City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Economic Development Commission, 8 Sep 2023

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9.8.2023 Economic Development Commission

A

Happy back to school, happy almost fall.

A

um Thanks for joining us welcome to the economic development commission meeting of september, 8th.

A

um Get started I'd like to review the minutes from our august meeting.

A

Is there any glue to accept a second all in favor any opposed great? Thank you. Everybody.

A

Okay, um so we have an exciting update to bring to the group this morning to.

A

Kick things off, uh I don't know if the city councilor wants to to.

A

Share the update on monday, um we first approved the second reading of the ordinance, uh and then we.

B

We uh broke the rules and devoted to uh suspended suspended. I wanted to break the.

B

Rules [laughter] and uh moved to accept the third reading, so it is done deal excellent. You have an.

B

Ordinance, I feel better so appreciate the councils for everyone here, so that was great. I appreciate.

A

The support, and thanks especially to tom, for helping craft that language to get that rolling so.

A

Onward um nice, to have that formalized, may I may I actually make a suggestion sure.

B

um There's an appointment in front of the uh the mayor now for an appointment to the edc. uh I would.

B

Like to ask the city clerk to look at that, because that's replacing allen's um term balance term.

B

Ended in 25 and that's the year that had the most of people renewing and maybe we can move up the.

B

The rotation business a little bit by by you know changing that appointment as well full four year.

B

Term well or some or something different, we put term language, you put term language, you have to.

B

Look at it again, yeah and to see how it actually works right, rotate, yeah, okay, but I I would like to.

B

See if maybe we can get the rotation fixed a little faster? If we do that, okay,.

A

Take a look at that is that before the september 18th council meeting yes.

C

When the mayor have to decide uh well, no, I think I mean it's it's part of our ordinance to correct.

B

This the rotation- and I just think that there's an opportunity here to take a look at that and.

B

See if this can help that, okay, without you know, affecting any affecting less people who are here.

B

Now, all right, great yeah, well good suggestion I'll, take a look at that and understand what.

A

The new language, how that may or may not be able to be addressed? Okay, um so next up, we've.

A

Got uh our land use liaison um the assistant mayor can't be here this morning, but bob do you want to.

A

Give us the update, I think you met after our last month's meeting. Yes, uh so land use uh committee.

D

The last meeting, um 90 of what we did was um reviewing a list of properties that.

D

Might be able to help expand the gateway district and uh that included.

D

uh Properties along route, 1 lafayette road from basically from the rhine line down to the.

D

Traffic circle and kind of looking at right now gateway is, is one property deep, so we looked at.

D

Properties that you know two properties to eat and what properties there might be.

D

Good candidates for housing development, so um we also looked at.

D

Heritage avenue west road constitution morona um and down the spalding turnpike.

D

And then commerce way- and there was discussion about actually changing the office research zone.

D

To gateway so office, research has always been one of those zones that doesn't allow a whole.

D

Lot except kind of medical office, so anyway, um there was sort of a first run at that.

D

um And I think at least personally, I didn't want to see any changes to.

D

um Heritage avenue and industrial land, I don't think we should lose any of that or potentially.

D

Lose it in the future if it's rezoned and you know turning an industrial building lot into housing. I.

D

I don't think that's appropriate. I think that was pretty much. The consensus of the committee.

D

But other than that there are a lot of properties that would lend themselves to.

D

You know further development and potentially housing so.

D

um Next, maybe I don't know if we'll have it the next meeting, but perhaps the following.

D

We'll have a map which I can distribute I'm happy to send out the list of properties if.

D

um People want to see that, but that's sort of a first list nothing's been decided yet.

D

I think I should send that out. I can send you, is it available on on the land.

E

Use minutes, or I should be yeah yeah or I can just yeah whatever works for you, yeah.

F

What would the timing be on making those changes? How soon good question I.

D

I don't know that we uh have a time constraint or limit.

D

But my guess is, we would be through this process and a couple months, maybe three: okay and then sort.

D

Of the city council takes it from there and who knows by then who will be on the city council.

D

So great, okay, good update I'd like to see that map. I think that's interesting. We don't have the map.

A

Yet yeah or the the list of properties yeah does it start I'll, send it over now and thank you.

D

Yeah, that was that was.

D

Like I said the gist of the meeting so great, well, I'm glad to hear the consensus on the.

A

Industrial land- I think that's been the sentiment of the commission as well so yeah.

A

Okay, great thanks bob on next up, we've got ben yeah good morning, everybody um a couple.

F

Things to share um come some upcoming things that I think you would want to know about.

F

um We have two uh award events coming up. This fall I've. Normally, we would do our annual awards. Our.

F

Business of the year kind of awards at our annual dinner, but this year's annual dinner was a little.

F

Different, so we we opted out of that, so we'll have a luncheon special for those award recipients.

F

um That's going to be at the end of october. Those nominations are being taken now. So if you know.

F

A small business or a large business that is worthy of some recognition. Please uh there's.

F

A nomination process through our website so uh please feel free to to share those nominations. We.

F

Also have a part, a collaboratory you're, a partner organization award and a volunteer of the year.

F

Award as well new to us um and something we're very excited about and have been trying to put.

F

Together for a number of years now is on the 8th of november, we will be kicking off a series that.

F

Recognizes the women in the business community and their leadership ship and that's something.

F

That has kind of gone under under celebrated in our community for a while, so it'll be kind.

F

Of starting uh what will be a every other month series starting with an awards, awards luncheon.

F

That will be followed up with four lunch events that uh will feature the winners of those awards.

F

So they will speak and share their story and- and it really should bring the women of the business.

F

Community, together in a great way, we also have a couple other things coming up on the 19th of.

F

This month, just uh a little over a week and a half away, or so we have our small but mighty business.

F

Expo it's out at cisco brewery, it's a great event to uh there's about 30 local businesses that will.

F

Have small booths there showcasing what they do and products they make and services they offer a.

F

Couple non-profits struggled in the mix, so that's a fun little networking event after work on the.

F

19Th out of cisco and then um I sending an invite because it's an open invite to everyone. But the.

F

Davenport hotel, I don't know if you've seen that is having their grand opening celebration on the.

F

13Th, that's a pretty small boutique hotel. The simonis family has put together with a.

F

Historical renovation, a very well done historical renovation of a property. It's convert it into a.

F

Boutique hotel with about, uh I think, it's eight or so rooms very well done so come by the afternoon.

F

Of the 13th, I think it's like 3 30 to 7 or 6 over there to check that out. That would be great.

F

um We have two new networking um event series that we kicked off in the last two weeks. Last week. We.

F

Had a coffee networking event with the business alliance for people of color baypoc will our velo.

F

And the tiny wallace many of you probably know those names spearhead that group. It's a statewide.

F

Organization that advocates and supports the folks of color in the business community, and they we had.

