Paid Parking on the Agenda Tonight

Here is the Status Quo:

We have THREE separate parking approaches.

City----Street and lots are free, timed, with limited enforcement; Green Street lot is usually jammed not just in the summer but all year. Employees downtown are frequently doing the three hour shuffle.
NRA----Parking is free 75% of the year, it’s dirt, and priced astronomically high during the summer, in fact it’s so high that few locals will even bother to use it during the warm months.
Waterfront Trust---Parking is paid 24/7 and rarely used except when the NRA is charging an arm and a leg or the NRA is full during the warmer months or when you're desperate to get into the Black Cow and you have no choice.

In September 2010, I had sent a survey via email to 107 Ward 4 constituents.

These are constituents with whom I've had contact in my 3 years on the Council. They are not necessarily friends or supporters; in fact, many of them have had disagreements with me; they are of all political persuasions and ages; most have been in Newburyport for at least 15 years.

I received 56 responses to the survey which is over a 50% response rate.

I don't claim to be a statistician. 56 opinions out of approximately 1900 registered Ward 4 voters might not seem like much. But I compare this to pollsters, such as Suffolk University which accurately predicted both the Scott Brown-Martha Coakley race and the Charlie Baker-Deval Patrick race with a survey sample of 500 out of 4.1 million registered voters. So I think my survey has at least some validity. The results are here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=SYR8uYpixyoSf1DYuQNjiCM5Mr1V9PdwL51tz_2f5mei4_3d

I want a parking program that has four related elements:

1. net revenue gain for the City (and I have no opposition to the NRA and Waterfront Trust also sharing in this net revenue since they also use their income to provide public benefits)

2. a mechanism for the City to better manage and direct parking demand utilizing the available supply in a way that will provide better access to residents, visitors and downtown employees

3. a unified approach which allows for operational simplicity to the greatest degree possible and allows for future modifications to the parking program. A unified approach allows the City to manage the parking program and allows the NRA and Waterfront Trust to perform their public missions

4. and FAIRNESS---so that local residents and downtown employees bear as little of the brunt of this change.

I am not in favor of all elements of the current proposal, but I will support it as the best way to move us forward.

The benefits for residents:

1. additional revenue for the City to maintain the services that we need with most of that coming from tourists for whom paid parking is the expectation since it's in place from Boston to Salem to Rockport to Gloucester to Salisbury to Hampton Beach to Portsmouth. With talk on the Council of lowering the Resident Pass to a nominal price, the burden on locals will be even less.

2. access to downtown parking supply so that all the parking lots are used not just a few. Again on-street spots are free all the time. You can get your cup of coffee at Richdale or your pizza at the Factory without being charged. Counterintuitively, creating a parking program and encouraging more parkers to use the underutilized waterfront lots in the short-term provides the mechanism to eventually decrease the number of waterfront parking spots and allow that area to be developed as a public space with more green and perhaps a building or two.

It should be an interesting night.

Ed Cameron

Paid Parking

Last night I sent an email out to Ward 4 constituents asking their opinion on paid parking. In the interest of passing along information, here's what they said (with names removed)...with results still coming in;-).

Dear Ward 4 Constituent,

This Wednesday 12/1 at 6pm at City Hall the City Council's Public Safety Committee will again be meeting to discuss the Mayor's proposed paid parking plan.

Details of that plan can be found here:
http://cityofnewburyport.com/Planning/ParkingProgram.html

and a recent article in the Daily News is here:
http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x104130284/Officials-have-concerns-on-parking-plan

The ordinances associated with the parking plan will most likely be coming before the Council in the next few weeks.

Please let me know whether you are in favor of paid parking or not. Also let me know if you have questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Ed Cameron
Ward 4 Councillor

In favor.

-------------------------------------------------------------

I have a problem with paid parking in lots and free on-street parking. I think it will lead to people driving their cars around blocks (more than they do already) looking for a free spot to open up. We want to encourage less driving rather than more!

I'd prefer to see parking treated consistently on the street or in a lot, but if we're charging for all parking, the rate could be less than fifty cents an hour.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Please represent that residents should have some preference such as free or reduced rate with a residence sticker.

Thank you,

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Ed,

Yes, I'm in favor of paid parking with the proviso that residents and employees can buy an annual parking sticker (Residents should pay a higher fee than employees. In fact, it would be a good idea for employers to pay the fee for their employees.)
-------------------------------------------------------------

I support it, but remain confused about where stickered residents may park.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, Ed. I am absolutely, positively against paid parking. It is by far the worst idea that has been proposed in the 30 years that I have lived in Newburyport.

