HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-19-2010 - 7a ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 19, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No. 7 - CL
SUBJECT: Eno River Parking Deck Access Gate Modifications and Agreement Revision
DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
ATTACH MENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank Clifton, 245-2300
Recommended Changes to Eno River
Parking Deck from McLaurin
-Parking Company
PURPOSE: To facilitate parking needs for the public using county offices and facilities in
downtown Hillsborough by modifying the access gate to the Eno River Parking Deck and
revising the County's agreement to utilize the Deck.
BACKGROUND: The construction of the new County office Building and Main Library along
with the Tax and Register of Deeds offices located in the Gateway Center entailed a
relationship with the developer regarding parking within the Eno River Parking Deck next to
those projects. The developer retained ownership of the Deck, and the County has a
commitment of 200 spaces within the Deck via a 50-year lease agreement.
The developer controls access to the County-leased parking spaces via earlier agreements
entered into as part of the original transaction. The developer through ownership of the Deck
desires to limit "free" public parking to those 40 spaces allocated from the County's 200 leased
spaces. Doing so creates access and egress issues.
The original configuration for the control gate (agreed to by the County) limits the ability of
County visitors to access "free" parking unless the current gates remain open. Doing so
encourages other parking users to avoid paying the fees collected by the developer to support
his investment.
To address this issue in the most appropriate manner requires a reconfiguration of the gated
areas and other changes. McLaurin Parking Company (a parking facility contractor) has
supplied a proposed plan to address the issue (see attached proposal dated August 3, 2010).
(Note: Comments in the attachment related to the parking area adjoining the Courthouse are
not included in this consideration.)
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FINANCIAL IMPACT: As outlined in the proposal, estimated costs will be in the range of $25-
30,000 depending upon site modifications.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) Authorize the modifications to the entry and access points on the lowest level of
the Eno River Parking Deck;
2) Approve associated budget amendments;
3) Authorize the County Attorney to prepare the necessary amendments (if any) to
the agreement between the County and the developer on the operation of the
Deck; and
4) Authorize the Chair to sign the agreement modifications.
Proposal for Orange County
August 3,1010
Eno River Parking Deck
Recommended Changes—Lower Level
The Eno River Parking Deck was originally planned to have a private parking
section on the first level, two public levels above, and another private level.on the top of
the structure. Access control equipment was installed on the first level and the fourth
level. The equipment includes a card reader/code unit to open the entrance gates and a
free loop system to open the exit gates when a vehicle approaches. Currently the
entrance gate on the first level is in the up position to allow library patrons and other
Orange County visitors free access to the parking. Having the entrance gate open allows
anyone and everyone to access the free parking on the first level and negatively impacts
the public parking that is available on levels 2 & 3 for a small fee. The following
changes will.allow the lower level gates to properly operate while providing access for
customers visiting Orange County offices and the library.
West side entry/exit lanes--The first step is to reverse the current setup by making the
entrance lane operate by loop control. A car approaching the entrance gate will cause the
gate to rise. No card, code, or payment will be needed at the entrance. The second step
is to move the existing card reader/code unit to the exit lane and allow this equipment to
control the gate operation. With this change drivers exiting in this lane will be required
to use an access card or a valid code to open the gate. County employees who are
assigned to this area will need a valid access card. Visitors to county offices can receive
the code that would allow them to exit at no cost.
East side exit lane--This lane should be modified to require a card, code, or payment at
exit. A credit card charge unit will be installed in the lane along with an access card
reader/code unit. The credit card unit will be connected to the central computer in the
deck to provide real time processing. County employees with valid exit cards will be
able to exit in this lane. Customers exiting in this lane can use the valid code received at
the library or other County office, or they can pay for parking using a credit card to open
the exit gate. A credit card payment system is preferable over a cash system located in an
exit lane. The credit card unit is generally more reliable and easier to understand for
most customers.
Exterior signage must be changed to clearly state the availability of the code and the cost
of parking without the code. Interior Signage must be modified to direct public
customers to the east side exit lane to exit. Customers visiting Orange County offices can
be given the code at a single point or at multiple locations. The code should be changed
weekly to guard against fraud or improper use. McLaurin Parking Company will change
the code at a predetermined time and send email with the new code to a list provided by
Orange County. The parking fee at the west exit should equal the maximum charge for
daily parking in the public portion of the deck - $5.00.
McLaurin Parking-Company
August 3,2010
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Flexible bollards must be placed at the exits to discourage drivers from driving over the
curb and around the gate. If flexible bollards do not deter drivers from going around the
gates,permanent bollards should be_installed.
The cost of the modifications listed above is estimated to be $25,332.00 plus applicable
sales tax (if any). This amount includes $13,890.00—cost of equipment, and $11,442.00
for labor and materials associated with installation.
McLaurin Parking Company can provide and install the equipment within eight weeks of
notice to proceed. Additional information regarding equipment specifications will be
made available if this proposal is accepted in concept.
Modifications to County Parking lot adjacent to Courthouse
Implementation of fees for parking in the most convenient lot is appropriate to generate
revenue that could be used to improve parking around the Courthouse in the future.
Convenience is the primary factor people use when deciding where to park and many
people are willing to pay for the most convenient parking. A pay station could be located
in the lot and customers could be required to pay for parking in advance using cash or
credit card. Parking spaces could be expected to generate an average of$5.00-$10.00 per
day or more if a moderate rate of$1.00 per hour is charged.
A Modern Access Systems pay station similar to the units in the parking deck can be
purchased for$13,920.00 plus applicable sales tax (if any). Installation cost is difficult to
estimate without knowing the precise location or the distance to power and interrnet
communications. If power and communications cables are available outside of the
building close to the location of the pay station, we would expect the installation cost to
be $3,000.00 or less. Revenue production should be strong in this location and the hourly
rate could be used to encourage short term parking and regular turnover. A lot with 35
spaces and a rate of$1.00 per hour should result in gross revenue of$55,000 - $65,000
annually.
McLaurin Parking Company could also provide this equipment for a negotiated share of
revenue from the lot. We provide a similar service for Gaston County Public Works in
Gastonia,NC. We are available to discuss this information at the appropriate time.
McLaurin Parking Company
August 3, 2010