F

A great partnership event with them had about 40 people gather for some coffee to to connect and.

F

And it was a, it was a great morning, a lot of fun and then uh similarly uh last night, at the end of.

F

The work day yesterday from five to seven, we had our first networking event with seacoast outright.

F

Supporting the lgbtq plus community, so that was another great celebration. Sean was at both of.

F

Those events, thank you for being there sean and really great to bring that community together in.

F

Connection to the chamber so that everyone knows that you're welcome at the chamber collaborative.

F

And and we're very proud of that, in addition to that, we did have a little dinner in partnership.

F

With the 400th um back a couple weeks ago um seems like forever ago, but that came together.

F

Very well, I know many of you were there, but it was a really fun evening, despite a little bit of.

F

Misting rain for a second but uh it held off and we had a lot of fun. So uh thank you all for your.

F

Support and the support of the city to help pull that all together. I think that'll go down as a.

F

Memorable event for uh years to come, so that's uh that's a little bit from the chamber. I've.

F

Been a busy summer for us and it looks like a very busy fall. I will just kind of comment.

F

um Seems like labor day was very busy in town. A lot of people have been asking about that.

F

um And it seemed like a very busy weekend: hotels were fully occupied, hope the restaurants were busy.

F

Shopping seemed to do very very well, so it seems like it was a great kind of end to the.

F

Summer season continue to be going strong, talk to several hoteliers and they're. They have lots.

F

Of good small and small to medium meetings and that will keep them busy throughout the fall. So.

F

It seems like the the sort of hospitality tourism season is going to be strong this year with good.

F

Numbers moving into the fall season, so not quite as strong as I think. Some of them are hoping, but.

F

I think that has a lot to do with the weather that we've had there's like a 48 hour cancellation with.

F

No v window that was taken advantage of a lot this summer. People would, you know, look at the forecast.

F

And and make a decision basically forehand whether or not they wanted to go on their vacation, and I.

F

Know they've been seeing that around the state, not just here in portsmouth, I know the white.

F

Mountains and lakes region share the same thing so and that's it. Thank you. Thanks ben congrats, on.

A

The 400 dinner that was probably the most amazing outdoor dining execution, uh any of us will see in.

A

Our lifetime, so the laser light, show great work. It's amazing amazing. If and someone I don't know.

G

If it was on facebook or on linkedin, or if it was the city, someone had a drone above it above.

G

Congress street, with a laser light, show going. It was unbelievable yeah. It was a great night.

A

Very cool, great, so sean you're up next, I want to share what's going on in your office. Yes,.

E

Great, so I definitely want to build on uh on ben's comments about the new events and the.

E

New networking opportunities- I really encourage this group to to you, know, see those things and.

E

Look at your calendars and and try to stop by people really. um It really supports this.

E

Effort of being connected of collaborating, uh even if you see a lot of friendly faces or old.

E

Faces there's new faces. I mean I've come out of those meetings out of those events with some new.

E

Meetings with small small businesses, so that's the opportunity if you want to connect with certainly.

E

New folks in in portsmouth and and they're great- and I think it just it's it's just it's a strong.

E

Message it's a message that is supportive of what we're trying to do and be more outgoing as an edc.

E

Be more visible, be more connected here for more businesses, so the the missions are aligned and.

E

um Feed on the ground and smiling faces are always helpful. Can I just say that those events and most.

F

Of our events are open to everyone in the business community. I know people have painted us as sort.

F

Of an exclusionary group and that couldn't be the uh couldn't be further from the truth.

F

um Those are all our events are, are open to anyone to participate in whether you're a member of the.

F

Chamber or not so just want to add that, but thank you thanks, man um where'd. I leave off.

E

um So, in addition to the edc ordinance on monday, the also the arts and culture commission ordinance.

E

Was passed so there's going to be a standing committee that I will I'll support once I'm.

E

Done supporting the short-term committees here this year, but uh that's that's pretty exciting.

E

Because the whole goal is to have a cultural plan by january and then we'll have a group to shepherd.

E

That cultural plan uh working with the city and others, but it's great- to have an ordinance in.

E

Place for them in terms of that cultural plan, we had 730 responses to our online survey, which we.

E

Were pretty impressed with it was a slow start, but we we finished strong, so we're moving into virtual.

E

Focus groups and then to online excuse me on the ground focus groups which it looks like will be.

E

The week of october 16th and again, all with the goal of having a cultural plan to present.

E

To city council by the end of the calendar year and that lines up nicely with the afta results.

E

The america for the arts results which we will start to have access to and then just a question.

E

Of when they're made public, but I I think it's going to be great for those two- the plan and the.

E

After results that come together really paint a clear picture of where we are today, while.

E

We're launching uh where we want to go forward in terms of arts and culture and historical efforts.

E

A couple of notes: they're, the shipyard economic impact statement- is coming out next week, so watch.

E

For that, that's always a good one and I'm going to say the community picnic. Although.

E

I haven't memorized the date october 1st. Thank you october. 1St is the next big portsmouth 400.

E

Event and that'll be an opportunity again to to be out and a free event right now,.

E

Limitations on how many folks can come to that, so I want to get that on your your calendars, where.

A

Is that going to be held it'll, be at leary from noon to three very kid-friendly very.

H

Family friendly, there will be food available and you're welcome to bring a picnic and we're going.

H

To have some organized games, but hopefully some disorganized impromptu games as well.

A

That's it great thanks, vic! Thank you. Sean um next up we've got councilor lombardi. You want to share.

A

Updates, yes, thank you, um the uh well a couple of those ordinance that have passed. We also.

B

um I think the big thing was is our um the.

B

Collective bargaining with the police and fire was a very significant thing for them. It, it required a.

B

Supplemental appropriation of 890 thousand dollars, but what is was great about that is that when we.

B

Made the budget we asked the city manager to keep it within a certain range which she.

B

Did in fact below that range, and even with this additional funding for the collective bargaining.

B

It's still within that range, so we felt good about that. um Everyone was very excited about.

B

That it was a good thing. um The other thing I just want to bring up is the nhdes award.

B

To the public works and for the pierce island treatment plant and it's a significant award.

B

um And uh something to be very proud of, so I don't have a lot of other things. I don't. I.

B

Don't know if city manager has anything else that she wants to bring. I think you hit the highlights.

A

Thank you. So I think that brings us now to what has been the meat of our conversation.

A

For the last few months, but you should have received and hopefully had a chance to review.

A

The draft word version of what we've been discussing in our recent meetings and I.

A

Feel like we've, captured everything, including all the feedback that we've.

A

Received or much of the feedback we've received from some public input and the.

A

Discussions that we've had here so thank you to those who send some clarifying comments.

A

And for uh all the thoughtful discussion that we've had really to date, so at this point I.

A

Would I would entertain any further discussions or questions that folks have um if any and then.