I think that the Mayor and City Council should do their jobs and actually represent the citizens and taxpayers instead of constantly coming up with schemes to raise taxes and fees .

People can not afford to keep paying and paying!

Try cutting some of the waste, instead.

Remember when we discussed the 3 million of our taxpayer dollars that you all paid for 8 small apartments worth far less than 1/3 of that figure? Thank You
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Ed,
Paid parking stinks, but it won't smell as bad if residents received stickers to park for free.
Also I wouldn't mind riding a shuttle into town if fact that would be better. Make Newburyport more of a walking city.
thanks for all you do,

##### says all the $$ the city gets from parking should go into local transportation & parking outside the city.
I agree.
Stay strong,

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Ed,

I am in favor of paid parking but would also include the streets, but I know I am a significant minority. Portsmouth charges 75 cents per hour, street or garage. The only thing you may have neglected is permits for volunteers. Many people from Newbury, West Newbury... volunteer at Firehouse, archive room at Library or perhaps Custom House regularly. I think they should be able to get some special rate, especially since they perform a great service for no money.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I am against paid parking. In this economy, let us help our businesses by letting people park for free. If the ordinance does pass, let the parking cost $.05/hour!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Ed,

I'm in accord with the passes for the lots, and think it's good that residents business people and seniors can purchase an annual pass. Not clear about whether there will be parking meters on the street. What if lots are full? Would all the public lots be available, and where would we go if lots are full?

Thanks.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Ed,

I am in favor of paid parking. It may encourage residents in our rather tight community to consider some healthier alternatives to driving, such as walking or bicycling, and will generate revenue the city needs.

The debate over this has run on long enough. Paid parking is inevitable, and like Health Care Reform, a program can't be fixed until there really is one.

Thanks for the communication and I hope the response helps.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Ed,

I fully support paid parking in the downtown, but the proposed program is going in the wrong direction. Studies from other cities show that much of the traffic congestion on downtown streets is represented by drivers circling the block looking for an open parking space. Free on-street parking encourages this behavior, regardless of whether the time limit is 15 minutes or 2 hours. Charging for off-street parking and leaving on-street parking free will further drive people to look for on-street spaces, further congest the downtown streets, and use the City's available parking spaces inefficiently.

It is generally accepted that parking should be managed with the objective of an 85% occupancy rate. This is done by calibrating parking rates so that the most desirable spaces (on-street, closest to shops) cost more per hour. Here's an example of how this approach could be applied in Newburyport, as long as the NRA lots are available:

NRA East Lot: free, 12-hour limit

Library Lot: free, 2-hour limit

Other public lots: 50 cents/hour

On-street: 75 cents/hour

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Ed,

I would like you to vote in favor of paid parking with discount to residents. The cost is modest, it won't have an impact on visitors and it will bring in much needed revenue. As for the residents saying it will be a heartship, I don't agree. Most residents know where they can find free parking on the street. Really! We need to break through these barriers and get ourselves into the 21st century.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Ed, thank you for including me on this mailing list.

It's just one man's opinion but I strongly wish the city does not approve paid parking.

Not based on logic, just intuition, I cannot help but feel it will be yet one more significant measure detracting form "quality of life" in our small but beautiful city.

Remember the bike path on Hign Street? That was rather, well, not such a good idea.

Paid parking, it makes sense in a lot of municipalities. However, Newburyport is steadily losing much of it's "charm." Parking meters, the concept of building a parking garage and the like feel so user un-friendly to me. Just my opinion.

Regardless, let me assure you, you and city officials of every stripe do have my gratitude for serving, and putting in the time and energy for those the city

Merry Christmas

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Ed,

Thanks for taking the pulse. My own feeling on parking downtown is this: I think we *need* convenient parking downtown; that it’s gotten to the point where it’s choking business downtown. I had to go downtown the other week to pick up a couple of things – a random rainy weekday afternoon in mid-November, and there were a handful of cars continually circling the parking lot. How do we think this is *not* turning off out-of-towners from coming to Newburyport for a lunch date or a quick shopping stop? And this was not summer or holiday traffic.

