City Council has been considering for the past two (2) years how to best operate the downtown parking system.  After Billings voters rejected a Charter amendment that would have allowed the Council to create a Parking Commission, staff and the Parking Advisory Board (PAB) met to determine what to do next.   Staff and the PAB recommended a parking strategic plan at the Council's January 6, 2014 meeting, answered a number of Council questions and again presented material and the recommendation to Council at the February 3, 2014  work session.  Among the material was a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit responses from consulting companies to help the City prepare a parking strategic plan.  The Council consensus was to issue the RFP and review the responses.

The City received five (5) responses to the RFP.  The responders were: Desman Assoc., RNR Consulting, Kimley-Horn, Walker Parking and Nelson-Nygard.  Four of these companies are well known, national parking consultants.  A committee of PAB members and Councilmembers Cromley and Yakawich reviewed the responses and unanimously selected Kimley-Horn.  The proposed fee is $68,025 and up to $18,000 of expenses for a total contract maximum of $86,025.  This is at the high end of the cost range that staff estimated for Council in January and February.  The reasons that the committee selected Kimley Horn include:

• Kimley-Horn's parking consultancy focuses on downtowns
• Familiarity with the community - 1998's Downtown Framework Plan, Downtown Parking Forum (9-24-13)
• Use of other communities' practitioners as a panel to identify issues and solutions
• Capacity to complete the project, with over 2,000 employees and committed time from company principals
• Thorough explanation of the stakeholder outreach program
• Promise of follow-up consultation if needed
• Acceptable schedule (4 months) with specifically identified tasks and milestones
• Peer city comparison and analysis

The attached model contract will be completed and executed if Council approves the recommendation.  The Kimley-Horn proposal is available for review in the City Clerk's office.

The City Council may approve or disapprove contracting with Kimley-Horn to complete a downtown parking strategic plan.  If Council disapproves the contract, the PAB and staff will try to identify other ways to improve downtown parking.

The Parking Fund has $869,000 in cash as of March 1.  Staff will recommend about $333,000 of parking garage repairs next fiscal year, leaving a balance of at least $586,000 cash in the Fund.  In addition, the Parking Advisory Board is discussing parking garage rates and may recommend an increase because the last rate adjustment was in 2006.     

Staff recommends that the City Council approve a consulting contract with Kimley-Horn to prepare a Downtown Parking Strategic Plan and a not to exceed price of $86,025.