A

Otherwise would certainly entertain emotion if folks are confident and comfortable and moving.

A

This forward and submitting to the council the recommendations that we've got outlined here so.

C

Come before the motion, I would suggest that we have a brief, open public comment on this.

C

Before we take a vote, I noticed at least one person there who has an interest in it. So I.

C

Don't know if you want to talk kevin or not, or uh I read it yesterday. um I don't really have much to.

D

Say what's going to happen? Okay? Well! No! It's up to you! I I just before we take the vote, because this.

C

Was posted this week? I just saw anybody from the public who wants to comment on this version right.

A

Thank you, tom counselor. um I know I sent this to you and I guess I want to say it again. The.

B

um I think that this is an opportunity for the city to demonstrate leadership in environmental.

B

Environmentally sound practices, and I just wonder if the the we could insist on sustainable.

B

Practices on city property for this for and that's just that's a question or a suggestion or.

B

Out for comment, sarah, um my my recommendation, given how much input has gone into this is that.

I

If, if your assistant, mayor kelly, when taking this forward to the council, could add your.

I

Additional feedback or commentary on what you might like the council to consider. In addition,.

I

I would recommend that, as opposed to inserting that, from an edc perspective into the proposal,.

B

I think that was my intention, but I wanted to bring it up here yeah. I do totally.

I

Support in encouraging sustainable practices as part of the adoption.

A

Good suggestion, I think, uh with the design standards that we have, I wasn't exactly sure.

A

How we would capture that, beyond kind of the spirit of it, so my sense was it's really a.

A

Broader discussion, if there's a way that the council might be able to factor that in.

A

um I'm certainly not briefed on a lot of the conversations you guys have had on sustainability.

A

Council, I know there have been many but um suggestion it's on. I just have one thought.

C

On it, I know when this was discussed at the council in the past. The path to this seemed.

C

To be a discount in the fee in order to adopt a recycling concept, I I'd be more inclined to.

C

Say because of city property just required instead of you know, dealing away the the fee.

B

That's my thought.

A

Great, thank you. Does anyone else have any questions or comments.

A

Okay, quiet group- hopefully that's reflective of all the conversation we've had today.

A

Appreciate it so uh at this point, if we're ready to submit to the council, I would I.

A

Would certainly entertain a motion to um move these recommendations as.

A

Detailed within the document that was most recently circulated.

A

We'll go with this draft, which does have one minor clerical change, stipulating written consent.

A

Annually by abutting businesses just want to make that clear. I believe. That's the only change that.

A

Has been documented since what was posted to the website and circulated tuesday, so.

A

Having said that, I move we approved this draft and submit it to the city council.

A

Thank you, thomas eric second. Second, second, second hand.

A

Okay, um so uh this time we'll take a vote all in favor any opposed.

A

Excellent. Thank you very much. I believe, uh we'll be able to submit this in time for the september.

A

13Th deadline for presentation on the 18th and we'll plan to be there in person, though, underscore.

A

The content on a lot of the fee discussion and some of the changes to what's in place.

A

This year, as part of that it's available to the council for any questions that they might have.

E

Fulfill just to clarify, in terms of the process it'll be presented to the city council and at.

E

That point the edc is completed its task that was requested to do so. That's my understanding right.

E

And then city council will do whatever they do. Yes, they do yeah. Okay, I think so. Yes, procedurally.

H

The idea would be to put this in the very beginning of the agenda under uh presentations.

H

And recognitions of our volunteer committee reports so we're going to call this a committee.

H

Report and uh take it up. Firstly, okay, that's the goal! Thank you. Hopefully, you're going to.

J

Be there yes, yeah and uh you're all invited show for us, the uh the more the merrier yeah.

E

The arts and culture folks they were in mass, a couple of rows and- and it was early on and and.

E

It passed and they were excited and they left. So it's not. It doesn't have to be a long time.

E

A

Okay, great, thank you. Everybody um do we have ben joining us, we do, but I think we're ahead of.

E

Schedule I'm moving so quickly. I don't know if you want to well, let's jump ahead forward. Yeah.

A

um Do we know what time see coming a little after eight, a little after eight yeah.

H

I did text him to say we were running ahead sure. Hopefully we can catch him. Thank you. Well, we have.

A

A couple more items on here and now the next we can leave public comment for the end. But uh I.

A

Think other business, the vice chair, opening given uh alan's official move uh out of the city and and.

A

Us uh having this as our first meeting without him, I know there will be an appointment to replace him.

A

As an alternate on the board, um but for the rest of his term through the end of the year, I would.

A

Certainly enjoy another vice chair sitting alongside me, um and you do look, lonely yeah.

J

That's weird right, so I I thought uh we might take that up today and and if somebody were.

A

Were interested and and joining me serving through the rest of this year before we take up elections.

A

uh In the new year again, as we do annually at this point, certainly entertain and welcome that.

A

Sarah um I'd like to move to nominate commissioner watson to serve the remainder.

I

Of allen's term, as as vice chair, if I can get a second, I can provide some background on why.

I

Seconds, I think commissioner watson has demonstrated a lot of leadership.

I

In a lot of areas, and as we focus and pass our ordinance and focus more on policy development.

I

And outreach, I think tom is uniquely positioned to to help shepherd those things forward for.

I

The remainder of allen's term great, thank you. Sarah. Thank you. I, like the commissioner watson.

C

That's great, no, I think tom. I certainly appreciate that. I think you've really.

A

Shown leadership on a couple of big pieces of business that we've taken up this year.

A

Honey any further questions or comments. Otherwise, would you want the job yeah? That's a question.

K

Yeah, if nominated, I will accept yeah. I know I'd be happy to do it good excellent. What is the rest of.

J

The term through, I believe we take up elections in january each year, so a few more months.

A

So all those in favor all right all right any opposed great thanks tom. You want to come join me.

I

Effective in october, okay, great um feels odd after spending so much air time. The last few months and.

A

I know we'll hear from parking, but um anything else going on in the city that that would be.

A

We should have on a radar in terms of cultural plan.

A

um Things up coming next year that we should be thinking about are on our radar. I think one.

I

Suggestion now that we've had our ordinance passed, it might be good to go back to the work that we.

I

Did in the offsite last year and take a look at some of the initiatives and and maybe prioritize.

I

Those for focus in in 2024, so maybe sean if you have a version or a summary of what we covered.

C

Last year we could recirculate it and perhaps add it to the agenda for the october meeting.

D

Right, I just have a comment um and this: well, we got the award for the sewage treatment plan.

D

Which was great, but I think uh I just wanted to say that you know there's been a lot of.

D

Construction through the city this summer, it seems like everywhere you go. You can't.

D

Get from one end of the city to the other, but I think it's been very well managed.

D

um I think they do a great job, dpw or whoever's doing the dpw, but uh whomever uh has.

D

Done a great job managing that, and you know, with traffic issues and particularly on busy streets.

