> like Park mentioned like

44:32>> if somebody's going to be here long we

44:34do want to encourage to go into the

44:36>> parking yeah

44:39>> okay

44:39>> so

44:41and the good thing about this this

44:43system is that you can you know who it

44:45is right you know who that customer is

44:47so that they they go up and so I have

44:50this plate and I want to add more

44:52parking. Okay, you can but

44:56this one

45:00thoughts comments.

45:06So I I like I said at the beginning do

45:09have a few thoughts on it. So, first I I

45:11do want to share with this group that

45:13the downtown Bangor Partnership Board um

45:16reviewed any paid parking and voted to

45:19support paid parking in downtown Bangor.

45:22Um so, just for a matter of record um

45:25they they have done so. I think I hear

45:29your point. I think it's incredibly

45:30valid point of for your customers. Um, I

45:33think another way of looking at it, at

45:35least for me, is for the restaurants in

45:38particular, which I know that's one

45:40subset, but when we're talking about the

45:42turnover of vehicles and then being able

45:44to turn more tables, which then allows

45:46their staff to make more money because

45:48they've got more customers coming

45:50through, their tipped wage is seven

45:52something an hour. So, we want them to

45:54get plenty of tips. Um, so I think from

45:58from my perspective, I think this is a

46:01opportunity to create a lot of economic

46:04growth in downtown Bangor, encouraging

46:07that turnover, encouraging better wages

46:10for our staff members in downtown. Um,

46:13additionally, I will just say that um,

46:16being having a parking garage and being

46:17a part of conversation like we could

46:19easily spend half a million dollars a

46:21year on that parking garage

46:23in perpetuity. um like like they're

46:26they're incredibly as parks incredibly

46:29expensive and there is going to come a

46:31point where

46:33the park is going to have to go to the

46:35city and say hey look we need a million

46:37dollars because we need to redo the

46:39cocking in the joints between the floor

46:41like it is going to inevitably happen. I

46:44think generating revenue like this can

46:46help offset that. can also help us

46:49potentially add safety features to that

46:51garage. I know some of the feedback

46:53we've gotten is people are like, "It's

46:55dark in there. It's scary. I don't

46:57really want like this may give resources

46:59for for us to be able to have additional

47:01lighting installed or cameras installed

47:04or or whatever might help make people

47:07feel safer to be able to then use those

47:10because I know that's feedback that I've

47:12gotten like I don't park in the parking

47:13garage. I work here all day. I just go

47:16out and flip my car around because I

47:17don't feel safe when I get out at two in

47:18the morning or whatever it might be,

47:20right? Um and so I think just having

47:24those resources available for the

47:26parking committee or for the parking

47:28fund um is is huge huge. Um and so we

47:34are looking at 274

47:37spaces correct in downtown. The math is

47:42and it's 20 meters multis-spot meters.

47:48So that would be one per

47:52>> Yeah, it's based I think the meter

47:54placement is based on the size of the

47:56street that it's going to be on. I mean

47:58these numbers are just

48:01>> I mean we might say you might want two

48:04sp two meters on main street but only

48:07>> none on cross or whatever. Right. So,

48:10this is just very high level stuff.

48:14>> Are you concerned that there's not

48:15enough meters?

48:16>> No, I'm just trying to to like I I think

48:18that makes like we talked about earlier.

48:20I think you don't want too many meters

48:21because then they end up getting

48:24>> Yeah. dusty um unused. Um but we also

48:27want to make sure because I think Park

48:29mentioned it like we have a very um

48:32unique population in Maine, especially

48:35in northern Maine. And so, uh, we need

48:37to make sure that we're facilitating

48:39that usage for them, too. Um, you know,

48:42and making sure it's as easy as

48:43possible. It's going to be a painful

48:45roll out if it happens. Like, it it's

48:48going to be um people are not going to

48:50be super happy about it. However, um,

48:53making it easier for them to use will

48:55help alleviate some of that. So, I just

48:57want to make sure we have enough

49:02thoughts.

