Questions and Answers?

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Do you support the new Mary Street Garage Project? Please elaborate on your response.

At Large	Answer:
Connolly	Yes. Parking in downtown Newport needs to be addressed for businesses, employees, citizens and visitors. My preference would be to start at The Gate Way Center as I have grave concerns about entering and exiting using Thames St., Mary St. and Spring St. which brings people around in circles on very narrow streets. My greatest hope is to have parking in the North end and shuttling people into town.
Coyne	I support the concept of a Parking Garage on Mary Street provided that the number of spaces that will be provided will be done so with a real appreciation for size and scale given the historically sensitive area that surrounds it. Also, a garage of this scope should not be without some benefits for the surrounding area such as extending the Resident Sticker Parking Program to 24 hours a day.
Dias	Yes, only if it doesn't effect the tax rate and is funded by the Parking Fund Enterprise Fund which has a $3,883,894 cash balance estimated in the 2006-07 adopted budget, page 285.
Napolitano	Yes. Currently, there is a need for additional parking in the immediate area of Thames Street. The current lot is not adequate for the area's residents and businesses. The traffic plan causes drivers to circle the Hill area, which is not necessary if constructed to exit onto America's Cup, as proposed. The area on the perimeter of the lot can be made to look suitable and attractive, instead of the barrage of cars and ugly asphalt which now exists. There would be an opportunity to redesign the bathrooms to make them vandal proof and more available to the public on a regular basis. Finally, a reasonable arrangement could be worked out with employees and/or businesses, which would allow employees to park in the lot and not in adjacent neighborhoods.
Oliviera	Yes I do. Every study we have ever done regarding downtown Newport suggests this type of facility be built.The facility gives us the chance to clear the streets of local merchant employees who currently steal spaces from our neighbors.The facility gives us the chance to rework Thames Street to the South, a project that the RIDOT is somewhat interested in.The facility gives us the chance to change an ugly, asphalt open space now inhabited by an ugly bathroom and even uglier porta-johns into something of beauty.The facility gives us the chance to keep drivers who are looking for parking from circling the Historic Hill neighborhood again and again and again.
Slee	Unfortunately, I do not think Newport can support a garage because the current parking options throughout the city not being fully utilized. There are times during the summer months that it would be convent for locals and tourists to use the garage. Furthermore, if we plan to add a larger garage to the Gateway Information Center we could weaken the usage and necessity of such a garage at Mary Street
Waluk	There is a need for more parking in downtown Newport in the summer months. It is also important that employees of downtown businesses have a place to park and are not occupying parking spots of residents in nearby neighborhoods. The location of the proposed garage is in a historic neighborhood and any design must reflect the character and the architecture of this area. The process should continue with active input and participation from neighbors and merchants.
Abney	Yes. I support the concept of a new Mary Street Garage Project as long as it remains in harmony with the character of the neighborhood. Downtown parking is a frequent concern expressed to me by residents and visitors alike. I believe that a final Garage Project will allow for the lessening of parking that takes place is the area neighborhood. In addition to a decent parking lot, a design that improves the way the area looks would be a plus.
Duncan	No. It will not be fiscally responsible; it is not in a location easily accessible
Cullen	I will strongly support the Mary Street Parking project for a number of reason's, primarily because it will dramatically alleviate Newport's chocking traffic and parking needs for the seasonal visitors and residences. The location is ideal and will not be an eye sore for those that live in the surrounding area and it sends a message to the visitors that say "welcome!" There are too many signs in Newport that say "no parking" and the parking that is available currently is terribly expensive ($20 flat rate- even if its for one hour and most smaller lots are not regulated!).
McLaughlin	I will support a decision by the council to build a Mary Street garage if a cost analysis shows that it will be a self-sustaining enterprise. Its construction and operation should make no extraordinary demands on tax payers. Prior to a council vote, I hope that there will be discussion of the project that ensures we are using the right solution for the right problem. There are parking problems in the Historic Hill and downtown business areas that might be best mitigated by construction of a garage. What isn't clear is whether building the garage is the best or most cost effective way of addressing those problems. Also, construction of a garage at Mary Street is unlikely to address the parking needs of Lower Thames Street businesses, while it may expend the bulk of resources available to address other business area parking needs. A group is currently developing design specifications for a Mary Street Garage in accordance with a contract awarded by the council earlier this year. The parking and traffic studies (going back to 1985) made available by the city Planning office do not contain any rigorously collected data that support the construction of a garage. Assertions that a garage is needed are based largely on anecdotal evidence. My review of the prior studies shows that alternative parking strategies that might ameliorate the need for additional parking in the downtown business area have not been fully tested. A decision to construct a garage should concurrently address its linkage with other elements in the downtown master (Plan 2004 - Urban Design for Central Newport) plan such as utilization rates at the Gateway garage and strategies to increase use of that facility, and alternative parking strategies. If council votes to build the garage, I would be willing to explore directing some of the increase in tax monies raised because of the higher tax rate applied to commercial property compared with the residential tax rate toward the cost of building it. In 2006 the council voted to increase the tax rate on commercial property from 120 percent to 150 percent of the residential property tax rate. The increase in taxes paid by commercial property owners as a consequence of that rate increase amounted to more than $2M. It seems reasonable to direct some of the additional monies raised by the higher commercial rate toward projects that benefit the commercial and business interests in the city.
Leonard	No. I have not been convinced that this structure would be self-supporting. Is it realistic to believe that employees/employers would pay for parking in the winter months in Newport when ample parking is available? Who should carry the debt…the Newport residents and taxpayers? What would the operational costs be?

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