City Hall

City of La Crosse, Wisconsin

400 La Crosse Street

La Crosse, WI 54601

Meeting Minutes - Final

Neighborhood Revitalization Commission

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

6:00 PM

Council Chambers - City Hall - 400 La Crosse St.

Members of the public will be able to attend the meeting in person in the Council Chambers at

City Hall located at 400 La Crosse St in La Crosse or online via video conferencing with the

links below.

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://cityoflacrosseorg.zoom.us/j/82155464093pwd=aGw1NWRRUE4xM1RxajJxaTM0QkNU

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Meeting ID: 821 5546 4093

Passcode: 543969

Participate by phone: 1-312-626-6799

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm

Roll Call

7 -

Present:

Absent:

Ralph Geary, Jim Bagniewski, Larry Sleznikow, Jennifer Trost, Jessica

Stanton, Sean Hurtubise ,Greg Clark

4 - Steve Nicolai, Vacant 1, Will Kratt,Robert McDonnell

Approval of Minutes

Approval of the April 10, 2024 meeting minutes.

Jessica Stanton moved to approve the minutes. Jim Bagniewski seconded. The

motion passed 7-0 by voice vote.

Agenda Items:

Presentation from Tony Jordan - President of the Parking Reform Network.

Jennifer Trost introduced the speaker Tony Jordan to discuss parking reform.

Tony Jordan, President of the Parking Reform Network, gave a presentation to

the Commission regarding the benefits of reducing or eliminating regulated

off-street parking minimums. His main points included:

-Current Ratios are arbitrary.

-25% of renter households in La Crosse County do not have access to a vehicle.

-An abundance of land use is dedicated to parking.

Tony Jordan opened it up for questions.Clark asked what cities in Wisconsin

have had some parking reform?

Jordan stated the cities were West Allis and Gilman.

Bagniewski asked how long it takes after eliminating parking requirements to

increase mass transit and see improvements in other forms of alternative

transportation. Jordan stated it took about ten years in Portland for more

housing to be developed. He stated an investment in other areas by the city is

still needed and it does not happen overnight.

Bagniwski asked if many or most businesses still provided parking. Jordan

stated most of the buildings still include parking and some are required to by

financial institutions. He said they have a vested interest to provide it on their

own.

CM Sleznikow stated that discussions we have had are suggesting reducing the

ratio or eliminating it altogether except in certain areas. He asked for Jordan's

thoughts on this.

Jordan stated he recommends cutting back as much as you can. Jordan

suggested in the area around student housing to offer reduced parking permits

for the residents and market rates for students to deter students who don't need

cars from bringing them.

CM Trost opened up questions for audience members.

Lisa Middleton asked if the network has considered how to better implement

these policies in cities with yearly snowfall. Jordan stated that Anchorage,

Alaska and Duluth, Minnesota are two recent cities who have eliminated

off-street parking requirements and would be good examples.

Cathy Van Maren stated that Portland busing is different than La Crosse. She

asked if his research looked at low income individuals that need a car due to

poor transit systems and the cost of parking permits. Jordan stated that the

people who are already the most income restrained do not have the option to

own a car. Jordan stated the focus should be on additional housing units that

are in more transit accessible places.

Melissa Crook stated this seems to be passing the responsibility from

developers to the individuals who are driving. Jordan stated people are paying

for parking spaces whether there is a parking lot at their rental or they pay to

park on the street. He stated that curb space is not free and not used or paid for

equally by all.

Donald Shoup, author of "The High Cost of Free Parking," joined the Zoom

meeting and provided his insight. Shoup recommended people read the book

"Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World" by Henry Grabar.

Julie Henline asked what the best practices for cities on order of operations to

move the needle on reducing car dependency. Jordan stated parking

mandates are only one aspect that can help even attempt to reduce

dependency by allowing more dwellings closer to where people want to be.

CM Woodard asked if parking reform will only apply to new developments and

institutions. Staff responded saying that is still up for discussion. CM Woodard

stated he is concerned about residents feeling this would be pushing cars out.

He also stated he would also like to hear about cities of similar size and how

this worked. Jordan stated there are many cities of similar size that can be

used as examples. Jordan stated the studies are often based on larger cities

because the reform has been in place longer and there is more data to show

the benefits there.

24-0498

Discussion: Off-street over-parking, review of previous NRC work on

off-street parking requirements, options to eliminate or reduce off-street

over-parking, community outreach role for each Commissioner.

CM Trost stated that she provided some updated parking regulation options to

the Commission for discussion. Bagniewski asked if this is for all uses or are

we just starting with residential. CM Trost stated we already eliminated parking

requirements for commercial zoning.

Stanton stated the past document suggested that some developers were in

favor of keeping some requirements and asked why that was. Staff explained

that many were in favor of keeping them because they feel there is already an

on-street parking issue. Stanton asked how to address that.CM Trost stated

there needs to be more research and data to substantiate that statement.

Clark asked what the discussion regarding revenues stream was from the last

speaker. CM Trost stated he was talking about parking benefit districts which

would use the revenue from the fees to park for improvements in the area

where the revenue is generated.

Clark asked if there is any research on commuters and their parking or vehicle

impact. Staff stated their might be but would need to look into it.

CM Trost stated that the city's parking ramps do not make enough revenue to

pay for themselves.

Bagniewski asked why would we not allow current developments to take

advantage of the change and stated he thinks they should be included in it.

Geary stated that the meeting always bring up improving mass transit but there

is a cost to that as well. He asked if someone from MTU can attend a future

meeting.

Clark suggested we talk to someone from these communities who have

implemented parking reform.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm.

Notice is further given that members of other governmental bodies may be present at the

above scheduled meeting to gather information about a subject over which they have

decision-making responsibility.

NOTICE TO PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY

Requests from persons with a disability who need assistance to participate in this meeting

should call the City Clerk's office at (608) 789-7510 or send an email to

ADAcityclerk@cityoflacrosse.org, with as much advance notice as possible.