That said, it’s about capacity to me, not revenue generation. This plan does nothing for parking capacity, it’s simply a naked revenue grab. And it will further alienate out-of-town visitors. Ultimately, (under this plan) I’d expect all the Newburyport residents to purchase the annual parking passes, so the inconvenience will be passed solely to visitors of our downtown.

Worse, by the plan’s own forecast, we’ll wind up with a system where half of the additional revenue will be eaten up by the additional headcount and operating expenses to maintain it. And, in my experience with forecasts like these, that’s an optimistic view.

So, I think this is short-sighted and bone-headed, and does nothing to alleviate the parking shortcomings we do have. For the record, I *am* in favor of a parking garage, even if that parking garage usage is fee-based, because we’ve then added value and convenience, which this plan does not.

Let me know if you feel differently. I’d be curious. Thanks Ed.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Ed,

I am strongly in favor of a uniform paid parking system within the city. The Mayor's plan gives many options to residents, and will provide much needed revenue to the City....the bulk of which will come from visitors. We have a big problem in NBPT, in that we are a highly regarded tourist destination, that fails to capitalize on that fact! Yet....our services and public works are called upon to maintain our beautiful community. Hence, our tax dollars in effect, subsidize the benefits received by visitors. Pretty stupid if you ask me!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Ed,

A few points/questions:

* I still think it's a mistake not to charge parking for the 1000+ off street parking spaces. The city will lose money. The streets will be clogged with people cruising for free spaces. Yada, yada......
* I was happy to see the average occupancy expectancy was 28%. I thought I'd read 70% in teh paper, which is outrageous.
* I'm a little unclear on how the all day parking works in some lots (Tracey, NRA Lots). Does everyone pay one all-day flat fee upfront? Or do you have the option of paying hourly or daily?

Thanks Ed. Wish I could attend.

-------------------------------------------------------------

I am in favor of paid parking, if the funds can go towards new sidewalks throughout the city.

Thanks

-------------------------------------------------------------

I am in favor of this proposal.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Ed,

Yes I am in favor of paid parking.

Thanks, I appreciate the emails you send as a City Councilor to keep us informed and asking for our opinion.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Ed,

I am not in favor of paid parking. The net revenue estimates I've seen so far could be easily achieved through spending cuts in other areas of the city. For example, there is no need for the existence of the Molin Upper Elementary School within the Nock Middle School. I am really surprised that a new principal was hired for the Molin this year with absolutely no discussion about the necessity of the position.

In my view, paid parking is the equivalent of a tax. I simply can't support tax increases when there is still work to be done on the spending side of the ledger.

Thanks for soliciting my input.

Downtown Questions of the Day

I am going to sponsor the order Monday night which will bring the question of choosing one of the sites before the Council.

I've done some random sample surveying of Ward 4 constituents on a range of issues including downtown, parking, and waterfront. I emailed 97 constituents a survey and received 52 responses. Take it for what it's worth. Here's what I'm finding:

Regarding the future of the waterfront parking lots owned by the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority (NRA), do you favor keeping the area as parking, converting the area to park, or are you undecided?

Keep space as parking 32.7%
Convert space to park 57.1%
Undecided 10.2%

Mayor Holaday has proposed a system of paid parking for City owned parking lots located on the Waterfront and on Green Street as a way to generate revenue for the City and to better manage parking supply. Opponents say paid parking will have a negative impact on residents and the downtown. Do you favor the creation of a paid parking system for Newburyport?

Yes 61.5%
No 34.6%
Undecided 3.8%

For many years, the City has debated whether to have a parking garage downtown. Seven years ago the City Council--by one vote-- voted down a proposal to purchase property on Titcomb Street for a municipal garage. Under Mayors Moak and Holaday, a planning group has been looking at possible locations for a downtown garage. Proponents of a garage say that the additional parking is needed to replace the waterfront parking and to anticipate future needs. Opponents say a large parking structure is not needed and would be inappropriate for Newburyport. Do you believe a downtown parking garage is needed?

Yes 50.0%
No 38.5%
Undecided 11.5%

Parking Garage: Message from Jim Roy

If you were at the parking garage meeting last week, you'll recall that in addition to making comments on my own behalf, I also read a statement from Jim Roy, publisher of the Newburyport Liberator.

Jim was out of town on the night of the meeting and emailed me to ask that I read the statement. I'm not sure why he chose me, but I said, "Sure". You can read an old post of mine about Jim here.

