.Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into an agreement with the Short North Alliance (SNA) to contribute funding for various public parking initiatives within the Short North Parking Benefit District.
The City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, in order to facilitate additional parking and mobility options partnered with the Short North Alliance to implement parking and mobility programs. These program increase access for all user groups and support the growth and development of the Short North. These programs include visitor parking validation, employee mobility benefits, marketing and communication, transit focused incentives and administration.
The visitor validation program meets the goal of increasing occupancy at off-street garages in the Short North and maximizing off-street parking supply. The employee mobility benefits fund provides a pool of funds that are used to provide mobility benefits to employees and reduce parking demand and traffic congestion in the Short North, specifically within the neighborhood and on permit streets. The Short North Marketing & Communications program advocates for and educates the public on transportation and parking options through print and online media and in the form of signage on-street. The SNA will administer programs related to parking and mobility for the Short North Parking Benefit District. The SNA will administer a new program providing free fares for transit trips on COTA buses. This program will dedicate funds to employees, visitors, and residents to provide a free month of transit trips.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $197,000.00 in the Mobility Enterprise Fund, Short North Special Parking Area, subfund 650002.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow the Department of Public Service to satisfy its financial commitment as soon as reasonably practicable so as to prevent u...
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