49:06I mean, I'd see the value. I'm just

49:08trying to stand up for the um small

49:10business people. But what's really

49:12important to me is the availability or

49:16the opportunity for those people the and

49:21I'm pretty sure we know that it's the

49:23employees and the the owners that don't

49:26have parking area for them that we don't

49:29wait until this rolls out to start

49:32publicizing where to park, providing

49:34better opportunities. I mean, you can

49:37make this a lot more palatable if we can

49:39start seeing the turnover. And yes, I

49:42know I can get a a place to park. I can

49:45get my permit so I can park in that

49:47parking lot driving to different areas,

49:50which we're not doing right now.

49:53We're not providing places for for it's

49:56easy for the residents to just park on

49:58the street. It's easy for the sheriff's

50:01people to just now park on Franklin. And

50:03for example, yesterday I got a parking

50:06ticket. I came in early, parked on

50:08Franklin, and then when it I I get my

50:11break at um 10:00, I go and move my car.

50:15Could not find a place to park. Abbott

50:17was full because of all of it. And I

50:19drove around to find another one. And I

50:22really again did not want to park in the

50:24parking garage because when I leave,

50:26it's dark, it's late.

50:29So that was a problem for me. So, I got

50:31a parking ticket and trying to find or

50:33waiting for people to move. So, as we're

50:37rolling this out, I think being mindful

50:40that we've got to start looking at how

50:42we solve this now instead of waiting for

50:45these revenues to come in. Can I just

50:48ask a clarifying question, Park, about

50:50the parking deck? Um, there are cameras

50:54in the deck, correct? And then I think

50:58at some point you had said oh and like

51:00you too um that there's someone like I

51:03park that's where I'm supposed to park

51:06and I park there like probably like more

51:09than half of the time if I'm just

51:10running into my apartment I will park on

51:12the street because it's easier than

51:14driving in and driving out. But if like

51:17most of the rest of the time I park in

51:18the deck and I I don't find it like too

51:23I'm like wondering if we can like change

51:25the narrative about the parking deck in

51:27some way [laughter]

51:28cuz I do know that like even if I park

51:31there later I think I sometimes do see

51:34someone like sitting behind the desk and

51:36like they always like acknowledge me

51:37which I really like because they're

51:39always like oh hey and I'm like oh well

51:40it's 10 p.m. and somebody's like here

51:42knows I'm here. I'm I'm just I'm

51:44wondering cuz I cuz I also like I think

51:46initially felt a little like oh it is

51:48kind of like by itself and it's a little

51:50dark but like that part that space

51:52outside just got redone and there's like

51:54some string lights now that seem like

51:56they're going to eventually get lit up

51:58maybe and some more like of the I don't

52:02know street lamps are over there and

52:05like if if we're maybe more like I don't

52:07know like it's really the parking deck's

52:11like not too scary like you

52:13part. You can go there.

52:18>> Getting all So, we changed all the

52:20lights out to LED lights. We're keeping

52:22them all on all the time now. It used to

52:24be on timers. Um, we do have somebody on

52:27staff that stays there, especially on

52:28Thursday and Friday, Saturday nights

52:30when we're open late. We have somebody

52:32there like you said

52:34>> till 1 a.m.

52:34>> Yeah, I was going to say I feel like

52:37we've done and honestly

52:41>> it's a 1:00 a.m.

52:43>> Yes, I do.

52:44>> Yes, there's always someone there know

52:46that

52:46>> and Amanda works Monday through Friday 3

52:49to midnight

52:50>> and so she's on till midnight every week

52:52and she travels between the airport and

52:54desk

52:56>> and is always checking on things. So

52:58we've done a lot. I think your point is

53:02the narrative

53:03>> and I think that's something that

53:06>> you know this committee can help with

53:07and um getting that word out there

53:10because it

53:10>> and then you know I'm sure you've been

53:12to other parking garages and I've been

53:14to

53:14>> some really sketchy ones and

53:16>> and the street plus has been quite

53:18active in the garage as well.

