Room J Law School
The following representatives were present:
· Academic Affairs:Annette Hatton, Margaret Stefan
· Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: Laura Alfonso, Miriam Edwards (for Joan
Boalch), Greg Durham, Patricia Smith, David Jennings
· Arts and Sciences: LaBau Bryan (for Robyn Ansley), Larry Peter
· Education: Sandy Smith
· Environmental Design: Marsha Grizzle
· External Affairs: Bonnie Norwood
· Family and Consumer Sciences: Susan Mattox (forVici Decker)
· Finance and Administration: Tonya Carter, William Childs, Tom Kopp, Kathy Hines,
Tommy McCommons, Frank Patman, Joel Sorrow
· Forest Resources: Gloria Harrison (for Bob Ratajczak)
· Law School: Joe Johnson
· Legal Affairs, etc.: Toni Stone
· Pharmacy: Stephanie Borrett
· Public Service and Outreach: George Russell (for Paul Farr),Tameka Allison
· Research Services: Beverly Chalk, Donna Huber
· Social Work: Barbara Galvond
· Student Affairs: Nancy Ferguson, Maureen Hetrick
· Terry College of Business: Elizabeth Pape
· Veterinary Medicine: Tony Hughey
· Recording Secretary: Carol Bishop
· President: Brenda Keen
· Parliamentarian and Representative to USG-SC: Margot Peter
The following representatives were not present:
· Agricultural and Environmental Sciences: Sandra McPeake
· Finance and Administration: Henry Bridges
· Graduate School: Katie Dirr
· Journalism and Mass Communication: No representative
· Veterinary Medicine: Allison Wright
· Coordinator: Melanie Andrews
· Immediate Past President: Sarah Fraker
Staff Council President Brenda Keen called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m..
A quorum was in attendance so Carol Bishop called the roll.
The minutes for February 6, 2002 were approved.
Brenda announced that Stephanie Kollman and Laura Alfonso will be joining Bob Ratajczak on the Parking Taskforce. Stephanie Borrett will be serving on the alternative transportation subcommittee of the Parking Taskforce and Nancy Ferguson will take over Terri Bear's appointment to the faculty/staff parking appeals committee.
Brenda introduced Tracey Ford from the Office of Institutional Diversity. Tracey invited everyone to their open house on March 8th in room 119 of the Holmes-Hunter Building and talked about the Office of Institutional Diversity's website and newsletter.
Next, Brenda introduced the manager of Auxiliary Services, Joyce Hardman, as our guest speaker. Joyce answered questions submitted by the Council and then took questions from the large group of staff in attendance.
Joyce said that the basic concepts for the University's parking plan came from the Board of Regents' 1997 Master Plan and stressed that the UGA Master plan was designed and approved with the assistance and input of UGA staff on focus groups. Although there is not a shortage of actual parking spaces, many available spaces are not located where people want to park and campus parking expenses have been increasing at a much higher rate than parking fees. She noted that staff are able to use the campus buses which run every day except on weekends.
The new plan will require people to submit their first, second, and third choices for parking in the ten, twenty, or thirty dollar lots. In mid-July, parking assignments will be made for faculty, staff, and students; those not getting their preferred choice may request to be put on a waiting list. People who have handicapped permits will be given "equal but not preferential" treatment and will need to also submit three choices for where they wish to park. Joyce said that the new parking plan should make parking easier at all times of the day. People arriving at their assigned lot and finding no parking spaces may park anywhere in their lot except in spaces designated for handicapped parking. If they immediately notify Parking Services of the situation, they will not be charged fines but will be expected to move their car once space is available.
According to Joyce, the main reasons Parking Services did not go with a sliding scale for parking fees was because they do not have access to records of staff salaries and their consultants did not recommend it. She stated that she is trying to get the raise in fees delayed from August until October and highly recommends choosing the pre-tax payroll deduction option when paying for parking fees. The Parking Taskforce has yet to make many of the final decisions related to the parking plan such as how to handle carpooling, day passes and motorcycle parking fees.
In addition, Joyce said that Parking Services has not mismanaged their budget and she believes that they have done a good job in a difficult situation. Parking Services will lose 1.5-1.7 million dollars this year and without the increase in parking fees is projected to lose up to 2.5 million dollars next year. Joyce covered several scenarios related to the large increase in parking fees and noted that, since the new rates are only guaranteed for three years, we will probably continue to experience increases in parking fees. The fees Athletic Services pays for parking are also being renegotiated in light of the current financial situation. Joyce says to keep checking Parking Services website at www.parking.uga.edu for current information.
Brenda adjourned the meeting at 4:10p.m.
Respectively submitted by Carol Bishop, Recording Secretary, April 3, 2002.