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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20121016ParkingCommitteeMinutes.pdf Sharon S. Shaver CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND PARKING COMMITTEE MINUTES October 16, 2012 ATTENDEES Council Committee representatives: Bill Garbett, Tom Groover, Paul Wolff Staff Committee representatives: Diane Schleicher, Denise Dubuque, Pete Ryerson, Chief Robert Bryson, Chantel Morton CALL TO ORDER Mr. Bill Garbett called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Wolff made a motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Mr. Garbett seconded the motion. The minutes from the September 18, 2012 meeting were approved. NEW BUSINESS: I. Review pluses and minuses of leasing new single headed credit card compatible meters. Ms. Schleicher said that Denise has been doing the research on the meters. This is for future credit card meters. She said that we bought 30 meters but do have a lease option. Ms. Dubuque explained that we would own the meters after three years, with only $15 interest for the year, per meter. Mr. Garbett asked if that included maintenance. Ms. Dubuque said the she and Mr. Ryerson provided maintenance to the meters. She said that we would have a warranty for the three years. Ms. Schleicher stated that if there were software upgrades, we would automatically get them. The agreement has to be with the company and not through GMA as in the past. Mr. Wolff discussed the interest rates. Mr. Wolff said that if it includes warranty and all software upgrades, then it seems like the thing to do. Mr. Garbett stated that they would pay for themselves. Ms. Dubuque said that, depending on how well these meters do, we could stagger them in another six months, maybe get 20 more. Mr. Garbett stated that his meaning that they could pay for themselves if we are replacing meters or adding more. Ms. Dubuque said that an example would be to replace some of the more expensive pay and display machines on beach side streets. Mr. Wolff stated that we may be phasing out pay and displays anyway as the environment is rough on them. Sharon S. Shaver Mr. Ryerson said that his concern is updates on the software, pointing out that we would automatically get them with a lease agreement. Ms. Dubuque added that we get alarms on these machines and not the others. Ms. Schleicher said that we could raise the rates on these machines also. She stated that Mr. Hughes has the contract to review now. Mr. Groover arrived at the meeting. Mr. Garbett recapped the lease option with meters. $15. Per year per meter for three years, then we own the meters. Ms. Dubuque pointed out the credit card charges to the city are the only downside. There was discussion as to charge a fee of $1.50 or not, if people call in to pay for a ticket on the phone. Mr. Garbett asked that the possibility be checked in to and get back to the committee. II. Review Booting Ordinance and Discuss Implementation Ms. Schleicher stated that the booting ordinance was passed by council. Mr. Garbett and Mr. Wolff discussed how to go about applying the booting ordinance to people with excessive tickets. Ms. Schleicher suggested that the list of people in violation be mailed a letter with a time frame to pay, and explaining that they may be subject to the boot process. Ms. Dubuque explained the process of notification of tickets not paid and late fees being applied. Mr. Garbett suggested that the committee revisit the subject after a few cars have been booted. He then asked if the list of those in violation had tag numbers and whether or not it could be traced if the owners had more than one car. Mr. Ryerson explained that the tag numbers were traced and it shows the owners. It would only be cross referenced if a letter is sent. Mr. Garbett expressed concern over incorrect booting and it hitting the newspaper. Mr. Groover said Chatham County will not issue a tag if tickets are not paid and there is an intergovernmental agreement not allowing tags to be issued if there is even one outstanding ticket. A discussion ensued on Tybee possibly being a part of the agreement to no tags if there are outstanding tickets. Ms. Schleicher stated that we would work with Danny Powers, Chatham County Tax Assessors, to get working on such an agreement. Mr. Ryerson explained that there are several people out there now that can get booted. A police officer will go with the parking officer when booting. Sharon S. Shaver Old Business I. Review Sec. 3-080. - Off-street parking requirements, Sec. 66-138. - Designation of individual parking spaces, Sec. 66-139 and Parking meters—Installation; compliance Ms. Schleicher stated that Ms. Dubuque had been contacting property owners. Ms. Dubuque stated that the only person she has had a meeting with is Chris Solomon. Ms. Dubuque explained Mr. Solomon’s