00:00:06,630	So morning, everybody. It’s nine o’clock on March 14th 2024. This is the regular monthly meeting of the Bismarck parking authority. Welcome everybody in the audience. Yeah, and everyone who’s watching at home. Um, the first item of business on your agenda would be to consider the minutes of our February 8th meeting.

00:00:25,400	You have them before you or are there any changes? Corrections comments, suggestions? Dele additions. If not Is there a motion to approve. Move to approve. Second moved in second and all in favor. Say. Aye, I the motion carries thank you. We’ll move on to the regular agenda. Excuse me.

00:00:44,700	It is a pretty late agenda this morning, so I don’t anticipate this meeting taking more than a couple of hours. First item would be to review the financial information from February. Does management have anything? They would like to point out extraordinary.

00:01:06,670	Or otherwise, Mr Chair Authority board members, um two months in now for the new year, and we’re sitting well for, uh, staying in line with budget on both income and expense side of items. Um, the, uh, real estate taxes, uh, part on your month to date amount That is for, uh, what we have to pay on the commercial side, um of the Parca building because the the the other Rams themselves are, um as a municipality don’t have

00:01:25,700	real estate taxes, Um, on that other than just assessment. But that’s for the commercial side, specifically. Uh and then capital improvements that included the, Um uh, bills for the park, a restroom updates, and then we did have a, um, A sander Box, uh, upgrade for the pickup as well. Um, included in that The reserve account.

00:01:51,770	Uh $1,863,963 combined with our, uh, checking, um operating funds 117,457 for a combined combined total 1,981,421. So we’re getting close to the new ramp purchase there. Any questions or comments of management regarding the financials. Quick question.

00:02:15,570	Jeremy is that, uh, bathroom update Is that complete Or is that still in progress? So we still um we decided to do the painting of the stalls in house and still, that part is still in progress. But. The plumbing stuff is completed. Any feedback from the tenants on that. Uh, none on my end, I guess uh uh, Corey receive any, uh OK, great.

00:02:36,170	Other comments or questions, Anybody have anything any questions or comments on the financials? If not we’d entertain a motion to approve the financials as presented. I’ll make that motion. Is there. A. Second moved in seconded. Further discussion hearing. No call or roll, please Sue. Josh Todd Jim. Yes. The motion carries Thank you Item three on the agenda is a pickup truck vehicle purchase.

00:02:55,970	Jeremy? Yep, Mr Chair Authority board members. Um this item did, uh, so we went through Fleet services with the city and, um, that was put on the consent agenda with the commission meeting last month, and that was approved and, um, that contract purchase price was $44,675. So. That is on order.

00:03:25,300	Um, it’s um Said that it’s in Should be well, march 25th end of this month. It’s um in route and so I think we’ll be receiving it, probably April ish time frame. So 44 6 75. That’s a 2024. That’s a new vehicle. 2024 GMC Sierra is that four wheel drive Probably. Yes. I would think so.

00:03:44,730	Pushing snow around questions or comments on that item. Seems like a pretty Fair deal. Yeah and we we did confirm prior to the purchase that it is compatible with or that we’ll be able to put the blade. Uh, you know, for pushing on the front and then with our sander box that the dimensions will work for that as well.

00:04:02,300	So those of us who aren’t familiar with the city fleet. We went through the city fleet purchase process on this, Uh, yes, yeah with uh Kurt O’Neil, the um, manager director helped, um Assist US saved us or cost us extra. Yeah roughly about, uh, about five, or $6000.

00:04:24,630	Because we we We went on the open market local to a couple different dealerships and priced out comparisons. So we did a little bit of savings, I think. All right? Um, we’ll move on to other business, which is the 3rd and 3rd Avenue intersection. I don’t know who wants to take that one. Jeremy here. Um, I put this on the agenda in case there was further discussion.

00:04:46,570	Um Needed or required as far as what? Um The parking Authority board would like management to do on Um Smit comment, I guess to the city and or DOT and what those time frames are is I’m not I was hoping kate could help me on that.

