March 7, 2001
Members Present: Don Batson, Paul Bixby, Brad Bruns, Donna Daniels, Ralph Davis, Craig Edmonston, Gloria Fry, Reggie Houser, Jay Huneycutt, Lora Lennertz, Lorraine Lorne, David Martinson, Javene Mounce, Phyl Nichols, Chris Smith, Gary Smith, Miles Sonstegaard, Wes Stites and Jeff Wood. Also present were Kevin Santos from PHPL Campus Planning and Jon Efroymson, the parking consultant from Walker Parking, Johnathan Williams from the Morning News, Zac Hagns from the Traveler, Shannon Magsam from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Cameron McCree from ASG, Ramon Washington, a representative from Gregson Hall, Robert Mackey from Housing, Mark Wells from RIC, and Elaine Quinn, acting secretary.
Craig Edmonston opened the meeting at 1:30. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as corrected.
Old Business
1. Athletic Parking Task Force: Craig Edmonston said at the meeting last week that both the men’s and women’s athletics submitted how they have done event parking in the past. Gary will combine this information into one plan. The goal is still to put the student first.
2. Sigma Nu Parking Lot: The Sigma Nu’s have vacated the house but control of the parking lot is in question. Once that issue is resolved and other information is obtained from the administration, then the parking lot can be redesignated.
3. Parking Meter Fees: The parking meter rates in the parking deck are 80¢ an hour and 50¢ on the street. Lot 26 is currently $1.00 an hour. Gary Smith announced that plans had been to raise the meter rate each year by 5¢ an hour in the parking deck but it wasn’t done last year. Wesley Stites made a motion to have all meters be uniform at 80¢ an hour and that the violation fine be $10 for all meter infractions. The motion was seconded. Phyl made an amendment to the motion that the rate be 75¢ an hour. This was seconded and passed with 6 no votes. Paul Bixby made an amendment that the Administration/Hunt Hall lot (lot 26) remains at $1.00 an hour. This was seconded and passed with two abstentions. The vote on the original motion passed with five abstentions. (Meters will be 75¢ an hour except in lot 26 where it will remain at $1.00 an hour and all meter violations will be $10)
4. Temporary Permit Policy Change: Currently those with a window decal get two telephone logins a year but the owner must purchase a temporary permit if a substitute vehicle will be driven for more than two days. Gary Smith recommended that we do away with the telephone logins and anyone with a window decal can get two free weeklong temporary permits for a year. The motion was seconded and passed.
5. Permit Fees: In less than a year, campus construction on the northwest quadrant will begin in lot 29 and 650 parking spaces will be lost. There is a plan to build a 1500 parking deck in lot 44 but a 5% increase in fees won’t generate enough revenue to build that size of a deck according to Gary Smith. Fees will need to be increased considerably to create enough revenue to construct a parking deck as soon as possible. The Transit and Parking staff combined the three plans into one proposal: 24 Hour Reserved permit - $550, All Area permit - $500, Faculty/Staff Reserved - $325, Resident Reserved - $250, Faculty/Staff permit - $65/90 with a $30K break, On Campus permit - $75, Commuter (combination Off Campus and Commuter) - $50, Garage Reserved permit - $375, Garage Resident Reserved $300 and Visitor permit - $90. Much discussion followed with grave concerns over the high increases especially to Resident Reserved permits. Many favored a transit fee increase so parking revenue wouldn’t have to support transit and that monies stay in parking for construction and maintenance. It was suggested for the next meeting that Gary gather information on what the new meter fine and fee will generate, plus what increase is necessary for a transit fee to have transit be self sufficient and then what amount is needed to build the parking deck in lot 44.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20. The next meeting is April 4th.