Traffic Panel Reviews Downtown Parking Survey Responses
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The surveys were available on the city website and distributed to visitors, local businesses, downtown merchants and residents.
The traffic commission Wednesday voted to table any action on the downtown parking survey results.
Parking committees will meet and make recommendations back to the commission on their thoughts on the parking survey responses.
There also will be public meetings scheduled when residents will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the downtown parking ideas at Warsaw Plan Commission and Warsaw City Council.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said he is very encouraged by the response from those who completed the surveys. There were more than 500 downtown parking surveys completed.
“This is information and data off-street and on-street parking committees will use to come up with some parking solutions in the downtown,” Thallemer said. “I am overwhelmed at the results of the survey and the quality of the questions.”
Thallemer thanked Cindy Dobbins and Mike Klondaris, downtown parking committee co-chairs, for their work on the surveys and those who completed the surveys.
Thallemer said the downtown parking results will be given to subcommittees that have been set up to make recommendations to the traffic commission.
A financial and policy committee also will be implemented that will provide recommendations on the feasibility of parking recommendations made.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner is in charge of the off-street parking committee with Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner, and off-street parking members Ron Robinson and Gary Salyer. The on-street committee is chaired by Kip Shuter with members Jeff Grose, Jerry Frush, Steve Foster and Kim Arnold.
For the downtown Warsaw visitor portion of the survey, of the 350 responses, 72 percent said they park downtown to attend downtown events; 62 percent park to conduct business; 87 percent park to eat at downtown restaurants; 55 percent park to shop downtown and 28 percent park downtown to visit a hair salon or fitness center.
Those who filled out surveys also had the opportunity to share their suggestions on improving downtown visitor parking.
There were 169 people who responded to the questions. Some of the suggestions were making downtown parking three to four hours instead of two hours; making the former 1st National Bank into a parking garage; creating a parking garage and charging a small parking fee; put parking meters in; longer parking times in municipal lots; not charging for parking; and use signage and clearly marked pavement to direct patrons to parking.
For employee and downtown residents parking there were 162 surveys received.
There were several common themes and ideas for the responses. Twenty-seven people suggested creating a parking garage; 21 people said two-hour parking is not enough time; 12 people suggested angle and slant parking is not enough; seven people said city lots need maintenance; and six people were concerned that there were unauthorized people parking in their rented parking spaces.
One of the questions in the survey was if a person lives or works in downtown Warsaw, where do they park.
Seventeen employees said they rent their parking space in a private parking lot; 50 said their employer has a free parking area for employees; 21 people said they rent a space; 30 said they utilize two-hour on-street parking and move their car as necessary.
Other information in the survey included four people saying they utilize two-hour parking in the municipal lot; two people said they don’t drive to work; and 38 people said they use other locations for parking such as parking on the hill by the fire department, on the hill by Center Lake or on the hill by Zimmer and walk.
Another question asked was reasons those who filled out the survey parked downtown.
There were 53 responses, including work, attending church, visiting a coffee shop, attending First Friday events and visiting the parks.
Another question was how the city could more clearly identify parking locations and time limits. There were 136 people who answered the question. Some of the suggestions were posting parking times on more signs; post signs more clearly; clearly mark parking spaces; and make the parking signs with bright colors.
In other business, Klondaris thanked the police department for posting “Do Not Block” signage at the intersection of Market and Detroit streets.
He said he would like to see the signage at High Street.
Dobbins said she had concerns with a downtown business that has a lot of delivery vans going in and out during the day, loading and unloading items that blocks the entrance of the Hall & Marose Insurance parking lot.
Warsaw Police Chief Scott Whitaker said the department will give a verbal warning and possible citation if needed.
The commission also reviewed a letter from Bill Hartman, Warsaw, who had concerns with a stop sign in front of the Center Center Shopping Plaza east of U.S. 30 next to Bob Evans.
In the letter, Hartman said the sign is in a dangerous position. He said the sign is approximately three car lengths back from the actual intersection to allow access into the plaza’s parking lot.
Thallemer said he will work with the city engineer and city planner to discuss the issue.
The commission meets the first Thursday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the training room at the Warsaw Police Department.