53:19>> Yeah, street plus. Yeah, they've been

53:21amazing and they they actually are

53:23patrolling that

53:24>> on the back side. Yeah, I mean beyond

53:26us, they're they're actually going up

53:28the stairs and going underneath where

53:30people congregate.

53:32>> They have been I mean honestly three

53:34plus has been amazing asset to the city

53:38>> and take a testimonial for say

53:43>> it's really nice to hear that. So this

53:45is a marketing problem that Bangor needs

53:47to work on to talk about parking

53:50>> to make this proposal a heck of a lot

53:53more palatable. if we've already got

53:55things in place that people, oh, I can

53:57park here there. I didn't know that

53:58parking area existed over there, driving

54:01them there now. So, this becomes a lot

54:04more palatable.

54:06>> Because it isn't right now.

54:07>> It's pretty square. We have beastro

54:10lights. We have the swing over there.

54:12>> Yeah.

54:13>> Yeah. It's really It's really I've like

54:15always walk my dog around that loop like

54:18at 1000 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. And I do feel

54:21like since the the park part has been

54:24like uh finalized and all the

54:27construction's kind of moved away like

54:28it's it's really nice over there. Like

54:30I'm like Bangor is a cool place.

54:34>> We spend a a significant amount of

54:36money. We're actually just signed up for

54:37it again this year. You'll see the

54:39parking garage were advertised as part

54:41of the downtown Bangor thing um every

54:44holiday during holiday.

54:45>> Yeah. And the lights change for the

54:47holidays which is really fun. Yeah.

54:49>> So I mean we're doing a lot. I just

54:51think

54:54I mean as part of this roll out, you

54:56know, us making that part of that and

54:59>> and I think you made a good point. I

55:00think this is the stuff that we should

55:02start communicating now so that when

55:05>> if this if um paid street parking were

55:10to become something that was push pushed

55:12forward um there already have that

55:15understanding that look I mean I I

55:18didn't know that there was somebody

55:19physically in the parking garage until

55:211:00 a.m. like had no idea.

55:23>> Yeah. I think um I was just thinking um

55:27we can work with our communications

55:28manager to do some initial outreach

55:30about that you know and some of the

55:32improvements we've made and um I'm

55:35wondering is it something the downtown

55:36mayor partnership could help publicize

55:41>> we not speak for the entire organization

55:43as only the vice president of the board

55:45but um I think it's absolutely worth the

55:48conversation and I would I I would

55:52>> I believe that they can be happy to

55:54support that, right? Um

55:57>> Betsy and I are meeting about um our the

56:00holiday marketing and we can add this to

56:02marketing like you know parking

56:05available or Yeah.

56:07>> I think we would the board would be

56:09pretty supportive of it. I just also

56:11can't speak for the entire board.

56:13>> Yeah. Yeah.

56:16>> Yeah. Because I'm I'm on right on Harlo

56:18Street with the by the library. So

56:20there's a lot of turnover. those cars

56:22are turning over because they want to go

56:23to the library. But I do see

56:26some of the population that doesn't

56:28understand how to do the paid parking in

56:31in that abbot. It's just it's sad. So

56:35when I'm there, I try to help as best as

56:37I can people that need it. So we need

56:39need a way of helping some individuals

56:42understand that, navigate that.

56:44>> But it's dark over there where I am at

56:48night, you know. It really is dark.

56:50>> Yeah. So, I think

56:52>> um yeah, I think improving lighting in

56:55our parking areas is something we can

56:56use revenue for.

56:57>> I'm hoping that will change. My neighbor

56:59has yet to open his new restaurant.

57:01We'll see what that happens. But that

57:03might that lighting might change that

57:05corner a little bit. I can only do so

57:08much with what I have for lighting. So,

57:10I try to keep my little lights on, but

57:12that the lit lit part is tough that

57:16part. So, um, just want to go back to

57:20the issues you mentioned with finding a

57:23place to park when you had to move your

57:24car.