00:05:05,830	And if, uh Welcome as far as the timelines for public comment and whatnot. Testing. Got it OK? I’m sorry. Um So. We’ve had some comments from folks that use it just as a driving corridor that like not stopping, Um it’s the folks that are trying to get in and out on third Street and then you know, from third Street on to there, particularly or

00:05:41,970	pedestrians trying to cross it that we’ve had some comments that you know they think it’s unsafe, so I’d say It’s mixed right now, Um, we were thinking about your lot. Even when there was a lot that there was a light there. You kind of relied on strangers. Um, kindness to sort of let you out of that lot.

00:06:00,170	So if it does stay permanent, um There might be an opportunity to try and maybe just write in in that location and maybe go out on the alley and disperse out into two locations if it gets to be problematic, So, um, just wanted to throw that out there, but, yeah, I think comments are

00:06:18,770	still at 90 days, so I think it’s like the end of March? Do? You. Remember Isaac. If when how long they’re taking comments DOT on the third Street one I think it’s the end of March, but Um So yeah, I would love to have some comments. We’ve gotten some from folks And.

00:06:33,230	Then when I mentioned what about their getting out of that parking lot to Oh. I didn’t I didn’t think about that. So, maybe from your users if you’ve had any other, um, feedback for people in that lot, trying to get out, But any feedback from the third and Rosser tenants? Uh, Chair Authority board members.

00:06:49,970	I’ve had a few comments from parking customers that utilize the third. Uh and Ross are law and that it, um gets a little hairy. So is it around the five o’clock hour when Traffic when when they’re trying to get out of just that single lane and the the visual obstruction is the the vehicles that are, um,

00:07:10,230	that are part um, on that street. Um Between Thayer and Rosser, and it’s just hard to see around them because of how close the building is from that driveway apron as well. The, um Um Trying to think Which the the fire, uh, pit restaurant in that building in that location, So. So, uh, So.

00:07:31,470	Like I said a few customers have expressed, I guess kind of concern of, uh, with with the traffic light that was there before that gave him a little bit of a buffer and time to be able to maneuver. So. Well. A. We should encourage everybody to go online and comment on the DOT S.

00:07:48,170	And is there a link to that through our website through the parking authority’s website or Don Toner’s website? We can we can send you the link or the contact information. We’ve been collecting it from our members, and we’re just packaging it to send it all in one fell swoop. She send a toss, too. We can certainly send it.

00:08:04,730	Yeah, we can add it to the park it the right way. I don’t know if it’s appropriate for the parking authority to take a position on it or not. Obviously individually we can go.

00:08:20,070	We can all express our Opinion as drivers and taxpayers, but, uh I don’t know if the and even not necessarily taking a motion or, uh or, you know, make taking a position. But, Just giving us your feedback on that It’s not or why it’s not working is helpful. Or what you’ve heard from your customers. Comm.. I know I’ve only traveled that turning left off there on the third Street once and, um it was during sundown.

00:08:42,570	And traffic was backed up so He almost had to, uh, take your chances on going across the street. It’s Um Not a safe thing in that one experience, so I could only imagine some of the other situations that people don’t report. There there A Excuse me. Does. The city commission get to weigh in on these.

00:09:05,900	Issues like because it’s state to money that that’s involved, but there’s some city money. I’m sure is maintaining the the signalized intersection. They they will get to weigh in but dot I think kind of has the final say on it. Well. I’m sure they’ll work it out.

00:09:25,630	But I mean dot has quite a Uh, at least half of the dollars in this project are close to 2 million. Something like that, so, but in this case, they removed an existing signal. A right, right. Have we seen that a lot in man down. Like, where? On Main avenue. Where, Um, you know dot put dollars into Main Avenue.