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The surveys were available on the city website and distributed to visitors, local businesses, downtown merchants and residents.
The traffic commission Wednesday voted to table any action on the downtown parking survey results.
Parking committees will meet and make recommendations back to the commission on their thoughts on the parking survey responses.
There also will be public meetings scheduled when residents will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the downtown parking ideas at Warsaw Plan Commission and Warsaw City Council.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said he is very encouraged by the response from those who completed the surveys. There were more than 500 downtown parking surveys completed.
“This is information and data off-street and on-street parking committees will use to come up with some parking solutions in the downtown,” Thallemer said. “I am overwhelmed at the results of the survey and the quality of the questions.”
Thallemer thanked Cindy Dobbins and Mike Klondaris, downtown parking committee co-chairs, for their work on the surveys and those who completed the surveys.
Thallemer said the downtown parking results will be given to subcommittees that have been set up to make recommendations to the traffic commission.
A financial and policy committee also will be implemented that will provide recommendations on the feasibility of parking recommendations made.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner is in charge of the off-street parking committee with Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner, and off-street parking members Ron Robinson and Gary Salyer. The on-street committee is chaired by Kip Shuter with members Jeff Grose, Jerry Frush, Steve Foster and Kim Arnold.
For the downtown Warsaw visitor portion of the survey, of the 350 responses, 72 percent said they park downtown to attend downtown events; 62 percent park to conduct business; 87 percent park to eat at downtown restaurants; 55 percent park to shop downtown and 28 percent park downtown to visit a hair salon or fitness center.
Those who filled out surveys also had the opportunity to share their suggestions on improving downtown visitor parking.
There were 169 people who responded to the questions. Some of the suggestions were making downtown parking three to four hours instead of two hours; making the former 1st National Bank into a parking garage; creating a parking garage and charging a small parking fee; put parking meters in; longer parking times in municipal lots; not charging for parking; and use signage and clearly marked pavement to direct patrons to parking.
For employee and downtown residents parking there were 162 surveys received.
There were several common themes and ideas for the responses. Twenty-seven people suggested creating a parking garage; 21 people said two-hour parking is not enough time; 12 people suggested angle and slant parking is not enough; seven people said city lots need maintenance; and six people were concerned that there were unauthorized people parking in their rented parking spaces.
One of the questions in the survey was if a person lives or works in downtown Warsaw, where do they park.
Seventeen employees said they rent their parking space in a private parking lot; 50 said their employer has a free parking area for employees; 21 people said they rent a space; 30 said they utilize two-hour on-street parking and move their car as necessary.
Other information in the survey included four people saying they utilize two-hour parking in the municipal lot; two people said they don’t drive to work; and 38 people said they use other locations for parking such as parking on the hill by the fire department, on the hill by Center Lake or on the hill by Zimmer and walk.
Another question asked was reasons those who filled out the survey parked downtown.
There were 53 responses, including work, attending church, visiting a coffee shop, attending First Friday events and visiting the parks.
Another question was how the city could more clearly identify parking locations and time limits. There were 136 people who answered the question. Some of the suggestions were posting parking times on more signs; post signs more clearly; clearly mark parking spaces; and make the parking signs with bright colors.
In other business, Klondaris thanked the police department for posting “Do Not Block” signage at the intersection of Market and Detroit streets.
He said he would like to see the signage at High Street.
Dobbins said she had concerns with a downtown business that has a lot of delivery vans going in and out during the day, loading and unloading items that blocks the entrance of the Hall & Marose Insurance parking lot.
Warsaw Police Chief Scott Whitaker said the department will give a verbal warning and possible citation if needed.
The commission also reviewed a letter from Bill Hartman, Warsaw, who had concerns with a stop sign in front of the Center Center Shopping Plaza east of U.S. 30 next to Bob Evans.
In the letter, Hartman said the sign is in a dangerous position. He said the sign is approximately three car lengths back from the actual intersection to allow access into the plaza’s parking lot.
Thallemer said he will work with the city engineer and city planner to discuss the issue.
The commission meets the first Thursday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the training room at the Warsaw Police Department.
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