City officials have approved updating Columbus’s downtown parking study using Columbus Redevelopment Commission funding.
The commission approved a resolution to engage Nelson/Nygaard to update the firm’s 2013 study at the request of the Columbus Parking Commission. Redevelopment Commission President Al Roszczyk said this will be done through a $19,470 grant to the Columbus Board of Works.
Executive Director of Public Works/City Engineer Dave Hayward has said in previous interviews the original 2013 study cost almost $85,000 and was also funded by the redevelopment commission.
The commission previously considered the update at its Sept. 20 meeting, but the discussion was tabled.
This was due to questions about who would be the contracting entity for the agreement — the redevelopment commission or the parking commission.
Redevelopment commission attorney Stan Gamso said city officials suggested that redevelopment make a grant to the Board of Works.
The board will then designate who receives the funds and how the project moves forward, Gamso said. The city engineer’s office would likely be the recipient and “be responsible for the project.”
The proposal includes four key tasks — project start-up and coordination, stakeholder engagement, updated recommendations and “meter procurement guidance.”
City Councilman and Parking Commission Tom Dell said that the group will report back to the redevelopment commission and board of works on the study.
“This is going to be a pretty transparent situation for you as well as the board of works, as well as the community,” he said.