D

Like uh islington and uh south street and um or middle street, you know I mean just it's a.

D

A lot- and I think it's gone very well, so I deserve something well. Thank you.

H

For the kudos and um it's not without its daily challenges, as you can imagine, yeah.

H

um I joked with one of the folks in the public works stuff. I said how am I supposed to get to.

H

Work with with middle and islington, he said karen, we did state street last year. Don't you remember.

H

So there is a method to our madness. State tree was completely wrapped up, so there are ways to move.

H

Around there is, there is certainly um poor, thought and and planning, and I wanted to give credit to.

H

The legal department, who's working with planning and inspections to coordinate all the private work.

H

Because every time we approve a project, we have to approve us construction mitigation management.

H

Plan and with all the the construction going on downtown everybody's running for the same space.

H

In the road uh lay down area parking for their contractors, so um that's been really.

H

Interesting and not without its challenges, but we are mindful of the impacts that our work and.

H

The private work have on other folks, so we will, we will stay on top of that. We will continue to.

H

Refine that, but if there's feedback that that you all hear directly or indirectly and want.

H

To share with sean and me we would welcome it, I would, I would say yeah and bob I'll just build.

E

Out say a couple things one is: there is a parking utilization study group that I've been attending.

E

You may hear about that from ben if we have time, but that is there's going to be a public.

E

Public input session, where the consultant's going to deliver back a um a report on the parking.

E

Principles mostly along the complete streets model and then there'll, be an opportunity to share this.

E

Out with the public uh and- and you know parking is it's, it's always a lightning rod for conversation.

E

But it does work and- and if you step back for you know where we were 10 years ago to where we are.

E

Today, it still has challenges, but it is absolutely something that is moving forward and that builds.

E

On a larger point that I want to, I want to share with the group when you talk about the wastewater.

E

Treatment um and and the awards that we win and the way we manage construction, the conversations.

E

I have with businesses are that this is a city that invests in itself right, civic infrastructure,.

E

I love that term. I learned when I first got here and it matters to the business community and even.

E

To the point where a small business would say to me: well, the city doesn't do anything for me.

E

A couple of times, I'm like okay right, we don't hand out incentives, or you know, tax rebates or but.

E

What we do is we, we run this city and we invest in this city and therefore customers can come.

E

Here and- and they want to come here, whether it's visitors or locals or regional folks, so that's.

E

To me is the conversation when you're out there, if you hear the good, the bad or the ugly from a.

E

Business, what are you doing for me? It's all this work. We do um that maybe doesn't get on.

E

Their radar, because it's not their project or it's not their street or or that you know they expect.

E

Their trash to get picked up so right, but we keep this place ready for them to do their business and.

E

I think that's an important message furthering the filling time conversation there's been some.

H

um It was nice to be recognized by the state for the work at the pierce island treatment plan, but.

H

What we'd like to do is to have we'd like to have ambassadors for this kind of information, so the.

H

Public work stuff's, putting on a wastewater 101 conversation next week on the 13th at 6 30 in.

H

The levinson room of the library and it's going to talk about everything you need to know it's going.

H

To explain what what happens there? What doesn't happen there? The fact that, when beaches are closed,.

H

It has nothing to do with the way the treatment plan operates. We're going to talk about a lot of.

H

Things and I think we're going to dispel myths and break it down we're going to take that show.

H

On the road as well, we're going to talk to the rotary club, we're going to talk to the schools so.

H

um Talk that up with folks that you know, because I think it'd be helpful for people to have that.

H

Walking around knowledge of what, what what is and is not going on, will that be posted in some.

L

Kind of way that when these little strings come up on social media, we can post a link to yes, we.

H

Will make sure perfect? Thank you, counselor, yes, and to sean's point that we invest in our city.

B

In the new york times there was a an article about how small communities.

B

I think we're a small community, even though we are a powerful city, um there's a lot of shuttered.

B

Businesses and it's a real problem- that's not true here, the the the the the the the small business.

B

um There's not there's not a lot of empty storefronts here and it's, I think it's a real.

B

Kudos to how the city has been helping businesses all along through the general infrastructure.

B

Through thoughtful planning, so I just wanted to bring that up right, yeah and I think we maybe.

A

We can um fsbdc back. I know we typically hear from them towards the end of the year. I know.

A

That's certainly something that is a resource for us that we've shared with on startups and.

A

Other companies- and I they just do tremendous work locally and statewide, so I'm sure I'm sure we're.

A

Already getting that information out to those who are coming to us for it, but um maybe we can get a.

A

Link to them on our page or something to kind of reinforce that just a thought. But I know we're due.

A

To hear from them at some point um and then one other just before we have been kick us off here,.

A

uh Just to comment on um our schedule through the rest of the year, I know we had some public.

A

Input requesting that we investigate cruise ship opportunities in the city, so I think at some point.

A

We'd like to hear from the director of ports and maybe some stakeholders as part of that discussion,.

A

Now that we're past our outdoor dining so just to circle back on that point great okay, good morning,.

A

Ben welcome thanks for coming thanks. Thanks for having me I'm going to share ben's powerpoint.

C

Happy friday, happy friday.

M

Take it away well, good morning, everyone thanks for the opportunity to come in and talk about.

M

City portsmouth parking and transportation division with you guys today, I like to open.

M

Discussions like this, uh with an understanding of the myriad programs that the parking and.

M

Transportation division supports through its revenues, so I'll go over a short list.

M

Of of what the division is responsible for our holistic approach to parking solutions.

M

And how we believe the summer of 23 has shaped up and a few other relevant contemporary topics.

M

For reference, a parking benefit district is a specified geography in which parking revenues.

M

Are raised and then reinvested back into the district over a wide range of related improvements.

M

So in portsmouth that appears in the form of a 2.5 million dollar annual offset to the general fund.

M

Transportation, planning and engineering support, downtown snow removal and waste removal, school bus.

M

Support senior transport downtown trolley signs and lines support for public transit through our.

M

Coast partners, downtown police, detail, school crossing guards and various others, so services.

M

Provided are supported by parking revenues realizing the annual tax offset. I think it's.

M

Kind of hidden there, I think it's 368 dollars per median household this this past year. So uh in fact,.

M

The entire city of portsmouth is treated as a pvd. The way we that we run things next time, please.

M

The division stated driven decision making is designed to excuse me encourage consumer.

M

Behavior that supports local business available parking inventory, supports local business safe and.

M

Inviting walking and bicycle environment supports local business, as does a park. One's philosophy.

M

And pricing strategies that drive demand and turnover support, downtown business as well.

M

So the division seeks to offer a combination of distinct, unique parking products while integrating.

M

The industries latest hardware and software technology parking industry, best practices.

M

And following the city's outline for parking management, mainly the 2012 parking principles,.

M

Oh please, as you might imagine, we've been closely watching traffic.

