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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20131008PARKINGCOMMITTEEMINUTES.pdfCITY OF TYBEE ISLAND PARKING COMMITTEE MINUTES October 8, 2013 ATTENDEES Council Committee representatives: Bill Garbett, Tom Groover Staff Committee representatives: Diane Schleicher, Joe Wilson, Denise Dubuque, Pete Ryerson, Tommy Branch, Chantel Morton and Major William Moseley GUESTS Mr. Frank Kelly CALL TO ORDER Mr. Bill Garbett called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes were approved. Old Business I. Tommy Branch, city attorney - Public Parking in ROW Mr. Garbett stated that Mr. Frank Kelley is in attendance to address parking in the City ROW. He stressed that there are no plans to take any kind of action at this meeting. Mr. Garbett stated that Mr. Branch would address all of the concerns brought up at the last meeting by Mr. Donald Cowart and offered Mr. Kelly the opportunity to speak after hearing Mr. Branch. Mr. Branch stated that he would rehash his understanding of the law and issues that the City is facing with the City ROW and save the discussion of Mr. Cowart’s issues for another meeting. Mr. Branch said that his understanding was that the city ordinance gives the city manager the ability to designate certain parking areas throughout the city. The city has a right under its municipal street system to designate certain areas in various ways. The city can have parking or it cannot have parking, or certain types of parking. There are a lot of options that the city can do. He said that we are talking about city streets, not GDOT roads. Mr. Branch said that there are issues with certain parking, in particular, Mrs. Jolley. She would like to park her friends and family and anyone she wants there. The issue with that is it becomes an impermissible gratuity. He said that we have property that is the City ROW, the end of people’s yards, oftentimes. Mr. Branch said that though there is fencing, flowers, etc. it is still city property. He said that when the city starts doing the parking, piecemeal, it can become an impermissible gratuity. He said that, at the same time, deeding or leasing property to individuals may not be in the best interest of the City. The purpose of the ROW is for the good of the general public. Mr. Branch said there has been discussion of areas with “Resident Parking Only.” He gave several examples of the legality of it and holding up in the court system. Mr. Branch pointed out that there has been discussion of “Decal Only Parking. “ He said that the way the ordinance is written for that would be more likely to pass judicial scrutiny, as purchasing a decal is open to anyone. Mr. Branch said that he believes that Mrs. Jolley would like to say that just her family and the employees of Stingray’s could park at her place, but he believes that is too narrow. It becomes an impermissible gratuity to the business and to her. It is not rationally related to a legitimate government interest. It is more rationally related to her interest. Mr. Wolff asked if it could be decal only at Mrs. Jolley’s. Mr. Branch stated that he believed it could be decal only or neighborhood only. He said that it is a very congested area, commercial abutting residential. The discussion continued on parking in the area of Mrs. Jolley and Stingrays. Mr. Branch said that he did not believe that a net could be drawn really close to bring in this small group of people to park in this area because it then begins to look like it is not related to congestion. Mr. Garbett said this brings us full circle to where we started and it will have to be addressed. The ordinance says it is up to the city manager to designate parking and there was a resolution passed this year that said the city manager would request or present any parking that was in residential area to city council. Ms. Schleicher said that was the direction that city council wanted her to go on anything that directly abuts a commercial area. Ms. Schleicher advised that they wanted to hold off on the decision at Mrs. Jolley’s and talk to her first. Mr. Wolff stated that Mrs. Jolley does not want to do decal only. Ms. Schleicher said that it could go back before council to ask what they want to do with this and present the memo from Mr. Branch. Mr. Garbett said that he prefer that the parking committee look at it one more time. Ms. Schleicher said that parking services has really struggled with it and what to do to enforce parking. Ms. Dubuque said that parking has had to go a full season without enforcing parking in the area of Mrs. Jolley and Stingray’s. Mr. Branch said that he thought the best option was to set up some sort of special parking zone. Mr. Branch explained the zone decal options. Mr. Wolff said that the committee has spent a lot of time on this one person. The committee continued the discussion of decals and metering in the area of Stingrays and Mrs. Jolley’s property. Ms. Schleicher pointed out that other businesses buy decals for their employees. She asked why one business is different from all the others. Mr. Branch said that he agrees, it is about being fair to all the residents and the businesses. Mr. Ryerson said that that area is a good revenue source. There is high turn over there. Mr. Garbett said that the best suggestion is decal parking only. He requested that it be on the agenda for next meeting. Mr. Branch said that the Dunes Motel is the same situation. The committee discussed the area near the Dunes Motel and the Atlantis. A discussion ensued about leasing the area to the motel. Mr. Garbett asked that the committee follow up with the Lovell Ave area and decal only. Mrs. Schleicher explained the parking near some of the hotels, Macelwee’s and Sundae Café as to being part on ROW and part on private property. She explained the parking in front of the Beachview is all public parking. Mr. Garbett asked Mr. Kelly if there were any questions on comments relating to the Lovell Ave area. Mr. Kelly said that he understand the pay and display area will remain that way. He said that he understands that there is no answer to parking. Mr. Wolff explained that code enforcement is trying to be consistent. The committee and Mr. Kelly discussed parking in the area of Seventeenth Street and the Beachview Bed and Breakfast. Ms. Schleicher explained the regulations on handicap parking in the area of the B and B. The committee discussed zoning and the handicap parking. Mr. Wolff explained to Mr. Kelly that the city is trying to get all properties to be the same with regulations and the City ROW. Mr. Kelly brought up the area of Inlet and parallel parking. Mr. Garbett asked that Inlet be looked at for parking. Mr. Kelly brought up parking at north beach. Mr. Wilson explained that the lighthouse has that parking and they maintain all of that. He said that nothing is maintained til it gets to the gravel parking lot. Ms. Schleicher said that she wanted to go over her list:  Talk to Zoning about the plans and the old plans, number of room and number of parking spaces and parking space requirements according to the current ordinance  Look at the Dunes, number of spaces, employees ride their bikes, what is in city ROW and what on private property, to see what is accurate  Loot at Inlet between Seventeenth and Arby’s to see what can be done to improve  Look behind Royal Palms to see about parking behind there  Tommy will work on memo to public Ms. Schleicher stated that the Dolphin Tour area and Coco’s is for the most part on private property and very little is in City ROW. Mr. Wilson said that he has already surveyed the area. The committee discussed the area around the MRS, Coco’s and Dolphin Tours. Mr. Garbett said that his belief is that it is not worth parking services’ time. Parking agreed. II. Parking Staff Reports Ms. Dubuque advised that we had made it through the first week and half of Sponge Bob. She said that Pirate Fest mode and half of Sixteen lot was already taken up. Mr. Garbett asked if there was a shuttle set up. Ms. Dubuque stated that a shuttle would go the whole island. Mr. Wolff asked if revenue was up. Ms. Dubuque said that she would look the figures up and email the committee. Mr. Wolff made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Garbett seconded. The meeting was adjourned.