57:25>> Yes.

57:25>> If you, so if you did feel more

57:28comfortable parking at the parking

57:29garage, would that solve that issue for

57:30you?

57:31>> Well, it's a long way for me to go. Um,

57:34but I would because I I don't have

57:36because I'm just straight through with

57:38classes. So when I need to go move my

57:40car, which I frequently do go to pay an

57:42abbot, when I don't have that

57:44opportunity and I try to drive around to

57:46get into another two hour, that's hard

57:48>> and I wouldn't have the time to go to

57:51the park and find a space there and then

57:55walk. I'd have to run back. I'd have to

57:58Yeah. Because it's a long ways to go.

58:01So, for me, I would rather be able to

58:03park at Abbott or even where the

58:05sheriffs are supposed to park. And those

58:07employees, I just have to bring that up.

58:11Um, you know, I would park there. I

58:13don't There's a that free stuff up by

58:15the that free lot by the church,

58:19but I have to walk by.

58:25So the avid square one um are you is it

58:30too expensive to get like a monthly

58:31permit there?

58:32>> Yeah. Okay. Yeah, it is.

58:35>> So it's cheaper for me to pay the

58:37parking ticket,

58:38>> right?

58:39>> Yeah.

58:39>> And that's a horrible attitude.

58:42>> No, it's a horrible attitude and I want

58:43that to change because I'm not the only

58:45one that feels that way.

58:46>> Right. And that's why I think we were

58:48thinking if we can provide this pets to

58:51um employers and employees

58:54pass

58:58>> what is the usage of the parking garage

59:02like we I know you guys have I believe

59:06we you shared it with us and I just

59:07don't recall what is the average usage

59:10rate

59:11>> I mean we're so there I'm looking at one

59:14from June and it's um we We have 445

59:18spaces. We oversell. Um oversells means

59:22that

59:24not every employee parking in that space

59:26every day. So every lot downtown we're

59:29actually able to overell them depending

59:31on how little this is. But we have like

59:33still have almost 200 spaces the parking

59:35garage that available anytime. So burden

59:40>> money yeah it's 70% somewhere in there

59:44>> overall and that varies that's not

59:46including transient transient what I

59:49mean is hourly parking

59:51>> which is goes up and down depending on

59:53the events

59:54>> so we have was 47

59:57>> 445

59:58>> 445 that are permanent parking

1:00:01>> correct

1:00:01>> and then there are an additional how

1:00:03many in transit

1:00:04>> so we we we take we we hold back about

1:00:0770 spaces for transient.

1:00:11But again, that's flexible.

1:00:13Um, yeah, you're right.

1:00:16>> When there's a concert, you're pretty

1:00:17much full.

1:00:19>> Not every concert. A lot of the concerts

1:00:21we are. Um, and we've worked through

1:00:23that this year because there was some

1:00:25push back. You know what happens. So

1:00:28just just for everybody's information,

1:00:30if we have a concert in the parking

1:00:32garage, we only so we the city has an

1:00:35agreement with waterfront concerts to

1:00:36allow them to use parking garage, but we

1:00:39only give them a certain number of

1:00:41parking spaces. They don't get the whole

1:00:43parking garage. So they have to all lot

1:00:45for all the monthly parkers that or the

1:00:48residents like yourself.

1:00:50>> So we never And if you have a if you

1:00:52have a parking pass, you're always

1:00:53getting in. Yep. no matter how sle

1:00:55>> splash your card and they're like, "Oh,

1:00:57roll right in." [laughter]

1:01:00>> Thank you.

1:01:02>> And that's and we try and even people

1:01:05coming in and we're full. The the people

1:01:07who are at the gate and are able to tell

1:01:09them, "Hey, listen, we have parking out

1:01:10back. This the garage is full today, but

1:01:13you can park for free out back. Um if

1:01:14you're going to be here or if you're

1:01:16only going to be here for two hours for

1:01:17for event, come on in. You're welcome to

1:01:20come." So, um, it's been a little bit of

1:01:23a process, but I think I think we're

1:01:26accommodating the concerts and it's a,

1:01:29uh, frankly, it's a big revenue

1:01:30generator for the parking fund. Um, um,

1:01:33because they split the costs for those.