00:09:43,170	Then They look at all the signalized intersections because they end up again paying for them or or maintaining them, so they took some out or put some just to go to flashing yellow or something like that, Um, So It’s a pretty common thing, if dot is putting money in that they want to look at the efficiency of all the infrastructure. That’s on that I would ask Comm.

00:10:00,030	connelly again If. This is something that will rise to the table at the City Commission meetings. Um gabe presented the 90 Day window to us. And then after that, um there’s always public comment every other week. So in the city, even though it’s restricted to items on the agenda. The City never restricted.

00:10:21,900	Really Anybody, Um I mean there’s probably a precedence to where they would weigh in and say, We got to get on with regular business and stuff. Um so we stay within the guidance of what Open meetings are, but in other light conversations, part of the reason why the reconstructive South Washington, this is before my appointment, um, a

00:10:39,930	couple of years ago, they talked about the light at Reno to where there was actually loss of life. But they said, if they did any reconstruction, or, um, Certain parameters at that time and times change, But. Um they said that that light would no longer be there.

00:11:00,100	So that caused some great concern and that’s why I remember watching that discussion. That’s why they just decided to do the road maintenance at that time rather than replace or reconstruct it, because a lot of people don’t want that light to go now, if you reconstruct it, then the conversation was. Well. If. We do go against dot and put a light in Um Right.

00:11:22,730	It’s on us, and then there would be a question. Why should DOT do anything for Bismarck that’s always floated out there. Um, it’s Creates a hardship on the conversation. And. It causes a lot of, uh, heartache amongst the citizens as well so hopefully we can grow into a better conversation with it instead of Just.

00:11:46,170	These guardrail things to wear. Well. We’re kind of out of it. So if I can ask as the city city engineer or traffic engineer, which is in the city Engineering department have they weighed in on this particular intersection or have they been asked to No They don’t have an opinion on whether there should be a light

00:12:04,200	there or not. They only have one, but it hasn’t been right. I wouldn’t want to speak for gabe. And that, um, knowing other projects and everything. Um He was, um, will say that he errs on the side of safety, which is good. Um, and he’s a very articulate and data driven person.

00:12:27,270	Um, so he will Um, state the opinions but or what His perspective is based on his background. He’ll also usually share the other options. But is that the option that people are most comfortable with time will tell. So at the end of the day.

00:12:47,770	We need The using the users, the public the people that I even walk and work over there to weigh in. If they Of retained We said. We were going to put a roundabout there. I Bet you’d get a lot of comments so So I Last meeting. I did say, I, I make that left hand turned off of there every night. It is a disaster. And. You are right.

00:13:07,370	You’re taking your life in your hands and I. You know I’m not worried about me getting hit by a car, but we got restaurants there. And. I watch those people try to cross the street. And. It’s not safe and we are going to have a fatality there. I know we will because there’s too much traffic and it’s When.

00:13:24,330	You don’t have any signal the speed gets faster and faster and that parking lot I would agree that we’re going to have to do something in the alley because nobody’s gonna wanna use that without a right turn only right in an alley out or something right out.

00:13:41,300	You see how well that works at the third and main ramp too? Yeah and one final. It’s. It’s literally like frog or depending on the part of the day. Um, but, uh, gabe, I as I was really open, even when before my appointment and things if I would call him up, he would make it a point to give me a call and things so

00:13:59,070	he’s good. About that I can’t guarantee you’ll always like the answer, but certainly, um through this survey, and, um, making those proactive calls. That’s how we learn the more people that talk about it. Hopefully we can come to the best decision that helps our city.

00:14:18,330	Would it be appropriate for the parking authority to request that the city Commission Uh, express. Are concerns. And on behalf of our partners at the third and Rosser ramp ramp in particular. Excuse me lots in particular. Just to No. Next expression of Mr chair. Also just thinking about that area, So. Now, you have the existing users there already, There might be some issues.

