The Municipal Services Committee met 03/24/2025. One of the items they took up was a request to approve a $200,000 contract with Walker Consultants to conduct a Parking Utility Strategic Planning and Marketing Study. This was associated with a request that was included in the 2024-2025 budget carryover requests that came before the Finance Committee that included $100,000 that had originally been designated in 2024 for a Wayfinding Signs with Marketing Campaign but staff now wanted to combine that project with this study for a single study contract that cost $200,000.
It was noted by staff that it was possible the full $200,000 would not be used for the study in which case the left over funds would be directed toward implementation.
The committee ended up recommending the item for approval by a vote of 3-1 with Alderperson William Siebers (District 1) casting the dissenting vote.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
Public Works Deputy Director Pete Neuberger told the committee that the last downtown parking study had been completed in 2015. Since that time uses for the parking ramps had been impacted by the residential development taking place downtown, and there were a lot more overnight users. “There are factors to consider that we haven’t really had to consider too much in the past related to this interplay between day users, people who work downtown, versus people who live downtown.”
Additionally, technology had changed quite a bit and they now had many more tools available to access ramps, pay for parking, and manage data. “So, the time is right, from staff’s point standpoint, to get some additional guidance from an industry leader here, give us an opportunity to benefit from the wisdom that they see happening in other communities, and just help us to make good, well-informed decisions to help set our parking utility up for success well into the future.”
There were concerns raised over the $200,000 price tag and the wisdom of spending $200,000 on a parking study when one had been conducted only 10 years ago and then the recommendations from that study had never been implemented.
Alderperson Brad Firkus (District 3) confirmed with staff that the study would cover more than just downtown. They said that it would focus on downtown, but staff would be discussion with the consultant the user needs outside of the downtown area. Alderperson Vered Meltzer (District 2) stated, “I think that the price tag, though, just seems a little bit high for my comfort. So, the more comprehensive it is, the more we’re actually getting out of that price tag, the happier I’ll be to vote for this.”
Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim (District 13) was concerned about spending $200,000 when they did not know if they could even implement any of the recommendations and they had paid for a study 10 years ago that they had not followed up on.
Alderperson Meltzer felt the failure to implement the recommendations of the first study and been the result of a lack of political will and noted that the make-up of the Common Council had changed since then.
Alderperson Hartzheim understood that the make-up of the Common Council had changed but did not know whether the taxpayers were in favor of implementing any changes recommended by the study given that they didn’t know what sort of additional costs might be associated with that. “[O]ur parking utility is supposed to cover and not make a profit, but we don’t. Taxpayers currently subsidize our parking utility. Those things are not fair to the taxpayer, and I’m very, very concerned about how we move forward with this.”
Alderperson Denise Fenton (District 6) was in favor of the study and felt that it was important to use modern technology and make using and paying for parking more convenient so that parking in the ramps was more attractive.
Alderperson William Siebers (District 1) said, “I hear arguments on both sides, and I appreciate what staff has said in regards to supporting this, but it hasn’t done anything in terms of my feeling uncomfortable. I mean, I’m really feeling uncomfortable with this, and I’m going to vote against this.”
The committee voted 3-1 to recommend the item for approval with Alderpersons Meltzer, Firkus, and Fenton voting in favor and Alderperson Siebers voting against.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1290315&GUID=8D99AB54-3090-47E9-A8AA-C150BC7F0A34
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