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The recommendations came from a parking advisory task force assigned to look at problems citywide.
While some of the task force's recommendations were approved, others will be decided at a future meeting. What was left was a concern that Winona State University has taken no steps to alleviate the parking problem around campus.
James Schmidt, WSU vice president for university advancement, said the university is working with the city and students at solving parking issues that plague many universities.
The commission approved four of seven ordinance change recommendations put together by city planning staff. It deferred the rest until its next meeting, Oct. 10.
One of the more controversial issues — whether to limit rental housing to 30 percent of each city block — will wait at least two weeks until city staff can compile a map, said assistant city planner Joe Barbeau.
When the process is complete, the city council will vote on the changes, including lowering the number of unrelated people living together and the number of parking spaces rental houses must have, increasing the number from 1.5 to two.
Many of the commission members concluded that parking remains a major obstacle.
"We've tried to address the issue of parking," Commissioner Jim Gromek said, "and it seems to me the university still hasn't addressed the issue. They've got an empty parking lot on Sarnia and Main and the only time it's used is on Saturday for football games.
"Is there any way we're going to get them to accept responsibility?"
Schmidt said the university has created more parking spaces and continues to include parking space in its future plans. Moreover, the university has added "hundreds" of bike racks to encourage students and faculty to use bicycles.
WSU has considered a parking ramp but found that ramps don't generate enough money to pay for themselves. "Coming up with the money is critical," Schmidt said.
He said the university would like students to use more available space, like the parking lot at Sarnia and Main.
"But it's almost always cheaper and more convenient to park across the street than park across the tracks," Schmidt said.
Some commissioners wanted to see stricter parking regulations.
"What you need is parking permits on the streets. That's what will drive them to lots on campus. That's the only solution in the zone around the university," Commissioner Dick Jarvinen said.
Barbeau said permit street parking and other university area issues were discussed by the task force but never acted on.
"You're never going to solve parking until something is done by them to provide parking for their commuting day students," Commissioner LaVerne Olson said.
Schmidt said the university worries about regulating on-street parking. He said it could force the parking problems into other neighborhoods. The university struggles with the issue; parking permits barely pay for upkeep and snow removal and raising them would simply drive more students onto the street.
"We want to be a good neighbor," Schmidt said. "There's got to be a sensible balance."
Contact reporter David Krotz at dkrotz@winonadailynews.com or call (507) 453-3524.
