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An Ordinance Amending Section 15-3-18 of the Oak Park Village Code to Extend the Free Parking Time at the Village’s Avenue Garage from Sixty (60) Minutes to Ninety (90) Minutes to Provide Business Support During the “Renew the Avenue” Streetscape Project.
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Introduction
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Due to the upcoming “Renew the Avenue” streetscape project, staff recommends the Village extend the free parking time at The Avenue parking garage from sixty (60) minutes to ninety (90) minutes to support the Hemmingway Business District.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Ordinance.
Prior Board Action
There is no prior Board action associated with this item.
Background
The “Renew the Avenue” streetscape project is planned for construction in early spring of 2025. The project includes utility replacement and road construction between Randolph Street and Ontario Street, with the larger streetscape improvements focused from Pleasant Street to Ontario Street. Village staff has conducted several public meetings and one-on-one meetings with individual business owners, property owners, and Hemmingway Business District leadership. Through these discussions, staff has developed a series of recommendations for business support, including extending the free parking time at The Avenue parking garage from sixty (60) minutes to ninety (90) minutes. Staff believes the garage utilization capacity is enough to accommodate this proposed program and parking fee change.
A presentation to the Finance Committee of the Village Board occurred on October 29, 2024, for consideration of this item in relation to the FY 25 budget. The memo presented that night is included as an attachment. This item is related to proposed Resolutions 25-124 and 25-122 to present a comprehensive business support program during the Renew the Avenue construction in 2025.
Timing Considerations
Staff believes it is advantageous to the business community to extend the free parking time prior to the actual start of the streetscape project construction. This would allow businesses to educate their patrons on the availability of the extended free parking time at the Avenue Garage in advance of the actual disruptions to traffic flow and reduction in on-street parking availability. Pending Village Board direction, the extended parking time would be effective Monday, February 3, 2025. Staff is prepared to make the necessary operational changes to implement the extended free parking time on this date. The extended free parking time would be modified back to the original sixty (60) minutes upon completion of the streetscape project, which is estimated to be December 2025.
Budget Impact
Transient, or daily, parking revenue for The Avenue parking garage is accounted for in account # 5060-43770-784-440460 (Garage Fees & Permits). Staff estimates that, if adopted, the proposed Ordinance will result in lost revenue of $31,863.00, or 5% of budgeted FY 25 revenue in this particular account.
Staffing Impact
If adopted, the proposed Ordinance does not have major staffing impacts outside of implementation and operations for the Parking and Mobility Services Division staff within Development Services Department.
DEI Impact
There is no DEI impact associated with this item because the free parking is for all groups and individuals in the community and visitors.
Community Input
Village staff conducted several public meetings and one-on-one meetings with individual business owners, property owners, and Hemmingway Business District leadership. Through these discussions, staff developed this recommendation among other business support incentives for the Village’s “Renew the Avenue” streetscape project.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance, extending the free parking time at The Avenue parking garage from sixty (60) minutes to ninety (90) minutes.
Increasing the amount of free parking time at the Village’s Avenue parking garage will provide a crucial benefit to the Hemingway Business District during the upcoming “Renew the Avenue” streetscape project.
With construction likely to disrupt traffic flow and reduce on-street parking availability, offering extended free parking at the nearby Avenue parking garage will encourage customers to visit businesses for up to 90 minutes without the added stress of parking fees. This will help mitigate potential decreases in foot traffic and customer engagement, ensuring that shoppers and visitors have easy access to stores and services. By making parking more convenient and affordable, the Village can support businesses through this challenging period, fostering continued patronage and economic vitality while construction is underway
Advantages:
• Mitigate potential decreases in foot traffic and customer engagement in the Hemmingway Business District; and
• Ensure shoppers and visitors have easy access to stores and services
Disadvantages:
• Estimated lost revenue of $31,863.00 in FY 25.
Alternatives
Alternative 1:
Not adopt the Ordinance.
Advantages:
• No direct lost revenue from The Avenue parking garage.
Disadvantages:
• Potential decrease in foot traffic and customer engagement in the Hemmingway Business District; and
• Potential difficulties for shoppers and visitors in securing parking and having easy access to stores and services.
Alternative 2:
Modify the Proposed Ordinance to extend the free parking time from sixty (60) minutes to one hundred and twenty (120) minutes.
Advantages:
• Further mitigate potential decreases in foot traffic and customer engagement in the Hemmingway Business District; and
• Further ensure shoppers and visitors have easy access to stores and services.
Disadvantages:
• Estimated lost revenue of $84,968.00 in FY 25.
Anticipated Future Actions
Staff anticipates preparing an Ordinance for the Village Board’s review in Fall 2025, upon completion of the streetscape project, to modify the free parking time back to sixty (60) minutes.
Prepared By: Sean M. Keane, Parking & Mobility Services Manager
Reviewed By: Emily A. Egan, Development Services Director
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Ordinance
2. Memo from Finance Committee presentation on October 29, 2024.