#2 Senior Center ParkingADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MEMORANDUM
July 8, 2009
TO: City Council
FROM: Jacob J. Winzenz, Dir. of Admin. Services/Asst. City Manager
SUBJECT: Discussion of Alternatives and Direction to Staff on Providing
Additional Parking Near Janesville Senior Center
Summary
At the February 9, 2009 meeting of the Janesville City Council staff presented
alternatives to provide additional parking near the Janesville Senior Center.
Following the presentation and discussion the City Council requested that staff
work with Mercy Health System to relocate their employee parking, explore a
permit parking system, and prepare a cost estimate to provide angled parking on
St. Lawrence Avenue and Water Streets (which would require converting both
streets to one-way).
Since February 9, 2009 the employee parking for Mercy Health System has been
relocated across Court Street to the Parking Plaza (seventeen stalls).
Engineering staff has prepared a cost estimate and schematic plan to provide
angled parking on St. Lawrence Avenue and Water Streets; and surveyed the
surrounding property owners regarding this proposal. The cost estimate, plan,
and letters from concerned property owners are attached. Staff has also explored
the option of a permit parking system which will be discussed in this
memorandum.
Recommendation
Staff continues to believe that sufficient parking exists near the Janesville Senior
Center to accommodate the current parking demand. The relocation of
employee parking for Mercy Options seems to have been effective judging by the
number of cars parking in the assigned stalls in the Parking Plaza. Staff does not
believe any additional changes are necessary at this time.
However, if the City Council wishes to further restrict the existing parking near
the Janesville Senior Center to allow more parking for center users, staff would
recommend the establishment of a permit parking system. Approximately fifty-
five stalls in the current parking lot, and on St. Lawrence Avenue west of Water
Street, would be designated as “Permit Parking Only” between 8:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parking permits would then be given to users
of the Janesville Senior Center allowing them to park in the designated stalls.
Details of this proposal would be worked-out with the Senior Center board.
Background
At the September 22, 2008, meeting of the Janesville City Council staff
presented to the City Council a study of parking occupancy around the Janesville
Senior Center. This study concluded that sufficient parking is available to meet
the current demand. Members of the Janesville Senior Center did not agree with
the conclusions of staff and requested the creation of an additional twenty (20)
parking stalls. The City Council requested staff explore alternatives to create
additional parking.
At the February 9, 2009, meeting of the Janesville City Council staff presented
alternatives to provide additional parking near the Janesville Senior Center
(report attached). Following the presentation and discussion the City Council
requested that staff work with Mercy Health System to relocate their employee
parking, explore a permit parking system, and prepare a cost estimate to provide
angled parking on St. Lawrence Avenue and Water Streets (which would require
converting both streets to one-way).
The parking for employees at Mercy Options has been relocated across Court
Street to the Parking Plaza. Seventeen (17) stalls have been designated for their
use. Based upon casual observations, it appears that the designated stalls in the
Parking Plaza are being used by Mercy7 Options employees, thus making
additional stalls near the Senior Center available for Senior Center users.
Analysis
At the City Council meeting on February 9, 2009, the City Council requested
additional information on two (2) alternatives; making St. Lawrence Avenue and
Water Streets one-way and creating angled parking on both streets, and the
exploration of a permit parking system.
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Alternative I – Creation of Angled parking on St. Lawrence Avenue and
Water Streets.
Attached is a memorandum from Mike Payne, Engineering Manager,
indicating that the estimated cost to convert St. Lawrence Avenue and
Water Streets to one-way and construct angled parking is $110,000. This
would create an additional twenty-six (26) parking stalls, or $4,230 per
stall. Under this option twelve (12) terrace trees would need to be
removed.
Staff sent surveys to approximately seventeen (17) property owners
asking if they had concerns with this alternative. Three (3) responses
were received and are attached for your consideration. These property
owners are concerned about access to their properties through the
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creation of one-way streets, the removal of terrace trees, and the expense
of creating additional parking when they do not see the need.
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Alternative II – Permit Parking
Staff believes it would be possible to designate approximately 55 stalls as
“Permit Parking Only” between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Approximately fourteen (14) stalls would still be available for use
by Mercy Options patients, adjacent businesses, and apartments. A
parking permit could then be issued to users of the Janesville Senior
Center allowing them to park in the stalls designated for permit parking.
This may make additional stalls available to members of the Janesville
Senior Center.
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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS MEMORANDUM
24 June 2009
TO: Jay Winzenz, Director of Administrative Services / Asst. City Manager
FROM: Mike Payne, Engineering Manager
SUBJECT: SENIOR CENTER PARKING FOLLOW-UP MEMO
On February 2, 2009 you presented the Council with alternatives and cost estimates for
creating additional parking at the Senior Center. The Council directed staff to evaluate
a conversion from two-way to one-way westbound on St. Lawrence Street between
Main Street and Water Street, and southbound on Water Street between St. Lawrence
and Van Buren Street to accommodate angled parking on both sides of those streets.
Creating the minimum standard aisle width for one-way traffic and angled parking
requires relocating curb and gutter on the south side of St. Lawrence Street and east
side of Water Street. This curb and gutter relocation will require removing twelve
existing trees in the affected terraces. A map of the proposed changes is attached for
your reference.
The cost estimate for these modifications is $110,000. Engineering previously prepared
a cost estimate of $60,500 for a slightly different scope on St. Lawrence Street. The
previous estimate included a cost for removing and relocating sidewalk 2-feet farther
from the curb for the entire length to ensure the bumpers of parked vehicles did not
overhang the 5-foot sidewalk. After additional consideration, Engineering believes the
bumper overhang of the sidewalk does not create significant concern and is not worth
the additional relocation costs.
The Engineering Division recently mailed a survey to all property owners on Water
Street between Court Street and the Library. There were approximately 17 surveys
mailed. Engineering received three responses to the survey from property owners
opposed to the proposed one-way conversion and removing mature terrace trees. The
three responses are attached to this memo for your reference.
Attachments
cc: Eric Levitt
j:\agenda review\approved agenda items\2009\7-13-2009\senior center parking 2 - cost estimate memo.doc