City Downtown Parking Public Meeting

Documenter name: Debbie Haslam

Agency: None

Date: Aug. 12, 2024

See more about this meeting at Documenters.org

Meeting Summary: Parking and Mobility Plan Presentation

Attendance:

• Total Attendees: 50
• Media Presence: Two media staff attended—one from KWCH and another camera operator.

Presentation Overview:
The meeting featured a PowerPoint presentation by Troy Anderson, Assistant City Manager for Economic Development, on the Parking and Mobility Plan. Anderson said that he would be using the same slide deck that has been in circulation for the past 12-18 months.

Key Points Discussed:

• Parking Isn’t Free: Anderson emphasized that “free parking is not free,” referencing Donald Shoup's book, The High Cost of Free Parking.
• Historical Context: The presentation included a history of parking, covering topics such as parking meters, off-street parking requirements, and the excessive amount of land allocated to parking lots. Anderson showed a video that mentioned the city of Cupertino and Steve Jobs' parking garages as a case study.
• Taxpayer Impact: It's noted that taxpayers are footing the bill for parking in Wichita, unlike larger cities that have continued with parking fees. Anderson explained that wherever you go, you’re paying for parking in some form.

Strategy and Recommendations:

1. Market-Driven Parking Fees: Anderson advocated for charging fair market prices for on-street parking, using the revenue to benefit metered neighborhoods, and removing off-street parking requirements.
2. Wichita’s Car Culture: Anderson acknowledged that Wichita is a very auto-oriented community, but highlighted the importance of rethinking parking strategies, referencing Eran Ben-Joseph’s book, Rethinking a Lot.
3. Local Policies: The city’s Community Investments Plan aims to anticipate future growth and promote more walkable, urban-scale projects.
4. Downtown Parking and Mobility Master Plan (c. 2009): This plan supports economic development through a self-supporting enterprise fund that can only be spent on parking-related expenses. It encourages a “park once” strategy which encourages people to park once and do several different things downtown.
5. Outsourcing Management: Responsibility for parking management may be transferred to an outside source, such as Wichita Ambassador.
6. Reevaluating Fees: Parking fees charged to Old Town, Downtown and Delano businesses need reevaluation, and will be adjusted considering events at Intrust Arena.

Community Involvement and Feedback:

• Public Engagement: The development of the Parking and Multimodal Plan included 18 months of community input, with 6 meetings, 6 focus group meetings, 2 open house events, and 900 responses to a community survey.
• Steering Committee: In 2022, the city council reappointed a steering committee, which presented the plan to 11 different advisory committees and boards in the fall of 2022.
• Citywide Application: The plan will eventually extend beyond downtown, impacting various neighborhoods across Wichita.

Existing Conditions:

• Land Usage: 60% of land parcels in the study area (Downtown, Old Town, Delano) are either vacant or occupied by parking lots. This was compared to downtown areas in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, and Kansas City, where there are fewer vacant spaces and parking lots.
• Current Operations: The existing system can cover basic operations but is insufficient for addressing all city priorities and substantial maintenance projects.
• Parking Utilization: Anderson mentioned data that shows that only 39% of parking spaces are used on weekdays, and 27% on weekends. Anderson said that there’s a consensus that Wichita would benefit from more consistent policies and new technology to help users conveniently locate, learn about, and pay for parking.

Implementation Strategy:

• Technology: Improve customer experience through new technology.
• Enforcement: Consider outsourcing parking enforcement.
• Strategic Addressing of Parking Shortages: Develop targeted strategies to address parking shortages.
• Financial Efficiency: Work towards eliminating taxpayer and general fund subsidies for parking.
• Convenience: Ensure multiple payment options are accepted and make parking as easy and convenient as possible, while maintaining city management instead of privatization.

Note from Documenter: These were numbered on the slide and certain numbers were skipped, i.e. 4, 7, and 8.

Implementation Strategy and Actions

        The meters will accept multiple forms of payment which makes it as easy and convenient as possible for the consumer.

        The city managing parking instead of a business will eliminate the excess profit. I.e. the city can charge lower amounts for parking.

Members in the room began to ask when they could ask questions. They expressed that the PowerPoint lasted much longer than he originally stated and they felt that he was speaking too long. They mentioned that they had to get back to their jobs.