00:14:44,500	But, you know, US Bank had to drive up there They that they don’t That’s not functional anymore, but it’s still a drive up downtown, and those are hard to get so I could see that maybe somebody grabbing that up if they would would sell it, And, then you’ve got the lander property. That’s starting demolition.

00:15:00,370	So, You’re gonna have some stuff on the West side. That’s gonna generate some more cross traffic on Street in future that if the latter project goes forward to fruition, they’re talking about 90 living units on that corner. Yeah. I think it’d be pretty similar to the size of Renaissance lofts.

00:15:19,570	That’s and a little bit of commercial, maybe on the main floor well again if it’s appropriate. It’s the consensus of the parking authority that at least the city commission Further study it or ask the city engineer opinion, or do we want to actually take a stand and So that we we feel that there should be a signalized intersection there.

00:15:42,570	Getting out of our out of our depth of our field. But Yeah. I don’t know if we’re out of our lane on here, but my recommendation would be that we do urge the city Commission to To, um Have some kind of safety controls there in in place, and I would think it. It’s it’s a light.

00:15:59,730	OK would that be the consensus of the members here? So SE will reflect that in the minutes and Jeremy will send a letter to Comm. Connolly. Mr Chair if I may to just as an additional comment that if we, uh, would need to further explore the route of And exit through the alley to turn on the fair from that third and their lot that

00:16:21,700	it’s doable. What. There would be a lot of work wrongs we’d have to trench in, uh, electrical line to put another gate in that location, do some new curbing and and whatnot so not impossible, but would be a little bit of an endeavor. Thanks, Jeremy.

00:16:40,770	OK? Um other business or other comments on that item. If not we’ll move on to other business. Is there anything from the downtown escape? Chair Authority members. We, uh uh. A couple months ago, we’d asked about a survey of folks that wanted to use an app since you guys are looking on pay by app.

00:16:59,430	So Jeremy had sent a kind of a draft of a survey. We have, um, kind of added to it a little bit, and I’ll send it to Jeremy to send out to you guys. And, if you’re, um good with it, we can then send it out through those channels for everyone.

00:17:15,970	One a couple of the questions we asked We also wanted to know if folks paid for their own parking or their employer paid for their parking. So to us. I think that’s a kind of an important question. Like Yeah, I’ll, I’ll.

00:17:30,430	That’d be great if they’re not paying for it, Um, to see kind of how the employer so we asked if they pay or the employer pays, and then we ask those questions for hourly and for monthly parkers. Um And, then just any additional feedback so Could send that out. Soon as if, um you guys are good with it, and I’ll shoot it to Jeremy. Oh, all right. Thanks, Kate. I have a couple items. Um One.

00:17:51,770	We’ve had some recent meetings with representatives from Sanford. Yeah. They can’t get into specifics, But. Excuse me There is still very strong interest in moving forward with some sort of a parking structure on the North Rosser corridor. They are doing more expansion in the, uh, the main facility.

00:18:12,530	Including adding beds and that means adding nurses and other personnel um And they Obviously stressed out or I should say concerned about Um, parking availability so that their employees aren’t park on the street. So. We will continue those conversations. As for the heart Hospital. Um, I am told that it is still alive and alive and beating Project heart.

00:18:37,670	Um, but no exact timeline yet, Uh, probably not until 26 27 34 years old. Um, but it’s still It still, um A potential project so Um, they are expanding the clinic at seventh and Maine. Um, basically doubling that in size. Which is going to eliminate 30 years, so parking spaces right there.

00:19:02,530	They’re within the parking district, So that’s that’s allowed. Uh, but the point being is is, uh they remain committed. Sanford remains committed to to, uh, the downtown. Environment and I think it behooves us to do what we can to make sure that we keep them as a customer. A man as a partner in in our parking, uh, ventures as we go forward.

00:19:21,430	Uh, the other thing that’s come up is the city. Uh, starting the budgeting process already, Um, administration upstairs reached out to us to see if we had we, the parking authority had any, um, changes in mind for the city rate.

