Summary of meeting issues and solutions
Points to consider
Input and Recommendations from 2002 public meeting
NENA's article from the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger
Mpls Critical Parking Area Ordinance

	Good news already ! Sept 23- Public Works replaced the faded stop signs at the corner of 42nd Ave and 50th Street. Sept 20- Mpls Police were seen ticketing cars blocking or parked too close to driveways on at least 44th and 43rd Aves. Several cars were observed with tags. Sept 17 - Jennifer Lovaasen of the Met Council sent us the following information after a followup discussion on the 17th. We thank her for the prompt attention: "At the NENA meeting on Sept. 16, folks said that hide-and-ride could be reduced by better bus service to the V.A. Medical Center LRT Station. These improvements to Route 19 are planned to begin in December: Extended span of service from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and weekends. Increased weekday frequency with a bus meeting every other train Stronger connections from 28th Ave. to 54th St. "Metro Transit's service planners have already identified and responded to your constituents needs." Jennifer Lovaasen Hiawatha Project Office 612-215-8201
	Area around 50th St./Minnehaha Park LRT Station showing observed LRT parking area. Click for larger image.

Thanks to the 60 residents who attended the Sept 16 meeting, we have a good start towards finding solutions for parking and traffic issues around the 50th St. station area and along 39th and 38th Avenues.

This was a difficult subject, and we didn't expect any final closure at the end of the night. However, with so much good input from residents and officials alike, we have made strong progress towards some positive solutions.

It is, though, just the beginning. From here, we will need to work together as individual blocks and again as a somewhat larger group to distill the suggestions and possibilities down to a more comprehensive plan. The final result will need to be fairly consistent among the blocks, yet still allow for individual needs.

What's next?

• NENA staff will begin compiling the input and comments from residents and officials on Monday, Sept. 20. The results are published here, will be mailed to meeting attendees, and sent to Council Member Colvin Roy and Met Transit.

• We will create and mail surveys to all of the businesses and residents in the area to further distill your preferences. There are several pieces of information that we did not have the time to ask for at the meeting.

• With that information in hand, we will meet with interested residents on individual blocks sometime in early October.

• NENA staff will help residents organize and carry out a "Good Neighbors" campaign for LRT riders and parkers. (Please contact us if you would like to help organize the campaign.)

Summary of meeting issues and solutions

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Parking, more or less?

The following article is reprinted from the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger, September 2004.

One of the more difficult issues to face residents along the Hiawatha Corridor this past few months has been the long anticipated, and much discussed issue of parking and traffic pressures near the LRT stations. This is one of those situations that test the civility in all of us, and before the dust settles, threatens to divide residents, businesses and LRT riders, no matter the final outcome.

I invite all Nokomis East residents to attend NENA's September Town Meeting and share any comments and possible solutions you might have, block by block. The results of those discussions, and any correspondence up to that point will be collated and sent to Council Member Colvin Roy for her consideration and final recommendation. The Town Meeting will be held at the Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway, on Thursday, September 16, from 7-9 PM.

As a long-time resident on one of the most impacted blocks, I can remember how, not so many years ago, there were so few cars parked on our street that the exception brought notice. Now, I know first-hand of nearly impassable streets, no places for visitors and family to park, and near constant traffic, too often speeding up the street.

My first reaction, like that of many of my neighbors, is to petition for a Critical Parking Area or CPA, that permit-only parking solution that, in effect, restricts parking to those who are willing and able to pay $25 a year, per vehicle, for a permanently affixed parking sticker. In effect, I'd be telling everyone else that this is my private street. I can see the signs now, "Welcome to Minneapolis, now go away!"

There are many arguments for and against parking bans. One side correctly points out that the streets are, after all, public, and parking is legal. Others rightly counter that the streets have become so choked with cars that some residents can't get out of their driveways. The City points out that restrictions mean enforcement, and reminds us that they are already strapped for Police coverage. Many folks vehemently object to permits as "having to pay to park on their own street," and note that CPA's would further require purchasing extra "floating" permits for guests and repair vehicles. And so goes the argument, back and forth.

Here's something else to think about…Taking that Critical Parking scenario a little further, It's easy to predict an initial radius of two or three blocks petitioning to be in the 50th St. Station CPA. That would force LRT parkers out to the next few blocks, where those residents would likely opt in, and so on. We also know that the majority of parkers live in the neighborhood relatively close to the station. So, eventually you end up with several hundred local residents in the CPA that now have the right to park anywhere they want within the defined area, including that favorite spot that you just "paid for" to keep open for yourself.

Personally and professionally, I think we must find a compromise between being responsible citizens and protecting the livability and character of our neighborhoods. Most likely, we will see a mix of hourly restrictions and CPA, with narrow streets restricted to one side parking.

To that end, NENA welcomes your comments and solutions on parking and traffic. Stop by and pick up a satellite map of the 50th St/Minnehaha Park Station and surrounding area to ponder and mark up. Give us a call at 612-724-5652, email parking@nokomiseast.org, or mail us at 3000 E. 50th St, 55417. We will be posting comments on www.nokomiseast.org. I hope to see you there.

-Doug Walter, Associate Director, Nokomis East

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