Minutes 03/24&25/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MaTch 24, 1:981 Milton M. Phillips, 4005 Terry Drive, Chesapeake, representing Downtown Portsmouth Association, Inc., made the following presentation: "I am here tonight again respectfully requesting that you deny the Parking Authority's request for $26,000 to convert the parking meters to double their present rate. To do other- wise would be most detrimental to the business climate in downtown Portsmouth. Please allow me to reiterate 1. 2. 3. 4. some obvious facts: Whether we want to admit it or not, we are in direct competition with the area's major malls. Why come downtown and pay to park when they can park at the malls free. It must be stated that the downtown area is the only place in the entire city where you must pay to park. M6st of us feel that a loss in tax revenue, as a result of customer rebellion against higher meter razes might be more than the increase in revenue realized from these doubled rates. Consider the psychological effects just the fact that meter rates have been doubled would have tremendous adverse psychological effects on our customer. Reading in the newspaper, seeing on T.V. or hearing on radio that the parking meter rates in downtown Portsmouth have doubled would drive customers away. Is it not the trend to do away with parking meters in the downtown areas in the cities- It seems we are trying to go in the wrong direction. How can we justify spending tens of millions of dollars to revitalize the downtown sector and then drive customers away because of a few thousand dollars d6ficit in the Parking Authority's budget? Since I appeared before you four weeks ago, many meetings of the Downtown Portsmouth Association have been held. We have met with individuals and groups trying to resolve this problem. We have talked with our customers. We have talked with our employees. We have talk with disinterested parties. After all these meetings, after all the talking, the one strong is that doubling these meter rates could only be most detrimental to As a matter of fact, the concensus seems to be that we should not be rates we should be getting rid of the parking meters all together. theme that keeps reoccurr the downtown sector. tr?ing to double the The Downtown Portsmouth Association will work with the City, the Parking Authority, the Chamber of Commerce anyone to solve this problem. We believe in Portsmouth. Our Association total budget is spent promoting Portsmouth. We want to see the downtown sector thriving again. We all benefit when this occurs. Please help us keep the present parking rates." Mrs. Betsy Ackerman, 623 High Street, representing Medic Center Discount, spoke in opposition of the ~ncrease in the parking meter rares, referring to the petition submitted prior to the meeting: "We, the undersigned, are opposed to the increase proposed for the Downtown Portsmouth Parking Meters from 10~ per hour to 20~ per hour. It will prove detrimental to business, encourage shoppers to shop elsewhere plus decrease City Revenue from lack of business. Signed by D. J. Frank of Glazers and others." (Approximately 500 signatures) Nathan Savage, 625 High Street, representing Crockin-Levy Furniture, spoke in opposition increasing the parking meter rates. to -'Jim-~r&~,-23~-High Street, representing Hofheimer's Downtown, spoke in opposition of the parking meter rate increase and ask to consider removing the meters on a trial basis for 1 yr. Charles B. Whitehurst, 6521 Bickford Lane, representing made the following presentation: Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, "The Portsmouth Chamber appreciates the action of Council in deferring a vote on the parking meter conversion and increase in rates on March 10, 1981, in order to permit a more thorough review of this proposal by the Chamber and other interested parties. Our position this evening is that the conversion of meters and an increase in rates shoul not be changed at this time. This comes as a result of recent meetings and discussion with th Chamber-City Relations Ta~k Force, Members of the Downtown Portsmouth Association, and repre- sentatives of the Parking Authority and City Council. ' While this decision basically reflects our concern regarding negative reaction that would occur as a result of increases at the present time, the action was not taken~d~homt: considerat of the tight fiscal situation facing both City Council and the Parking Authority. It appears that other avenues, ~uch as an increase in monthly renters, off-street rates for cmmmuter parking, and metering of other commercial area on-street spaces, might be con- sidered as alternatives to generate the additional revenues required by the Parking Authority Therefore, the Chamber would like to offer the services of its Chamber-City Relations Tas] Force in working with the City, Parking Authority and Downtown Association, to address both short and long-term solutions to parking in downtown Portsmouth."