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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20120522ParkingCommitteeMinutes.pdf Prepared by Sharon S. Shaver CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND PARKING COMMITTEE MINUTES May 22, 2012 ATTENDEES Council Committee representatives: Bill Garbett, Tom Groover, Paul Wolff Council Member: Barry Brown Staff Committee representatives: Diane Schleicher, Warren Millikan, Joe Wilson, Denise Dubuque, Pete Ryerson, Diane Otto, Chief Skip Sasser, and Chantel Morton CALL TO ORDER Mr. Bill Garbett called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Groover made a motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Wolff seconded the motion. The minutes from the April 25, 2012 meeting were approved. Mr. Garbett questioned why the old business came after the new. Ms. Schleicher explained that it had always been protocol. The decision was made to put the Old Business before New Business on the agenda. OLD BUSINESS: I. Revisions to Proposed Amendments to the Current Private Parking Ordinance Reviewed Ms. Schleicher stated that she found one error in the her notes after reading the minutes. The hours of operation should be an hour after a City approved event. Mr. Garbett asked for any other changes or comments. He asked it the ordinance had to go to Planning Commission? Ms. Schleicher stated that it goes straight to Council. She will send to Mr. Bubba Hughes first so that he can put the ordinance into the proper language. Mr. Wolff asked City Marshall Warren Millikan if $50 was enough to cover time that it takes to monitor lots. Mr. Millikan explained his monitoring process. Ms. Schleicher stated that the $50 is for next year. The $50 is for when people decide that they don’t like their site plan or want to add more spaces to cover administrative costs for advertising and other processes to present to Council again. Mr. Hughes said that we could not charge a regulatory fee. Mr. Brown asked what happened to a fee per space per parking lot. Mr. Garbett stated that it the effort to monitor parking lots was not dependent upon the number of spaces. Ms. Schleicher stated that the Rosenberg lot, which is a smaller lot, causes more trouble than larger lots. Mr. Groover asked if we could not just say no private parking lots in residential areas. All the ordinance will do next February is bring 100 people before Council asking for private parking lots and 1000 people against. Mr. Garbett explained that this is why we are here now to decide about private parking lots. We are trying to tweak this. He asked if we want to submit this to council or not? Prepared by Sharon S. Shaver A discussion ensued about the private lots in residential areas. Mr. Garbett asked the committee what they wanted to do with this ordinance. Mr. Wolff stated that he had no problem with this as written, with the correction of the lots open until one hour after a city approved event. Mr. Wolff made a motion to approve and recommend to Council. Mr. Garbett seconded the motion. Mr. Wolff and Mr. Garbett voted to approve. Mr. Groover voted against. The motion was approved. Ms. Schleicher stated that she would make the one correction and put it on the Council agenda for June 14. II. Review Proposed Layout of 14th Street Parking Lot, 14th Street (Beachside) & 15th Street (Beachside) for More Spaces Mr. Garbett stated referred the committee to diagrams on the overhead screen. The first discussion was concerning the 14th Street Parking Lot. He stated that parking is dependent on where the fire lane might be. Chief Sasser explained that it all looks good on paper, but when a big trucks are in the way it presents a problem. The committee discussed several scenarios, the measurements, traffic flow, fire lanes, and number of parking spaces. Mr. Garbett asked if there was an objection to any one plan over another. He asked Mr. Wilson about his concerns on straight in parking. Mr. Wilson stated that he thought it had to be 25’ and Mr. Garbett had 24’. Mr. Garbett will recheck guidelines. Chief Sasser stated that diagonal is easier on the public. Mr. Brown stated that it was difficult to get his truck in straight in parking. Mr. Wolff stated that he agrees with Mr. Groover in getting six more spaces without impeding the fire lane and as long as Chief Sasser is okay with the design. Mr. Brown discussed the possibility of designating compact spaces. The committee agreed that they could be marked, but when the lot fills people with any sized car will utilize those spaces. Mr. Wilson stressed that ordinances state there has to be 25’ from an intersection. Mr. Garbett asked if everyone was in support of making as many spaces as possible in those lots where that includes straight in parking. Mr. Garbett suggested that whoever gets this next would work out the details and see how feasible this is. He then asked for a motion for a recommendation. Mr. Wolff made a motion to recommend the 190 space option to Council for approval. Mr. Groover seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Garbett then referred the committee to the overhead for discussion of 15th Street. Mr. Garbett said the he first looked at it to put straight in parking. He discussed the options and issues around straight in parking. Mr. Garbett stated that Mr. Brown had suggested converting Prepared by Sharon S. Shaver the street to one way and to have diagonal parking. The committee discussed the one way option on 15th Street. Mr. Brown began the discussion of diagonal on one side and straight in on the other side of the street. Mr. Garbett discussed the 60’ right of way and measurements of spaces in relation to straight in and diagonal parking. Mr. Garbett asked if there was anyone that is qualified to tell the committee which arrangement is best, such as a traffic engineer. Instead of us thinking which arrangement is better, we could get someone to help. Mr. Wolff suggested the committee come up with an option or two and ask the MPC for help. He said they will not do a traffic study for us but if we give them the options, they could tell us which is better. Chief Sasser interjected that he is opposed to making 15th Street one way from a public safety aspect. Mr. Wilson stated that he would have to concur with Councilman