Near the end of the City Council regular meeting of Tuesday, March 8, Mayor Pro Tem John Shada told his colleagues that he felt the downtown overtime parking fine of $70 was “a little wild.” He noted that Denver recently raised its fine to $25 and that the fine in Colorado Springs is $20.
Deputy City Administrator Roy Chaney said that the $75 fine was enacted in 2017, raised from $35. Councilor Julie Wolfe said that she felt the metered parking rates downtown were too low and that the rates should be raised and the fines should be lowered.
City Administrator Denise Howell said that the question of parking fines would appear on the April 12 work session agenda.
Howell also pointed out that the day was International Women’s Day. She noted the many women in Manitou leadership positions, including five of the seven City Council seats.
Chaney presented a proposed set of new parking regulations.
The goal for downtown parking is higher turnover, which over time would make more parking available. Higher turnover would be accomplished by higher parking rates, with exceptions for residents.
As proposed, staffers could change rates, depending on quarterly monitored occupancy rates, with a rate of 85 to 92 percent occupancy requiring no change to the parking rates. An occupancy rate of 92 to 94 percent would call for a rate increase of 25 cents per hour.
Downtown would be divided into two zones. Zone 1 would be the 500 through 900 blocks of Manitou Avenue, all of downtown Cañon Avenue, the 00 block of Ruxton Avenue and the Cañon, Wichita and Smischny lots.
Zone 1 summer rates would be $2 per hour for the first two hours, $5 per hour for hours three and four, and $10 per hour for more than four hours. Off-season downtown Zone 1 rates would be $1.50 for hours one and two, $2 per hour for hours three and four, $5 per hour for hours five and six, and $10 per hour for more than six hours.
Downtown Zone 2 would consist of the 400 block of Manitou Avenue, the 400 block of El Paso Boulevard, Park Avenue, the 1000 through 1200 blocks of Manitou Avenue and the Hiawatha and Mansions lots. These rates would be year-round, ranging from $1 to $10 per hour.
The current half-hour free parking downtown would be replaced by a 15-minute period for pick-ups.
Downtown residents would be able to purchase a $100 permit annually for parking in the 400 block of Manitou Avenue. Other Manitou residents would receive 50 free parking credits for use downtown, with one credit equaling one hour.
A similar program for businesses, intended for their employees, would be available for the 400 block of Manitou Avenue and the Prospect lot. A program for businesses’ frequent customers would be available in 10- to 50-hour blocks costing $15 to $75.
All resident and business permits would be enforced using license plate registration.
Wolfe expressed that the proposed parking program was too pro-business and anti-resident. She proposed specific resident-reserved spots in the city’s parking lots and in neighborhoods.
Councilor Judith Chandler was of the opinion that only mass transit utilizing out-of-town lots could begin to solve the city’s parking and congestion issues.
Staff and the Mobility and Parking Board would like to implement the new parking program by May 1. The complete text of the presentation is available on the City Council web page as part of the March 8 agenda (www.manitouspringsgov.com/201/City-Council and scroll down).
Neale Minch of the Manitou Arts, Culture, and Heritage Board presented that group’s proposed grants for 2022, funded by the 2021 budget from voter-approved dedicated sales tax revenue.
MACH Tier 1 consists of the Carnegie Library building, the Manitou Art Center, the Manitou Springs Heritage Center, Miramont Castle and the Hiawatha Gardens property. By law, these properties receive two-thirds of the grant funding, or $323,154 this year.
Tier 2 consists of mini-grants for artists and projects, this year totaling $156,984. The board approved 34 applications, or 84 percent of this year’s Tier 2 applications.
The question of recovering grant money in the event a grant recipient fails to complete the purpose of the grant was discussed briefly. It was decided that the MACH board will initiate this discussion via memorandum to Howell.
Council will be asked to approve these grants at the March 15 regular meeting.
Chaney updated council on the proposed Manitou trolley electric vehicle, referred to as EV Trolley or the Manitou Express.
The city’s capital budget includes $500,000 for the trolley, with other funding sources being sought. The city could work with the city of Estes Park in the process of acquiring a trolley, according to city attorney Jeff Parker. Since Estes Park already operates electric trolleys, that city’s staff could provide valuable knowledge and guidance.
Chaney said that the acquisition could take seven months or longer.
The community or council can determine the trolley’s route, but it’s presently seen as starting at Old Man’s Trail, running along Manitou Avenue to Cañon and Park avenues, Manitou Avenue to the Serpentine roundabout and return via Serpentine and Manitou Avenue.
Also presented: continuing to the route from the Serpentine roundabout to Higginbotham Flats to enable a stop at Rainbow Falls.
Council raised many questions about the trolley and will receive a further briefing at the March 22 work session.
The Cog Railway presented its parking plan for summer 2022, containing no changes from last year.