Jim and I have not always seen eye to eye on every municipal issue, but we do agree that the NRA lots should be primarily park. His is a valuable perspective.

Below is his statement:

I regret not being able to be present tonight to deliver my thoughts on the current garage proposal in person. This is a subject near and dear to my heart since the 1970s, when Mayor Richard Sullivan appointed me to the Traffic and Parking Committee, a position I held for 25 years, the last 10 as its chairman. As some battle scarred veterans may recall, in 1999 we came within 1 city councilor,s vote of authorizing the construction of a facility on Titcomb Street. If that struggle had been won, the garage would be up and running as we speak, completely paid for, generating income for the city, cleared the central waterfront of cars, and generated an income stream to develop the open spaced, green waterfront park that all Newburyport has indicated it wants. That short-sighted city council vote has meant increased costs on the present proposal and another go-round of divisive argument, which I regret. Nonetheless, I applaud the current plan and fully endorse it.

Why, many of you might ask? Not because I love garages, buses, automobiles, traffic conjestion, or construction projects ... but because building a downtown garage is part of a quid pro quo -- without it, we will never have a completed, open, green waterfront in any of our lifetimes. It's that simple. I have worked for 30 years to achieve an open waterfront; to transform 4 1/2 acres of windblown dirt into a park like setting that all Newburyporters can enjoy forever; to finish, in other words, the "redevelopment" of downtown Newburyport. The garage facility is essentially the last step we must take to achieve this vision .. finally. A garage does not, as its opponents claim, "benefit the few." It benefits the entire city by completing the transformation of the central waterfront.

I would like to address the main arguments against a garage that I have read, 3000 miles away, from the so-called anonymous objectors.

1) The anti-garage manifesto is full of words and phrases that appeal to our sentiments in a romantic and unrealistic fashion: phrases like our "elegant, fragile city," and the "fragile charm of our downtown," when juxtaposed against sinister sounding phrases like a "big box" garage," and "out of scale" parking facilities, conjure up images of mass desecration. This is inappropriate, in my opinion. Our downtown is not a precious jewel that has to be treated gingerly or it will collapse. It is a vibrant commercial enterprise that is currently blighted by a 4 1/2 acre dirt NRA lot and a western edge that is equally blighted by the former Gibbs Gas station, the derelict Volpone garage, a shabby Victorian house, and the Fitness Factory parking lot. I strongly agree that a Green Street location is inappropriate for the garage. The Titcomb Street site, however, would be in scale with its surroundings and essentially unobtrusive. Not all garages must be ugly, far from it. Take a look at downtown Lowell, or the facility next door to the Windsor School near Beth Israel in Brookline. You'd never know they were garages. A garage facility at Titcomb would be brick, and a perfect complement to the factory building where Glenn's Restaurant is located. The bulk of City Hall would shield the structure from most of downtown; and most importantly, our studies indicated that it would capture 75% of incoming traffic before it enters the downtown.

2) The argument that garages will attract derelicts, vagrants, non-desirables etc. is scare tactic rhetoric that does not merit a response except the obvious. Since the facility would butt up against the police headquarters, I can assure everyone present this evening that this garage would be the safest on earth.

3) I have read several vehement objections to the heavy bus traffic that will, if this garage is built, flood through the city's streets, and how this garage, partially funded by MVTA, would encourage same. To which I say, what in heavens name do you think is going on right now? Commuter buses come and go all day in downtown Newburyport, and so do MVTA buses. Nothing at all would change from what is going on right now. This argument is little more than a canard.

4) The objectors pour scorn on the "unscientific" studies that have been been undertaken in the past. This is nonsense. Our committee spent $100,000 on our study, and I can assure the general public that we got our money's worth and more.

5) Put the garage out by the train station. My response? Sure, I'd love to wave a magic wand and change America's wasteful ways. I'd love to order people to take a shuttle or walk a few hundred yards more to get to the downtown, or ask employees to park 15 minutes from where they work, instead of 5. But I can't. A central garage must be just that: central. That's a fact of life.

I hope to see the day when Newburyport's redevelopment story finally is history or, in the parlance of the day, "a done deal." If there is not a downtown garage, I, along with you, will be 10 feet under before the central waterfront is ever completed. I urge everyone here to support Mayor Holaday as she and the city council attempt to bring our historic city into some conformity with other progressively minded towns on the North Shore.

Thank you all for hearing me out,

Jim Roy