Wolff and Chief Sasser that 15th Street should not be one way. Ms. Schleicher asked what was being gained by making it one way. Mr. Garbett said that no spaces were being gained, but it makes it a little easier to get in and out of spaces. Mr. Ryerson explained his observations in 16 lot with people trying to park head in and the traffic jams that it causes when they are unsuccessful in pulling into a space properly the first attempt. Spaces are gained with head in, but it is a matter of people getting into those spaces. Mr. Ryerson also stated that 15th is also a main artery with people walking in the street. He further stated that people on 14th Street surely do not want that to be one way as it is a major artery as well. Discussions continued on the 15th Street parking. Mr. Garbett asked where the committee wanted to go with this. We are not planning to implement this before the fall. Mr. Wolff stated that he liked the straight in parking, Plan A. We have plenty of time to get opinions. Mr. Groover asked Mr. Wilson about the price on getting asphalt on the street. Mr. Wilson stated that all he was going to do was crack seal it and seal coat the lot. He said that asphalt is a lot more expensive. Mr. Garbett made a motion to go for the maximum number of spaces and see if there is some reason that we cannot do it. Mr. Wolff seconded the motion. It was carried unanimously. III. Proposed Mission Statement and Membership for Parking Committee Mr. Garbett asked for comments. Mr. Wolff said that he agreed with Mr. Garbett that the mission statement should be 25 words or less. It should state long term goals. Mr. Garbett stated that his revision simply states: Prepared by Sharon S. Shaver The mission of the parking committee is to develop a plan to accommodate current and future transportation and parking needs of the City of Tybee Island. The vision of the parking committee is to create a transportation system for Tybee Island which makes access to all points of interest hassle free. Members: Official Membership would be three council members City Manager Finance Director Parking Supervisor BHT Coordinator Assistant to City Manager / Scribe Tourism Council Representative City Marshall, as needed Department of Public Works, as needed Citizen(s), Ex Officio Mr. Wolff made a motion to adopt the mission statement and membership as presented and notes that were taken. Mr. Garbett seconded. The motion passed unanimously. IV. Parking Update by Staff Mr. Ryerson reported that Beach Bum was smaller than previous years because of the weather. Parking was enforced up until it started pouring rain. Compliance was good. Saturday and Sunday were good. He reported that parking was ready for the weekend. They know what to do and will do it well to the best of their ability. NEW BUSINESS: I. Fourth of July Parking Plan Mr. Ryerson said that their staff can’t control influx of traffic. They will enforce no receipts and noncompliance. Ms. Schleicher said that there will be a tow truck available. There will be no ads in the paper about parking. Emergency lane will be Lovell, 15th Street. She will be meeting with Chiefs Sasser and Bryson and Hunter to be talking about an emergency plan. Mr. Wolff asked if the parking map was still on the web site, suggesting that perhaps a member of the press could get a PSA to that effect letting the public know that they could consult the City website for parking updates. Ms. Morton advised that she has called CRC shuttle about service. They will keep the same schedule. Chantel has asked that they get the word out earlier. Pick up will be at Visitor’s Center with parking at various sites. The number of busses will be increased. There are questions about traffic at the roundabout. Mr. Groover asked about ways to move traffic in stages. Officer Millikan said that Chief Bryson would have to address the traffic flow and coordination with Chatham County. Prepared by Sharon S. Shaver The committee discussed right of way parking and the large amount of traffic coming in to the island. The subject will be addressed further at the next meeting. Mr. Garbett said that he, Ms. Schleicher, Mr. Ryerson and Chief Bryson would make notes and discuss enforcement. Mr. Ryerson said that he would like guidance on parking enforcement, hire contract labor to help with enforcement. Mr. Garbett asked for a synopsis and come back at the next meeting. Mr. Wolff made a motion that Ms. Schleicher, Chief Bryson, Mr. Ryerson get together to discuss a plan and come to next meeting with recommendations. Mr. Groover seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Groover asked that parking fees be on the agenda. II. Parking Fees Mr. Wolff discussed increasing the cost of the decal to $150. The committee discussed the advantages of raising the fees. Mr. Groover discussed the parking fees in the three lots being raised. Mr. Ryerson said if the rates are going to be raised that a meeting with the business owners to discuss to get their input. The committee discussed the pros and cons of raising parking lot fees as well as logistical issues with raising rates. Mr. Wolff suggested moving forward on the cost of raising the decal cost. Mr. Garbett said that it would have to go before council. Mr. Ryerson explained what has to be done as far as the meters and pay and display to change the rates. Mr. Wolff suggested that the committees ask Ms. Hogan, Mr. Ryerson and Ms. Schleicher get together to give revenue generation based on raising decals, $150, $175, and $200. and revenue for raising rates in north and south beach lots to $1.75 and $2.00 per hour. He said that the purpose is to see if revenue generated would justify the fall out. Mr. Ryerson said that families would be the ones hurt the most with a big hit on raising rates. Families save all year to come to the beach. A gradual increase would be better for folks like that. Mr. Garbett asked that Mr. Wolff suggestion be taken to have the revenue generation looked at by Ms. Hogan, Mr. Ryerson and Ms. Schleicher. Mr. Groover asked how decals will be handled after the ad valorum changes. Mr. Garbett said that suggestions from staff would be wanted. It will be discussed at another meeting. Mr. Wolff made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded. The meeting was adjourned.