1:01:35So, it's a nice nice payment for the

1:01:38city. But given that, I think they're

1:01:42trying to accommodate that all. So,

1:01:45yeah.

1:01:48Nor,

1:01:48>> do you want to roll this out?

1:01:51So, um, well, yeah. So, we would look at

1:01:54bringing this to council in the winter,

1:01:56maybe like January. We haven't sorted

1:01:58the timeline out yet, but then after

1:01:59that, we would do outreach. Um, when it

1:02:02would officially take place, depend on

1:02:05the reaction we get, but could be next

1:02:07year, which we don't know yet. But, how

1:02:09long do you think it would take if we

1:02:11got all the approvals and everything? Uh

1:02:14I mean to get the machines you you know

1:02:16probably a couple months you know get

1:02:18the pads in place signage in place but I

1:02:21think the biggest part is going to be

1:02:23the outreach. Okay that's going to be

1:02:25the biggest time frame. The equipment

1:02:27just a matter of we get a time slot but

1:02:31you know I think really it's getting it

1:02:33through the council. Um that's where we

1:02:37kind of hit a road last time. This this

1:02:39committee was all in favor. They hit the

1:02:41council and the council was not. Um, so

1:02:44that's the next that's the hurdle is is

1:02:47making sure that this keeps progressing

1:02:50in a certain way.

1:02:51>> Yeah. And I don't know what the outreach

1:02:53was like last time, but I think we would

1:02:55need to do a pretty big effort.

1:02:57>> Yeah. Yeah.

1:02:58>> I I imagine we would workshop it with

1:03:00council and then do a lot more the heavy

1:03:01outreach and then come back for formal

1:03:04>> I mean I think taking it slowly is the

1:03:07best process rather than just

1:03:08>> Yeah. pushing it.

1:03:11>> Yeah. And I think the council will be

1:03:13most receptive to not having to take

1:03:15money out of the general fund to upkeep

1:03:18garage. Why was that? Was Picker Square

1:03:21was the garage not there the last time

1:03:25you see?

1:03:26>> Um I think having your group on board is

1:03:30a big help because that represents a big

1:03:34core of businesses downtown and

1:03:37residents and everybody that

1:03:38participates in that organization. So

1:03:40having your group vocal and present and

1:03:45will help the process if what from my

1:03:48perspective

1:03:50>> my understanding is they were supportive

1:03:52last time. Yeah as well. So

1:03:54>> also the fact that you can reference

1:03:56your garage casino garage and the cost

1:03:59that happens there.

1:04:01>> Yeah. Oh I'm sure I will end up being at

1:04:03some council meetings when this makes

1:04:05its way through. So, um, [laughter]

1:04:13>> well, and I think I mean I think there

1:04:15are a couple of questions though that we

1:04:16had put out there that I I don't want to

1:04:18speak for the whole, but I think I I

1:04:20would like to have some answers on

1:04:22before any type of formal recommendation

1:04:24specifically related to the ability to

1:04:28uh potentially

1:04:30potentially

1:04:32uh provide like preferred rates or

1:04:35preferred timing for Bangor residents

1:04:38specifically.

1:04:39Again, I I I've been told that that is

1:04:42out there somewhere, that technology is

1:04:44out there somewhere, but I want to make

1:04:45sure

1:04:46>> I want to make sure that's something

1:04:47that's available to us and understand if

1:04:49that's an option or not.

1:04:51>> I would pose a question. Sorry. I would

1:04:52pose a question to that what you're

1:04:55getting at

1:04:57putting guard rails onto something we

1:04:58roll out. I feel like would could hurt

1:05:01us in the end. Like if if we roll this

1:05:04out, I think there's some garbage that

1:05:06makes sense. Whether it's the special

1:05:08holiday or whatever it is, but if we

1:05:10start getting into the weeds of you're a

1:05:13bigger resident, you get first hour

1:05:15free, you're not, you don't like I feel

1:05:17like we might be hurting ourselves. I

1:05:21don't know.