M

um Oops there we go as you might imagine, we've been close to watching traffic volumes as we.

M

Return towards pre-pandemic levels, which obviously drives demand for downtown inventory, the graphic.

M

This graphic, created by the engineering staff from data available at south and lafayette, shows.

M

That, as of may 2023, we have fully returned to pre-pandemic numbers for the summer, which is great.

M

In a lot of ways, but it also does cause us to revisit a number of pre-pandemic challenges: laughs.

M

For example, summer of 2023, the division has allocated roughly eight percent of its high.

M

Demand a zone inventory for restaurant seating. Additionally, the loss of 300 spaces at the hanover.

M

Garage for its renovation has definitely had an adverse effect to help with this. The division is.

M

Open the upper and lower lots of the federal building accessed off of bow street, adding 83.

M

Spaces for additional inventory simultaneously used economic incentives to relocate roughly.

M

250 monthly parkers from hanover down to foundry, so that we would have a little.

M

Bit less impact from the lost space. Importantly, though, with everything going on at mcintyre, we.

M

Do anticipate having to relinquish the 83 spaces coming into the summer, so we're going to lose that.

M

The division is pleased to report that a continued strong participation in the foundry's downtown.

M

Workforce program we currently have 359 enrollees. The program generates roughly 8 200 a month to the.

M

Sales of about 27 533 parking sessions, which was roughly 91 per day so, notably the length.

M

Of state the hanover garage is about three and a half hours which indicates shopping and.

M

Dining behavior, where the in the length of stay at founder garage is seven and almost eight hours so.

M

It's a workforce garage, so that's not it's nice to know that so additionally, many many of you.

M

Guys are familiar with the park mobile smartphone app, which offers the convenience of paying from.

M

Anywhere without having to go to a physical meter and also incorporates a communication.

M

Feature that allows users to extend their session from their restaurant seat or wherever they may be.

M

Yeah, the uh the one interesting point about parkmobile is, in february of this year. Five.

M

Years to the edge of the month after we grassroots launched it, it became the number one meter in town.

M

So more people use that system than any other meter that we have so the.

M

Technology is definitely shifting in that direction and away from the physical meters.

M

Some of you may not be aware, though, that we offer uh portsmouth residents a discount for.

M

On street and lot parking through that app and anybody wants to chat about that later.

M

We can certainly talk about how that works and continue to get that message out. We did a voting.

M

Drive the last uh voting day went to all five awards and handed out flyers, and we signed up.

M

Several hundred people doing it that way, so we're trying to continue to get that message out. The program's been in place for quite some time, but it's still uh unknown by some.

M

So presently uh the city is engaged with desmond design management, a national firm specializing in.

M

Performing holistic reviews of municipal parking systems with a view to advising its procedure in.

M

Policy updates a process does include input from a working group consisting of downtown business.

M

Owners to developers and citizens in an effort to put the public voice in the process as well.

M

Information on the progress of the effort, including the rfp and.

M

A number of presentations can be found at this. This location here and I've got.

M

Some copies of this presentation- if anybody wants to take that with you.

M

So focus points on this effort include in part and assessment of the city's current inventory.

M

Zoning ordinances, the pipeline of development projects already approved or late in the approval.

M

Process and a future needs assessment. Additionally, the team is performing a deep dive into current.

M

Parking division, operational policies as they relate to industry, best practices.

M

And the pricing structures pertains to supporting fort smith park wants.

M

Three-Hour turn and walkability philosophies, I'm assuming we want people are going to want.

M

To chat about that, so that that's the end of my short presentation, if you guys have questions.

M

Or want to discuss, feel free. Of course question did the I think at 359, employee parking program.

G

That have they been, are they all housed at foundry or some in high hanover? That program only exists.

M

At foundry, what it does is, it's uh you go in and you buy a 10 session or 10 hour session.

M

For three dollars and you get a sticker and you go into the garage you pull out your ticket on.

M

Your way out, you put the sticker down it. Lets you out for free, because you've paid in advance.

G

Good, so that's so if the if foundry was built for 700 capacity, 600 600., so we're running 60.

G

There just just on employees well well, we've got a couple several hundred monthlies as well.

G

So what is the? What is the um usage at foundry.

G

You know month a month about about 50 to 60. At this point, we anticipate not.

M

To jump considerably, when the construction that's underway right now is, is completed.

M

It'll jump, I think so or will fall no it'll it'll go out about the open projects with all the users.

G

When that finished, unfortunately, when the construction is wrapping.

H

Up high hanover should be well done and back to full capacity.

K

um I'm kind of fascinated with, especially with the move to the new park, mobile kind of at.

K

The passionate by the data that you guys must be crunching, so what kind of information are you like.

K

Gleaning from this data to like make decisions just out of mainly out of pure interest, but.

M

Well, with part with specifically department mobile you're, seeing people move away from using the.

M

Standalone meters, so the the long-term decision would be to discontinue the use of standalone.

M

Meters, they are expensive, you pay a software cost and I also pay the credit card fees to.

M

Move the money from your card to the bank so uh and they're adequated as well so fewer people.

M

Are comfortable using them, some people don't like to have the touch experience any longer.

M

After covet and more and more youngsters are on the road- and they are right here.

K

Does that kind of change how the meter maids are doing certain? I didn't change a little bit.

K

Of their job at all, no we've been pay-by-play for a while and what the system does the park.

M

Mobile and the calais systems, both they warehouse, the plate, data of live active parking sessions in.

M

One place, and so they platform that the query device will go to that database and say: hey. I'm.

M

Looking for this plate and it'll say, you've got this parking session from calais state five or.

M

You've got a parking session from park, mobile zone 1583 and yes, you're good to go, and then.

M

They just move on they're not allowed to see how much time is left on it or anything they just go.

M

I don't because that that leads to people hanging around. It's called vulturing, so we don't know how.

M

That awesome, thank you. It's it's interesting to see just the amount of usage, so the other habit.

M

You see when somebody makes it all the way back to a meter. They just get in their car and leave.

M

But if you're sitting in a restaurant, the coffee's not there yet and you get the buzz and says hey.

M

You're running out of time, you're going to extend your time so the park mobile sessions run about.

M

32 percent higher on revenue per transaction does that also because I know after a certain time you.

K

Pay more money, but the meters. You can obviously do that because you don't know if it's the same.

K

Car, so does that increase revenue per you can do that with the meters uh they because you're paying.

M

By plate, so when you, when you walk up to a cala device, the tall ones you punch in your plate, first.

M

And it knows it'll check to see if your plate's already got an active session and it will know.

M

To add time, at whatever hour rate you're supposed to, but not the on on street ones, right like the.

M

Little singles you can put, you can still use park mobile there, but that meter is for that one space.

M

And it is the goal to kind of antiquate those out of this yeah very few left now right. I've got.

