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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20140311 parking committee minutes.docx CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND PARKING COMMITTEE MINUTES March 11, 2014 ATTENDEES Council Committee representatives: Bill Garbett, Paul Wolff, Rob Callahan Staff Committee representatives: Diane Schleicher, Denise Dubuque, Chantel Morton, and City Marshal Bruce Saunders GUESTS Donald (DAC) Cowart Harry Spirides CALL TO ORDER Mr. Bill Garbett called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Garbett asked for a correction in the minutes on the legal parking space size. Mr. Wolff made a motion to approve the minutes with the correction. Mr. Garbett seconded the motion. The minutes were approved with the correction. Old Business: Update on the concept of smaller parking spaces for low speed vehicles and golf cart parking near the beach (This will require a text amendment because parking space sizes are codified) Ms. Schleicher stated that staff has looked at some of the spaces on the list and we will not be able to get as many spaces as originally thought. She said that some of the beachside streets are not individually metered and don’t have parking spaces delineated. She said that parking would go out on March 12 to look at the spaces. She said that she would like to have this committee go to council with a recommendation for a text amendment that would also be a part of the land development code because that is where parking space size is located. After the size of the LSV / golf cart space is determined, perhaps with the help of Ms. Otto, we could go in the field to determine spaces. Mr. Garbett asked what staff could foresee as a space size for a LSV. He said that he would figure that a golf cart size would be as little as 6’ X 10’ and we would want to make the space so small that a car could not fit in it. He said that the only golf cart spaces that would be available would be in Fourteen lot, Sixteen Lot and North Beach as they are the only places that they can get to. Mr. Garbett asked how it looks for opening up spaces for the carts without taking away spaces for cars. He asked if 20 could be added. Ms. Dubuque stated that she did not know if 20 could be added, but definitely some could be added. The committee discussed various locations for LSV and golf carts. Mr. Garbett asked if the committee should make a recommendation of space size for motorcycles, carts and LSV or give it to staff. Ms. Schleicher said that she thought it should be given to Ms. Otto and ask for a space size for motorcycles, LSV and golf cart dimensions. Then, Ms. Otto could give the recommendations to Planning Commission and they could give a recommendation back to Council and then give it to staff. Mr. Wolff made a motion to ask for dimensions specifically for motorcycles, scooters, LSV and golf carts. Mr. Callahan seconded. The motion was carried unanimously. Continuing remarks about private use of public parking spaces and parking garage - Donald Cowart Mr. Garbett stated that he had sent out Mr. Cowart’s presentation. He said that it seems that there are three main subjects in the presentation: Condemnation of various properties and construction of a parking deck on the end of Tybrisa; working out an acceptable solution to the parking on Lovell, south of Fourteenth Street; recommendations for the Lazaretto Creek area. Mr. Garbett advised Mr. Cowart that we did not want to go through the presentation again, but if he wanted to make a few points, he should do so now. Mr. Coward stated that he knew that tearing down Chu’s was far-fetched. He addressed several issues that he viewed as the building being in bad shape. Mr. Garbett stated that was not a parking committee issue. Ms. Schleicher stated that was something the city marshal could look at to determine if a public safety issue, perhaps with the County, Inspector Ray Hord. She asked the city marshal to accompany the inspector to Chu’s and walk through with Mrs. Mola Chu to see if anything is a public safety issue. She explained that the city is limited to public safety concerns. Mr. Cowart addressed parking in the summer in the main lots. Ms. Schleicher explained traffic flow in the parking lots and drop off options to avoid Tybrisa. City Marshal Saunders explained the work done with parking services and the police department to aid in the parking problems. Mr. Garbett explained that we cannot change traffic patterns. He suggested that business management could help employees with parking suggestions so that they could leave work safely. Mr. Garbett suggested that demolition of structures not be pursued. New Business Discuss complimentary or reduced rate decals for golf carts owned and registered by residents Mr. Garbett asked for opinions on reduced rates for golf cart decals. He said that he does not want to be the city to be in a position of giving a gratuity. Ms. Schleicher said that we are going backwards. When the golf cart ordinance was put on the books, Mr. Schuman was on council and adamant that golf cart owners pay for inspections and for parking and decals, as we do not get ad valorem tax on them. She said that there has only been one person to approach a council person about not paying for decals or a reduced rate. She said that person performs weddings and parks at crossovers and gets paid. Mr. Garbett and Mr. Wolff both stated that they have no problem continuing to charge for decals on golf carts as they are still wear and tear on the road and impacting the community in the same way as a car. The committee continued the discussion of decals on golf carts and ad valorem tax. Mr. Wolff made a motion that the golf cart decal policy remain as is. Mr. Callahan seconded. II. Discuss issue with City Taxi’s taking over public parking with the use of city decals Officer Saunders explained the “taxi wars.” He said that some of the taxi companies have several cars and no place to park them. Some of the taxi companies are using city parking lots, metered spaces and city ROW to store their off duty cars. They all have decals. There are ordinances that limit parking, but only between certain dates and for as long as seven days at a time. Ms. Schleicher explained that these taxis are commercial and for commercial benefit. Officer Saunders asked if there was some way to limit the number of cars per business or the time limit to park the taxis. Ms. Schleicher explained that the business owners can buy decals so that renters of their carts can park for free. She said that she did not think the city fathers intent was for the business owners to have the decals and then run their business out of the city parking lots. She said that it is a misuse of the intent of the decals. Mr. Callahan said that we are the government bestowing a free benefit on a business. The committee continued the discussion of the commercial and taxi parking issue. Mr. Wolff made a motion to ask Ms. Schleicher to send to the city attorney to draft an ordinance to the effect that vehicles for hire cannot use the same public parking space for more than two hours at any time year round. Mr. Callahan seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Review Harry Spirides suggestion for financing a parking garage with a FDA loan. Mr. Garbett stated that he feels that this proposal is worthy of serious consideration but is beyond the scope of the parking committee. He said this is a major project which will require analysis beyond the parking committee. Ms. Schleicher said that the city does not qualify for a grant. The city would qualify for a loan, but not grants. Mr. Garbett said that he does not think the parking committee should be tasked with looking at this. Mr. Wolff said that he thought that it should be put on the next workshop agenda. The committee recommended that the parking garage be placed on the next workshop agenda. Mrs. Schleicher said that a revenue bond or private financing would be an option. Mr. Spirides gave a brief overview of his presentation, stating the asphalt lots would be made green space. Ms. Schleicher said that she would ask Ms. Hudson to contact Athens about their parking lot and the funding for it. Mr. Spirides said that he hired a parking consultant to do analysis. The committee continued the discussion of the proposed parking garage and funding possibilities. Mr. Callahan made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Garbett seconded. The meeting was adjourned.