1:05:21>> It's fair.

1:05:22>> If we just keep on making exceptions and

1:05:24more exceptions,

1:05:26>> it's valid.

1:05:27>> I don't know. [snorts] But I think just

1:05:29asking the question about possibilities

1:05:31of it

1:05:34at least

1:05:34>> I would I I personally would have would

1:05:37depending on the answer would I would

1:05:39like have the different conversation

1:05:40based on 100%

1:05:46>> and then I think uh a little more

1:05:49perspective on where the 200 at least

1:05:52again for me the where the 22,700

1:05:55would come from I mean I know we talked

1:05:57about potentially you guys buy at least.

1:05:58But I I think I'd like to have a better

1:06:01plan, if you will, of what that would

1:06:02look like because I think I I don't

1:06:05think I know that is going to be one of

1:06:07the primary questions that will come

1:06:08from council and and if we can workshop

1:06:10a best option here so that when it goes

1:06:14forward, if we it can literally decide,

1:06:15okay, here's how we do this with minimal

1:06:18or no expense from the general fund or

1:06:21anything else. I think just just

1:06:23understanding what that looks like.

1:06:25>> Sure.

1:06:27And you know with the timing of the

1:06:28schedule as it is now you know that

1:06:31would come into the time period of when

1:06:33we start on our budget process. So that

1:06:37would work. No,

1:06:40>> those are the things I But does anyone

1:06:42else have

1:06:47>> things like

1:06:59so I think then um

1:07:03you think it's it's reasonable to to

1:07:07have those answers for the next parking

1:07:09committee meeting or do we need to

1:07:12guess?

1:07:13>> I think we'll be able to speak to

1:07:14capital

1:07:16cost sources

1:07:18or at least have an idea. I don't know

1:07:21if

1:07:22>> I think just an idea would be help like

1:07:24I don't my expectation is not because

1:07:26you guys are going back and hammering

1:07:27out contract that and saying oh we're

1:07:30going to pay 2.5% interest on three

1:07:33years and they're gonna like I don't

1:07:34think we need all that but but yeah just

1:07:36a high level These are maybe two options

1:07:39or whatever we think is the best to to

1:07:42make sure that you and as we're

1:07:45positioning it with council that it is

1:07:48as revenue neutral for them as

1:07:49performance.

1:08:01I'm not gonna say anything because I

1:08:03think I know what the answer is, but I'm

1:08:04not. [laughter]

1:08:10>> Yeah, I think I'm wondering though the

1:08:12answer on the funding kind of depends on

1:08:15the timing when we have the next

1:08:16committee meeting. We weren't really

1:08:18sure when we would have maybe um

1:08:22I don't need

1:08:26>> um I mean we should just with scheduling

1:08:28because we October is conference month

1:08:32with a lot of us. So realistically it

1:08:34probably would be mid November that we

1:08:36probably be able to just be able to

1:08:39assemble our schedules. Yeah.

1:08:41>> I think honestly though I think early

1:08:43December might make the most sense to

1:08:45give us some extra time. Mhm.

1:08:46>> Um but we can reach out

1:08:49you know

1:08:52>> committee is supposed to meet minimum

1:08:55quarter

1:08:56>> correct?

1:08:57>> Yeah.

1:08:58>> So because we moved this meeting from Q3

1:09:03is this Q3's meeting or because we are

1:09:06meeting on October 1st we

1:09:08[clears throat] are [laughter] business

1:09:09is Q4.

1:09:11So,

1:09:12>> oh, if anybody's counting, [laughter]

1:09:16>> so we could like easily say a December,

1:09:19see if we can December's a tough month

1:09:21for probably all of us, but

1:09:23>> see if we could find a date that would

1:09:25work

1:09:26>> in December.

