Lots of parking provided in deal

The deal pays the parking company $210,000 annually for 2,027 downtown spaces.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city finalized a deal with USA Parking Systems to provide 2,027 spaces at parking decks and lots throughout the downtown area for those attending events at the city's convocation center.
The 10-year deal pays the Cleveland-based company $210,000 annually, in $17,500 monthly installments. The city's board of control approved the agreement Thursday.
More than half of the available parking spaces will be in USA lots, including one that borders South Walnut, East Boardman, South Champion and East Federal streets. That lot holds 950 vehicles.
Those buying a ticket for events at the convocation center pay a service fee ranging from $1 to $2.50. Less than $1 of the fee goes toward parking, according to Jeff Kossow, the facility's executive director.
"This will be a pleasant experience for those used to going to events in Cleveland and Pittsburgh who pay $5 to $20 to park for an event," said Mayor George M. McKelvey.
City officials say they expect at least to make back the $210,000 fee charged by USA through the service fee.
Additional capacity
USA entered subcontracting deals with owners of four parking lots in the city's downtown area that is included in the 2,027 spots available.
There are also 400 parking spots on the convocation center grounds for suite and club seat owners, those who are handicapped, and for use by the Youngstown SteelHounds, the Central Hockey League team playing its home games at the arena.
City officials say the industry standard is 2.5 people per car. With the 2,027 USA spots and the 400 on site, there is parking for 6,067 people. Also, there are about 200 parking spots on streets near the facility.
The seating limit for hockey games is 5,500, and the maximum seating capacity for some events is 7,345.
Those driving to events should go to the center first and be directed by attendants to parking locations, said Finance Director David Bozanich. After one lot or deck is filled, motorists will be directed to the closest lot, he said. Those parking don't need to get a ticket when they enter a USA parking lot or deck, Bozanich said.
Plan Bs
There are two spill-over lots -- near the Erie Terminal Building and on the corner of West Boardman and South Hazel streets -- that are a distance from the arena, and will be used only when there are sellouts during maximum seating capacity events, he said.
Also, those coming downtown for other reasons can use the designated lots and decks at no cost, Bozanich said.
"We want people to come downtown and this is another reason for them to come," he said.
Bozanich described negotiations with USA as "brutal," but believes the city got a fair deal.
"If we don't do this, the problem you're going to have is the private sector parking lot owners could gouge drivers and we didn't want that to happen," he said.
The USA contract allows the city or the arena management to give 90 days' notice to renegotiate or cancel the deal.
"This is a learning process," Mc-Kelvey said. "There may be operational challenges we face."
WRTA's free shuttles
For Sunday's Tony Bennett concert at the center, the Western Reserve Transit Authority, in cooperation with Packer Thomas, will allow concert-goers to ride the WRTA trolley or a WRTA bus free from downtown parking lots and decks to the arena as well as to downtown restaurants and nightclubs.
One hour after the concert ends, the shuttles will transport people to their cars or anywhere else they choose along the designated routes.
skolnick@vindy.com