parking situation. In their meeting Mr. Solomon requested Loading Zone signs. Ms. Schleicher explained Mr. Solomon’s request for loading zones. Mr. Wolff stated that he believes Mr. Solomon has plenty of off street parking. Mr. Groover said that he had met with other members of the Solomon family. He said that their concern is also the parking at the Sugar Shack. The committee discussed the parking at the Sugar Shack, their private parking and the ROW. Mr. Garbett said that Macelwees had a similar parking situation as Sugar Shack. There is half meter and half private parking. Ms. Schleicher said that staff would look at Sugar Shack’s parking situation. She further stated that once staff has everything uniform on Second, we will remove signs. Ms. Schleicher advised that Lovell will remain on the agenda for parking. Ms. Schleicher advised that by St. Michaels there is a fence that we have put a no parking sign. Father Tom said he would like it to be “decal only” as many residents and parish members park there and are getting tickets. Ms. Schleicher said that she spoke to Tommy Branch about this issue. He said that he thought it would be okay since not just residents have access to decals, but anyone can come in and buy a decal. Therefore, a group is not being excluded, so it is not discriminatory. If the committee wanted to do some streets as decal only, Mr. Branch could defend it. Stingray’s would be another issue. Mr. Garbett asked if a compact car only sign could be put up behind Stingray’s, as we are allowing people to park there anyway. Mr. Groover said that the person that owns the property owns the whole thing, whether that is Stingray, or his mother-in-law or what. Ms. Dubuque advised that there was no relation, the owner is the landlord. Sharon S. Shaver Mr. Groover said that the owner had given permission to park there, as she owns the restaurant. Ms. Schleicher stated that the landlord rents out the property for the restaurant and she is allowing them to park in the city right of way. She said that the problem is that we can’t give exclusive parking in the city right of way. If it was on her private property, she could allow anyone to park there. She does not have the legal right to say people can park in the city right of way. Ms. Schleicher advised that the committee had looked at the possibility of metering there, but did not want the liability of metering it, and the space not be deep enough. If someone parked there and was hit, we are saying it is okay. Someone could say that the city was negligent if there was an accident. The question is, are we looking away? There are employees parking there, causing the same hazard. Stingray’s is saying if they have a menu in the car, don’t ticket, if they do, then ticket them. Ms. Schleicher pointed out that everything is wrong about this situation. We need to be legal. We can make it decal only parking. The parking staff wants to be legal, consistent and fair, but work with the business owners. We want to come up with something that works. It has come to council before. Ms. Schleicher said that we could push it back, bush hog and make it legal. Mr. Garbett asked if we could do that. Ms. Schleicher said that she would check with Joe Wilson to see what could be done in the off-season to make it a legal spot, by taking out some of the vegetation and adding a tie to make it the legal length, then metering it. Ms. Schleicher said that it will need to go before council again. Mr. Garbett said that we need to be consistent. He said what we are doing now is wrong. Mr. Groover said that Savannah has this problem. Tourism council says that we have 800 people working here. Savannah has 8000. Mr. Groover asked, “What do we do about this problem?” Ms. Schleicher said that some of the business owners down front will buy a decal for their employees to use while they are working. When the employee leaves their employment, they have to turn in their decal. The city is being very business friendly. The committee continued the discussion of employee parking for the business owner’s benefit and the city’s benefit, as well as the employees parking in premium spots. Mr. Wolff stated that it is up to the business owners to tell their employees where to park. Mr. Garbett said that this issue will can’t be resolved today. Ms. Schleicher asked the committee if they wanted her to get a cost estimate on the improvements behind Stingray’s. Sharon S. Shaver After more discussion, the committee asked Ms. Schleicher to check into the possibility of the parking improvements. II. Parking update by staff Mr. Ryerson said that weekends are busy. He said that crowds were lower for Pirate Fest. There were no problems with parking. Mr. Wolff made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Garbett seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.