1:09:27>> Okay.

1:09:28>> Right. Yeah.

1:09:29>> Do we want to tentatively schedule

1:09:31something now?

1:09:34>> This Thursday, what's today? Thursday.

1:09:36Is that still a good day for everyone?

1:09:38>> That is generally the best day for me.

1:09:42I know if others have other days that

1:09:45are better.

1:09:46>> There any other days that work for you

1:09:49during the week?

1:09:50>> I mean,

1:09:52just not Tuesdays.

1:09:54[clears throat] Mondays and Tuesdays are

1:09:56tough for me. Um, Wednesdays and

1:09:57Thursdays tend to be better. Um, and I

1:10:01know nobody here probably wants to do a

1:10:02Friday or Saturday. I'm at work, so I'm

1:10:05happy to do it, but I don't think the

1:10:07rest of you are.

1:10:08>> No. So, Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday

1:10:11the 3rd, we don't have any public

1:10:13meetings. And then if people are

1:10:15available mid December, we also have

1:10:16Wednesday the 16th, Thursday the 17th.

1:10:27>> Only one that doesn't work for me is the

1:10:30third.

1:10:32>> So,

1:10:3416th one.

1:10:36>> Yeah.

1:10:37>> So,

1:10:40put that.

1:10:43>> Yeah, it sounds like Wednesday might

1:10:44work.

1:10:46>> So, December second.

1:10:49>> Um, unless we want to shoot for the 16th

1:10:51give more time, but I mean it's

1:10:54>> Well, does anyone object to this second?

1:10:56I mean, that would at least give us a

1:10:58little bit of time, too, if there was a

1:11:00snow day or something like that. Yes.

1:11:02Does that work for you?

1:11:05>> We can't cancel.

1:11:06>> Can't do Wednesdays. Okay. So then we'll

1:11:08go the

1:11:1117th. That's a Thursday.

1:11:16>> We'll make it work.

1:11:17>> I mean, we have the third open,

1:11:19>> but it sounds like you can't do the

1:11:22>> So, let's do the 17th. Obviously,

1:11:36if everyone's schedules change or

1:11:38anybody has issues with that, just

1:11:41email, let us know and we can pivot.

1:11:53And then we do have one other thing and

1:11:55and Anya, I apologize for not emailing

1:11:58having it added to the agenda. Um, we

1:12:01still have not elected a vice chair.

1:12:04>> Oh, okay.

1:12:05>> From way back when I So, are we required

1:12:11to have one? Does anyone know that

1:12:14answer?

1:12:15>> I don't know.

1:12:21is if we I mean I would assume in my

1:12:24like if something were to happen I

1:12:25wasn't able to being chair we don't have

1:12:28a vice chair to step in meeting would

1:12:31not happen which is the point of having

1:12:33a

1:12:35>> yeah I mean they would just elect a

1:12:36chair proton yeah they can they can but

1:12:40it's good to have a designated

1:12:47So while Anya looks up whether or not we

1:12:49have to have one,

1:12:51>> we should have one.

1:12:53>> It does say um there should be vice

1:12:55chairs.

1:12:57>> So I open the floor to nominations or

1:13:01does anyone have this burning desire to

1:13:04vice chair the downtown banquet

1:13:06department? [laughter]

1:13:10>> Burning desire.

1:13:16really trying to sell it [laughter]

1:13:18>> earning desire.

1:13:19>> It is a good life experience.

1:13:25>> Volunteer. I can volunteer.

1:13:28>> Does anyone second Jake? [clears throat]

1:13:30>> Second.

1:13:31>> Yeah, second.

1:13:32>> We'll we'll do it. Does anyone oppose?

1:13:36>> Seem not unanimous. Jake will be

1:13:41Defer.

1:13:43[laughter]

1:13:45>> So um with that there any other items

1:13:48that anyone needs to discuss before we

1:13:51adjourn?

1:13:54Seeing them, hearing that

1:13:58during this

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