Anderson asked to be given the opportunity to complete his presentation and continued on. The crowd became restless and upset by this and a group of about 8 to 10 walked out.  

Q&A Summary: Parking and Mobility Plan Meeting

Question: How much should we charge for parking?
Response: The pricing should only cover the costs necessary to achieve the desired parking occupancy. In lower demand areas, prices may vary, ranging from $0.75 to $2.00 to recoup credit card fees and align with industry best practices. It's estimated that each parking space should earn $500-600 annually. This is to assist with improving the parking fund which has been on the decline for the past several years. Parking is considered a commodity or a perishable good, so it’s important to balance availability with occupancy.

Question: Our transit system is not nearly as good as in Tulsa and Kansas CIty, and we don’t have the attractions or infrastructure that those cities have. What’s the plan?
Response: The transit system is currently under analysis, with recommendations to make it more robust. The city is weighing options to improve the transit system.

Question: What’s the plan for January 1st? Small business owners are concerned about what to tell their customers when parking charges begin.
Response: Once again, Anderson quoted the book title, “Free parking is not free; someone is paying for it.” Wichita is a destination city, people from other places come here for events, etc. This helps the costs to be passed on to those who come to visit. Outsiders paying the fees could offset some of the burden. The city is exploring pilot programs and phased implementations to support small businesses.

Question: Can this decision be reversed? We’re concerned about the impact on small businesses.
Response: The plan has been adopted and a contract has been signed with Car Park, and this includes implementation strategies. The City Council would need to make any changes. The city is looking into options, including possible pilot programs, to mitigate the impact on small businesses.

Question: Are these meetings deliberately scheduled at inconvenient times?
Response: This is not the only meeting; several others are scheduled. The city aims to accommodate different time schedules, and the system will be adjusted as needed over time.

Question: What happens during events like Riverfest?
Response: The system will be flexible and can be tweaked over time, including increasing or decreasing meter prices during big events and adjusting policies for special events.

Question: How will this affect parking for residents in areas like Delano?
Response: The city is not taking away parking; rather, it’s adjusting the system to make parking more efficient. The current budget challenges require careful consideration of how funds are allocated, and user fees could help direct funds to areas in need.

Question: Can street parking be charged as a monthly fee?
Response: Currently, no other city implements this model, but it’s being considered. (Chicago was mentioned as an example where this is in place.)

Question: Will there be options for non-profits, considering the impact on staff, clients, and volunteers?
Response: The city is open to conversations with non-profits to find solutions.

Question: Were businesses involved in the development of this plan?
Response: Yes, the city engaged with businesses and presented the plan to the downtown board, which approved it unanimously. Efforts have been made to include businesses, including newer ones, in the discussions.

Question: How will this affect employees who work downtown?
Response: Employees may need to consider alternatives like parking a few blocks away. The city is open to discussions about providing parking grants or other support for businesses.

Question: Has there been a look at the rates for businesses to provide parking for employees?
Response: Yes, the city can establish contracts with businesses for parking, similar to existing agreements for downtown parking garages, these rates may be around $70 per stall per month and $35 per space for lots.

Question: Who is responsible for setting parking rates and areas?
Response: The city will create different options and rate structures to ensure flexibility, allowing people to find parking that works for them. The city has also been in conversations with downtown owners, including those in Delano.

Question:  What owners in Delano? I know most of the business owners in the area and have not heard about this. (basic response was that he promises that conversations have been had but he cannot disclose the names).

Question: What about vehicle issues that cause my vehicle to be stuck in a space for an extended time?
Response: The city will address these concerns as they arise.

The meeting ended at 2:55 pm.

Summary

Summarize the 3 most important outcomes or takeaways from your notes....

• The city of Wichita plans to implement paid parking in the Downtown, Old Town and Delano areas starting in January 2025.
• Small business owners, residents, and downtown employees expressed significant concerns about the impact of paid parking on their businesses and daily lives.
• “Free parking is not free” is the mantra being shared by the city and their representatives when addressing the issues of paid parking.

Follow-Up Questions

What are you left wondering? Ask up to 3 of your own follow-up questions...

• Why didn’t the city hold meetings like this before the contract was signed with Car Park?
• Why was Troy Anderson the only City staff member that spoke during this meeting? Where were other staff members/council members?
• What is the real purpose of these meetings if it is already a “done deal”?

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@citybureau.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.