M

About 180 of them left believe it or not, really yeah wow, it was 200 50 or so last year it's a.

M

Weird, some of them were replacing with park mobile signs and have had no issues with that and some.

M

Of them, for example, larger areas like russell street, we were placed with two calais one on.

M

Either side and got rid of 22 of those meters and those meters run five dollars a month, and I have.

M

To pay 13 cents a transaction to to run through so yeah and that company's hard to work with so.

I

Here's what what is the do you have an overall percentage of occupancy for spaces? Is it? Are we.

I

Running at 100 or what's running over, that's what I think you can resell the same yeah. So what you.

M

See is and the way as I describe this kind of like the heat index, we see anywhere between 130 and 150.

M

Occupancy uh you have, somebody might come in and pay for three hours and leave in in two hours and.

M

Then somebody will immediately just drop into that spot and pay again, and so the device will.

M

See an overlap, the reason you say 130 not just 100, is because you compare that to the heated x.

M

We know it's 100 degrees, but it feels like 115 because of other factors well at 100 occupancy.

M

You're you're driving down the street. Here's the here's, the story you want to go to. Oh there's, no.

M

Parking but there's just somebody pulls out of space 10 cars down wow. We can walk a little bit.

M

But 130 percent there's six cars in front of you. Wait to take that space.

M

And so you're just around and around and around that's why we try to encourage people to go to.

M

The garages park wants to walk in and one other question: do you have data on uh the states that.

I

The license plates are from to indicate whether they're new hampshire versus not you don't know.

M

Well, what I do have is because we have a fairly significant discount for residents.

M

Using the park mobile app, I do have resident and non-resident data because they're charged.

M

Differently in the system- and we currently run about four percent residents using the system.

C

As well, that assumes they've got the discount, though, but that that's true, but it's also the.

M

Number one meter system we're using now and we have hundreds and hundreds of signifs. Maybe there.

I

Are residence parking that aren't taking advantage of the program and you've also got a demographic.

M

That has been trained to take other modes, they walk in they scooter in and they bicycle in and.

M

That's that's very positive because we do have an inventory problem. For example, I was in ward one.

M

Myself and nobody cared to take a flyer because they all live real close because they, oh, I walk.

M

In I walk in, I walk in, I got it again and again I had to bring him stacks a paper toward three.

M

And I went out there and finished his session for him and everybody wanted one. So it's just.

M

About the further out you go but yeah it's, it runs about four percent and it's been consistent since.

M

We started the app andy, you had a question yeah the two questions. One is, uh I think I've been.

N

Through this once, but is the discount on automatic, or is it sign up when you sign up for park mobile.

N

Oh well, you have to come and you have to prove residency so and the reason being is everybody.

M

Becomes a resident when you start giving stuff away right so once every two years you come down.

M

And we're not allowed to take copies of anything which is actually a positive because it forces the.

M

Resident to engage show your driver's license with the portsmouth address. Show your vehicle.

M

Registration with reports with address and a water bill, or something like that, then your plate goes.

M

On a different list and it gets sent to the to the- uh and you haven't actually done that once, but it.

N

Was more than two years ago, the other question, the other question, I'm sorry, you have to prove.

H

Your residency every two years right, otherwise, so many moves to ryan. They get cheap parking forever.

D

Do you get a notice for that? Do they send you a notice, send you an email, they do. Okay,.

D

I have a question how programmable are is parkmobile, I'm thinking that.

B

um We have uh we're removing some 15-minute parking spaces for construction. Can you program.

B

Park mobile to have 15 minute parking spaces in a place that doesn't have that.

B

um So none of the 15s are in park mobile and the reason being is we have a one hour minimum on.

M

Credit cards because you lose money on a 15-minute transaction people, dip credit cards into those.

M

15-Minute little meters, we lose money on that. What is the hourly rate now on the a zone? It's.

M

Two dollars for the first three hours, each of the first three hours and then five dollars after that.

M

Right, so what what if there was a 30-minute zone or a 30 minute, I'm just trying to think.

B

Of ways to get turnover and also maybe a little more time for people to go in and buy.

B

Something rather than just you know not just for coffee, but for it can you could go into a store.

B

For in half an hour and buy something, um but 15 minutes is a little tight right, but first.

M

Of all, you can do that now. Secondly, the city's stated goal is a three-hour turn and the reason.

M

We do two dollars two dollars, two dollars and five after that previously we had a punitive.

M

Way to get them out of space in three hours, we'd slap through the ticket, but we invited him here.

M

Okay, awesome, I'm gonna slap him in the face without leave fast enough seems a little silly.

M

So we decided to give an economic incentive to turn the space by charging five dollars at.

M

That fourth hour, 91 still turn in the fourth hour voluntarily. Our third hour at the end of.

M

The third hour voluntarily so we're seeing success with that with that program, it just.

M

May be that the the price structure in general is not conducive to pushing demand out to the garage.

M

Is like it should be, but that'll be a discussion that comes after the parking study comes through.

M

Right yeah, so what does what does someone pay for a 15-minute parking space right now quarter hours.

M

Yeah so so vince to your point, um counselor they uh if they have to pay for an hour. It's.

E

Two dollars for that half an hour: if we don't have that space right today they pay 50 cents. So that's.

E

The but then you need those and then but then you need a coin machine and then they're there.

M

And we're talking phasing them out and you can't enforce the spaces either yeah. They earn about 15.

M

To 20 of the of what they should uh they're, either abused one on one end or the other, or there or.

M

People pull in and they pull directly out because they didn't see the sign we've been putting.

M

Cameras around watching the behavior on the 15s, so we'll have some data on that later this summer,.

M

Is there any reason why we don't register residents for the program when they're.

I

Registering their vehicles uh that the tax office- and we don't don't share data.

M

Okay, that has to do with legalities, okay and then the second question uh any in insight on like.

I

Number of parking tickets issued with the park mobile system in place, as opposed to before from.

I

A revenue perspective is, is the parking sort of the authorized parking revenue offsetting? What the.

I

Ticket revenue was or any any correlation between the two. We certainly we make a lot more on meters.

M

When we change to from a 15 ticket to a 35 ticket, because we moved from a six dollar maximum stay.

M

To a forty six dollar maximum stay, it made sense to really go to 50, but they pushed me back to 35.

M

So we're riding about 35 percent fewer tickets, uh but the revenue is higher. uh The new system.

M

We put in place in november is far more robust than the last one. It's able to take people with.

M

Multiple vehicles and combine them as to one and so people who might get several tickets on three.

M

Or four different cars and not ever escalate into the second or third tier of the fine structure, are.

M

Now finding themselves in that realm, so a lot of collections are happening. I also think the.

F

35 ticket is enough of a incentive to extend your park mobile session.

F

Extra you know if I'm going downtown and I have if I have an hour meeting, I'm putting in 90 minutes.

