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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - September 10, 2019 SSLODI CITY COUNCIL SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 A. Roll Call by City Clerk An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday, September 10, 2019, commencing at 7:02 a.m. Present: Council Member Johnson, Council Member Mounce, Council Member Nakanishi, and Mayor Chandler Absent: Mayor Pro Tempore Kuehne Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, City Attorney Magdich, and City Clerk Ferraiolo NOTE: Council Members Johnson and Mounce participated in the meeting via teleconference. Council Member Johnson's connection was disconnected at roughly 7:15 a.m. B. Topic(s) B-1 Receive Information Regarding Downtown Lodi Valet Parking Request (PW) Public Works Director Charlie Swimley provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding a request for valet parking in downtown Lodi. Specific topics of discussion included the request from The Brick House; expectation to open in September 2019 at 27 West Elm Street; existing business in Old Town Elk Grove; existing downtown parking; proposed valet service; benefits of valet parking service; valet parking in Sacramento; and next steps. Mr. Swimley stated this is the first valet parking request received and it took hard work and creativity to get it going. Council Member Nakanishi questioned if there were any negatives associated with this request. Mr. Swimley stated there is always an opportunity for something negative to occur, but staff believes the City is well covered in this case. This valet parking proposal for The Brick House will free up 25 to 30 parking spaces off the public street and it further evolves Lodi into a destination location. Council Member Nakanishi stated he supports this in the downtown area, adding he felt the City should have a valet parking policy and that it be limited to the downtown area. Mayor Chandler stated he would like to see this move forward to see how it works and study any issues that arise before determining how formalized to go on a valet parking policy. In response to Mayor Chandler, Mr. Swimley stated the two valet spaces in front of the restaurant will initially be signed via a sandwich board-type sign, but eventually there will be permanent signage indicating the spaces are reserved for valet parking services, along with the days and hours posted, and a notice that the spaces are enforced with towing. Council Member Mounce suggested this should be on an as-needed basis as she does not anticipate this being a large need and there are only a few private parking lots in downtown Lodi. She stated she would not consider a valet parking request unless there were a net gain of parking spaces and further suggested eliminating the 30-minute parking spaces downtown. Council Member Mounce expressed excitement about The Brick House coming to Lodi. Mayor Chandler stated that some of the municipal parking lots are underutilized and questioned if those lots could be used for such a purpose. Mr. Swimley stated the City could explore any service lots owned and built by the City; however, the parking structure is not an option unless it were a free valet service simply because it is funded by the Federal Transit Administration. Council Member Mounce stated she is opposed to giving up City parking to benefit a restaurant. 1 Mr. Swimley summarized that staff will establish a temporary encroachment permit for this request, try out the service, and work out any bugs, if necessary. C. Comments by Public on Non-Agenda Items Myrna Wetzel, member of the public, commented on the renovation and new equipment at Candy Cane Park and expressed concern over the high cost of the stone signage for the park. She stated the replacement sign was listed as $23,895 and the playground equipment as $20,196, which makes the signage $3,700 more expensive than the equipment. She suggested a community sponsor donate toward the rock signage or a penny drive be started up by the children. Council Member Mounce agreed, stating that spending more on the rock signage than the equipment is ridiculous. City Manager Schwabauer responded that the sign is not more expensive than the equipment, but it is more than the drinking fountain due to the expense in installing a wastewater and primary line. Council Member Nakanishi questioned if that portion of the project can be redone to eliminate the sign and utilize the funds for something else. City Manager Schwabauer stated that staff value engineered the contract and reduced the cost and design of the sign. He will provide those figures to Council, but that is one of the elements staff agreed to do when Council awarded the contract. Council Member Nakanishi stated that, if the sign has already been purchased, the City should honor that, but if not, then it should be eliminated. Council Member Mounce suggested someone reach out to the Soroptomist organization to see if the group would fund the cost of the sign. Mr. Schwabauer stated staff reached out to the group, but it declined. D. Adjournment No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 a.m. ATTEST: Jennifer M. Ferraiolo City Clerk 2 Lodi Downtown Valet Parking Request September 10, 2019 Presentation Outline •The Business – The Brick House •Current Parking Situation in Downtown Lodi •Proposed Valet Parking Service •Benefit of Valet Parking Service •Next Steps •Questions The Brick House Italian Restaurant and Lounge Expect to open September 2019 The Brick House Existing Business in Old Town Elk Grove Existing Downtown Parking Proposed Valet Service Proposed Valet Parking Proposed Valet Service Proposed Valet Parking Proposed Valet Service •Operation hours - Thursday thru Saturday, 3pm to 11pm •2 to 3 attendants on shift, depending on volume •Valet service will by provided by a fully insured valet service company •Expect 30 to 60 vehicles per day Benefits of Valet Parking Service •Customer convenience •Less stress for customers looking for parking •Security •Reduce traffic flow in downtown •Create upscale image for the business Benefits of Valet Parking Service •The downtown area gains up to 28 parking spaces from privately owned parking lot in downtown area •Allow otherwise taken parking spaces for other businesses •Decrease vehicle traffic looking for a parking space •Allow businesses to acquire more potential customers otherwise discouraged from parking situation Valet Parking in Sacramento •City of Sacramento allow permitted valet parking service on public right-of-way Next Steps •Establish a permit program to regulate valet parking service request –Only applies to downtown district –Only allow service if there is a net gain of available parking spaces in the area •Amend Lodi Municipal Code, Chapter 10 – Vehicle and Traffic, to define Valet Parking •Other items: insurance and terms of service •May require annual renewal Questions?