00:19:41,370	Which currently is Jeremy 32 well for the city part or so much the city is paying the city’s paying roughly about 30 to a spot $32 a space and we’re talking essentially on the sixth Street ramp next door, Um in the market rate is 64. So. The City is paying roughly half Excuse me half the market and We.

00:20:00,370	We’ve already met on the issue of our rates for the year doesn’t mean we can’t make an exception or talk about what the City, uh, pays, and I think that the city expects us to come back with some sort of a Ask for an increase in the last time. I think it was $2. So whopping.

00:20:17,570	$2 rate, you know, per car, but there’s also 100 and 20 cars involved, I think 122 122 cars. So. I thought it and And. When. Did They want that response, Jeremy. If if and when we’re going to do anything about it. I can’t. I have to look back to see if there was a deadline, but I, probably just sooner than later.

00:20:35,100	But. I think July is kind of the well, that’s when they get that’s the actual budget. Right? Right. It’s already starting to build build the paperwork for their budget so we can put it on the agenda for the next meeting and still be Still be adequate to talk about it at the April meeting, then Just

00:20:48,530	wanted to bring it to your attention. It’s all I have. Sorry Jimmy a jog my memory a little bit. Um There. There is a precast concrete company. That’s that’s coming to Bismarck. And.

00:21:08,900	So we’re talking about, you know, building a ramp That might be an interesting option to look at the I think we were pulling things from Fargo and western Minnesota last time, you know, and maybe it would cut down on costs a little bit, um, to your point about additional ramp and additional spaces in a good way.

00:21:24,370	We’re actually seeing some some good office activity now in downtown again, and we’ve got a bigger user that’s going to be coming down. Um and I don’t know if the fella uses the ramps necessarily, because they’re a little bit off of that beaten path. Um, we’ve got some spaces that have now been taken in, Um I don’t know if I can say it out loud. 3rd 3rd some third street area stuff.

00:21:43,430	Um, you know, with KLJ coming in the third and and, uh, main ramp is actually quite full now. I mean I’ve parked there for 14 years, and it’s some of the fullest I’ve seen in a long time.

00:22:00,500	So, um, as we’re, we probably do need to, you know, kick off that conversation again a little bit because it’ll take quite some time to get a ramp going and What we’re seeing generally is folks that maybe have a larger office footprint outside of the downtown and I’ve gone to maybe a little bit of hybrid or looking for a smaller footprint, and so they’ve been coming back into the downtown.

00:22:15,530	Um And leasing a decent amount of office space. So It is a good thing. Yeah, for sure. Thanks, kate. Other business. Anybody have anything germy? Uh, Mr Chair, Um we did get a, uh um Survey assessment done by ender for the ramps, values for insured value.

00:22:43,830	Um and, um Previously we of all of the four ramps insured value was 64 million. And with the new, um Assessment survey that, of course with replacement costs nowadays, you know, going through the roof, but 81 million is the new suggested insured value between all four Rams, So. That would increase. Um The insurance premium by, uh, $5776. We were, um I. Guess current rate is 23,000.

00:23:08,470	55 new rate would be 28,831. Yeah. And. That’s we just accept that there’s not much we can do about it. Right. Well. I mean, we would could the limit suggestion is likely what we Should comply with, I guess and not be under insured, so It is a bargain.

00:23:32,370	For the city for what we pay for insurance so I would end the gentleman Who does that for ADF is very, very thorough and I work with him a lot. I definitely recommend that we bump that up to where he says it should. It should be.

00:23:48,100	You want to put that in the form of a motion? If it’s necessary or just to prove we can approve the I guess I’ll. Yeah. I’ll make a motion to accept the new replacement cost value for the ramps a second. Second. Thank you, um any further discussion if not call the roll. Please Sue on that question. Yes. Todd. Yes Jim. Yes motion carries anything else for the good of the order.

00:24:13,030	If not we stand adjourned unless there’s an objection we extend adjourned until April.