F

At a minimum, because I don't want to give ben 35 and that's exactly how I think of it, every time.

K

I'm like no ben fletcher you're, not getting my money and I've had the extra half hour and uh I.

F

Think I think that is re. I think that is one of the factors that drives that yeah 100 plus just.

I

In case right, the ability to extend from anywhere on your app is so functional because you realize.

J

You're waiting somewhere longer than you thought and you don't have to react to the meter to feed.

J

The meter, you can just do it on the yeah no more running out in the rain, with a sack of quarters.

J

I have a question: could you update us on the hanover garage renovation, the timeline and they.

M

They seem to think they're on the timeline. That was the schedule, which was a three-year project. I.

M

Think they're scheduled for maybe I think the last update they gave is maybe two months beyond what.

M

The original finish date was for me, construction projects. I don't ever speculate we're in year, two.

E

Of three right, so there'll be one more year of this more year for you on paper, taking 300 spaces.

E

Offline, a third of it, you know a third of it then uh do you have any data on ev usage, yeah, actually.

M

um I've got all the data you could possibly want. Okay, give us a short happen. The system.

M

Has uh seven machines and uh one two three four five six seven plugs on five machines, so we have.

M

A double plug here we have a double plug at hanover and we have three singles at foundry.

M

We run about eight transactions a day through the system and uh about a three and a half hour stay.

M

That's also priced similarly to the parking where it's a dollar 25 for each of the first three hours.

M

Of charging or four hours actually, and then it goes up to three dollars after that, to encourage.

M

Turnover four hours is the typical time a level two will charge the standard, nissan leaf or chevy.

M

Bolt, so that's why we set that pricing that way so you're seeing economic incentive to turn and burn.

M

The space and that's what you see your length of stay in that space is charging is about that. Well,.

C

I'm curious about data like usage this year versus two years ago. It's creeping up. It's not exploding.

M

I have three years four years worth of data I have graphs and all that I didn't.

M

Know what you guys would want to see uh the stack would have been designed. Ben has data.

M

uh Bridge street, so there are 80 stations slated going to bridge street I've had those devices.

M

For some time now, in storage at foundry we're waiting on electrical infrastructure, I guess.

M

Some custom pieces had to be created or ordered or made for that uh there's a big backlog in that.

M

Industry apparently the last time I talked to jim dumont and dave defosis on that they still.

M

Did not know when we were going to get what was necessary to complete the infrastructure.

M

And be able to install those machines in working fashion, we um we rebuilt the bridge.

H

Street lot last season and with the intent of putting in two chargers with double plugs.

G

Yeah, but then is the is the usage you said the usage isn't exploding. Is that.

G

A result of demand, or is that a result of someone plugs their car in and then leaves.

G

For five hours and there's it only charges for two hours and then it's sitting there.

G

How do you know, how does the drive or how do you get? How do you get? How do you improve the rotation.

M

So that the pricing helps with that we're seeing rotation based on just like we do in parking where.

M

You see you're seeing the turnover right at that fourth hour where the car is charged and.

M

It begins to get more expensive to leave the car on the charger and then then they vacate, let's.

G

Say it's charged fully charged but they're still sitting there, because I I apologize. I.

G

Don't understand all the intricacies of the car's there it's charged it's fully charged.

G

But you've left and you've gone to a meeting and you're out. Four hours only took two, so is the is.

G

He is he taking that person's taking the usage of the of the meter of the uh the charger event.

G

So the systems have a self-reporting feature where people tap in to complain about things.

M

Like that hey this guy's been here all day and he's not even charging kind of thing. We can.

M

Technically, write them a citation, but it's pretty difficult to know whether a car is done. Charging.

M

So we kind of rely on them to turn the space over, knowing that other users like them, need it, and we.

M

Rely on the system of uh of self-reporting people, saying this guy's been sitting at.

M

Hanover 2 all week long and he's not charging or something like that, we would get those messages.

G

I don't, I think that that's probably true, I don't know how much.

C

Is how many, what degree of ev charges are owned by municipalities that tie it into parking spaces?.

C

um You know I I would know I don't know where we would get that data just to follow up. Is it a with.

A

The usage: is it an inventory constraint, so are we running at a very high occupancy or is there.

A

Typically, availability, that's just not being used they're, just pretty typical availability. That's.

M

Not being used so the highest use is over here with the parking is free, yeah, obviously, at hanover.

M

You have to pay to park as well certain different products. We get that a lot. Why can't? I get free.

M

Electricity I'm paying to park and I'm like well, you go into the ballpark you're still going to.

M

Buy a beer two different things so, um except for revenue streams. Absolutely I get it. I follow that.

I

Yeah, it's still 30 is down 30. Something percent is down in hanover, so that's a very popular one, but.

M

It has two plugs and you can go on the dashboard anytime and see. You know how many out of seven.

M

Are in use so it's it's usually two or three out of seven and used when I'd be good. That's helpful.

A

um In one of your sides, you had a percentage of of.

A

Is it zone a parking, that's offline for outdoor dining? Do you have eight percent eight percent.

A

um So so, despite that, uh it sounds like revenues overall remain higher year over year um and and so.

A

Less there's been less usage for outdoor dining this year, so I guess it might be helpful for us.

A

Before so, there are fewer spaces given to outdoor dining, because we charged for this year and that.

M

Was uh more than some folks wanted to invest? So it's not it's, not the nine or ten percent. It.

M

Was last year, so there are some spaces we gained back to 83 spaces at um well. Actually that doesn't.

M

Count because that money isn't ours, um the uh the use of the park mobile app is probably the.

M

Primary driver of additional revenues because more people you're more apt to add time to that.

M

Thing than you are when you go back to the meter in your car sitting, right there and ready to go so.

M

Even though we have fewer spaces, there's a higher revenue per transaction with the use of that app.

M

So we're kind of fortunate there, okay and and is that is their color also not only on the income.

A

Side, but on occupancy the sort of usage of space, the heat index that's up year over year, so those.

A

Eight spaces might be displaced, but overall we're still using more parking, and it's not.

A

Been a detriment, I think that's would be helpful for us to understand. So I mean anytime, you take.

M

A you know, a low inventory high demand situation and reduce the inventory you're going to have you.

M

Know more friction yeah, so fortunately we have the founder garage. Unfortunately, the price structure.

M

Is not so much different on the street than in the foundry to actually convince some users to.

M

Go down there and use it walk in so and that's a discussion we'll have when, when the uh the experts.

M

That we've hired to help us look at the next 10 years. You know come come in with their reporter.

M

And the um another question is so: the city already has set up a bill pay system for several things.

N

And registrations and fines and that kind of thing is there, has there been any discussion or is there.

N

Any way to take mastercard and visa out of the loop with the park mobile and pay direct pay.

N

Debit eft some other way of getting rid of those credit card charges for for and maybe starting.

N

With residence first and whatever yeah well, the good news is, I changed up our credit card.

M

Gateway processing vendor a few years ago and uh to the tune of about 180 000 a year. Because they.

M

Charge us differently than they used to there's an upfront there's a there's, a flat fee, anybody's.

M

Got a restaurant now this is a flat fee. You pay and there's also a percentage of fee for you pay.

M

The previous uh situation was a higher flat fee and a tiny percentage of a really small number.

M

We're doing thousands of transactions a day. Now we have a much smaller upfront fee at a slightly.

M

Higher percentage plus we're getting a discount on uh specific types of debit cards that happen.

M

To be 40 of our usage, we get a 25 discount kind of behind the scenes. That's specific to this vendor.

M

So we're really happy with that. I don't know if you're getting away from credit cards altogether.

M

Unless the city just decides to platform, really some sort of payment ability to accept direct.

M

I know that park mobile lisa did take paypal. I think they're getting away from that, but I know.

M

That it's not platformed as a wallet at least not yet right right, I'm using a lot of quarters.

N

I'm using hundreds of quarters because I'm a 15 minute parker guy and it usually works out.

N

um Fine, I think irving has a program with like that. I might be around with their gas gas cards.

N

um Bypassing um surprise me, but yeah you're talking about it much larger.

D

Than that yeah, let's take it out of your checking account venmo karen.

O

And did you have a question when does mcintyre um go back to the feds october.

J

Well, you opened it. We currently have a license agreement with the federal government to use.

H

The spaces and maintain the building through october 13th- and we asked for that date way back.

H

When thinking outdoor dining would end around columbus day, and that would make sense the as.

H

You'll read in the paper today, the soft close for the auction is slated for september 27th.

H

um I've asked the question: does the gsa anticipate extending our license agreement? uh They haven't.

H

Gotten back to us yet so um so that may alter the date beyond which we can use the parking field. So.

H

We we would like to use the parking field as long as we can. I think the gsa appreciates.

H

That we've been maintaining the property and- and they haven't had to so uh stay tuned on that okay.

M

I don't know [laughter].

A

Any other questions.

C

Just just to follow up on that uh is there an option out there for an easy pass type of model.

C

For parking, so that's license plate recognition, which is not legal in for commercial use in new.

M

Hampshire and I think utah were the last two states that don't allow for commercial use. You.

M

Have it at the turnpike where you drive through and it just snaps your plate right and um that I.

M

Think that law is supposed to sunset in january of 27.. I don't know if somebody's going to come.

M

Out and try to extend it or not, it'll change the game once you have lpr, certainly when it comes to.

M

Enforcement, but we can't do that now and how would that work? How would which work this this model so.

M

You'd still use the meters, as you normally would, but enforcement would change and the garages would.

M

Likely have cameras on the in and out, and you would utilize for monthly parkers. They were just.

M

Driving and drive out the gates would be gone, so we I did some technical installs in honolulu had.

M

Had this element in them that were pretty cool, mixed-use residentials that worked out pretty.

M

Well, but they all had an element of paying a meter for folks that were coming for transient parking.

I

Could could you not use the park mobile app or some like app as the identifier for the vehicle.

I

As opposed to license plate scanning, uh we don't scan the plate, we have to be careful.

M

With that one we're allowed to optically read it, but we cannot scan it because then you're.

M

Into getting into lpr territory, it's important it's important to know. We don't keep any data.

M

Other than abc123 blue honda, we don't know the person's driving record, we don't know.

M

If they're a fugitive, we know any of the things the police know when they look up a plate and we.

M

Wouldn't when opr came into place either it's just a marker, so that is what what part mobile.

M

Uses as a marker, it's the place the place the place are unique to every vehicle in the country.

M

And unique numbers and unique owners, so that's it's the best way to mark a particular vehicle.

M

Three excellent thanks ben those things are arrows today. This group loves parking yeah.

M

I love parking and talking about it and asking questions and understanding it. Yes,.

G

Parking related um any any further conversation concerning the you know: the blue bites those.

C

Sort of on-demand bicycles we had for a few years and most cities that have those subsidized those.

M

Pretty heavily, we were under the same kind of situation where we were subsidizing that heavily.

M

Coveted kind of ended that, for them they just kind of folded, I don't even think they picked up their.

M

Racks in a lot of cases, I I'm not looking for more, we didn't have much usage of it. I was kind.

M

Of disappointed that we didn't have enough usage of it, I thought it was kind of a cool idea, but.

M

People would rather either walk or drive around in circles until they find a space implement.

G

Al scooters stay tuned.

E

Those end up all over the street yeah san fran deal with that. It was wild when that, when I.

M

Brought those out there's there's a new business in town uh mobility as a service, so stay tuned.

E

Is that, as that evolves like subscription to ee mobile devices, immobility devices, whether they.

E

Be scooters, bikes, etc so stay tuned. San francisco was big with uh they had an e-bike rental program.

G

Cool you just just plugged it in here. You've actually went to your uber app and you toggle.

G

Down from car to bike, and it would show you a map, it would show you where the bike corrals. Were you.

G

Went over you put a code in it, unlocked it erode it was you charged your two bucks right away.

G

On your uber app for your bike and then you left it in another corral and then you went.

G

Out and restaurant or whatever you came back and they may not be there, but you'd click on the app.

G

Again, it would show you where bikes were available again and you'd walk a block or two they're all.

G

Orange bikes they're pretty easy to find yeah that'd open up and the way you'd go again. It.

G

Was very cool, I have a question about parking on the sidewalk, scooters and bikes, and so just.

B

Seen something some some things are increasing. What's what's going to happen with the sidewalks.

B

With that, we may end up having to revisit it right now. Scooters under 50 cc's are allowed.

M

To park free on sidewalks as long as they're tied to the building and a wheelchair can get by that.

M

Space, that's the general rule and not near a nice monument like the fire station statue or.

M

Or a working device like a like a fire hydrant, you know as long as you're not doing that. Then.

M

We're okay, it's one of the things, a lot of of people that live downtown. Do they drive.

M

The scooters in because they know they're not adding to the congestion they can park.

M

For free they can drive it anywhere; they want put it up against the wall. Is it the.

J

Same for bicycles, uh yes, but bicycles tend to get stolen. If you do that, so we have corrals for them.

B

They don't have parking meters to lock them to anymore right right. That's right!.

M

Walking to the park mobile app yeah.

A

Great well appreciate your time yeah. Thank you very informative.

A

Well, that's the that's the agenda for today um you can reopen public comment. If anyone wants to.

A

Come up and speak steve great, I want public just confirming our next meeting is friday october 6th.

A

Back on our typical friday, uh first friday of the month schedule through the end of the year.

A

uh If anyone doesn't have any other business would entertain a motion to adjourn a little early today.

A

Second, all in favor all right.