HomeMy Public PortalAbout160_070_20130312PARKINGCOMMITTEEMINUTES CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND PARKING COMMITTEE MINUTES
March 12, 2013
ATTENDEES
Council Committee representatives: Bill Garbett, Paul Wolff, Tom Groover
Staff Committee representatives: Diane Schleicher, Joe Wilson, Denise Dubuque, Pete Ryerson, and Lt. William
Moseley
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Bill Garbett called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Groover made a motion to approve minutes of the last meeting. Mr. Garbett seconded. The minutes were
unanimously approved.
Ms. Schleicher said that Mr. Hughes had clarified the issue concerning whether a chairperson can second a
motion on a three person committee. Ms. Schleicher said that Roberts Rule of Order is the reference in the
Charter and the current process is correct. Mr. Hughes is researching the possibility of modifying the use of
Roberts Rules for council meetings.
Old Business:
I. North Beach Parking Lot
Mr. Groover stated that he knows that Mr. Fleetwood has been in conversation with the Marine
Science Center about the two lots north of where the center will be built and has agreed to allow those
two lots to be used for parking for the science center.
Mr. Groover asked if Mr. Fleetwood could be approached now to ask if the City could make the
improvements and use those lots now for parking.
Mr. Wolff stated that there were three unopened streets that parking could be placed.
Mr. Wilson stated that he would question the legality of such action. He said that he knows Mr.
Fleetwood owns the ROW behind the fort as he has seen the deed. Mr. Wilson stated that he will have
to study the cost effectiveness of doing this project. He said that he can realistically envision it costing
$10,000-$20,000 in equipment alone, which does not include cost of labor and materials and
permitting from the DNR.
The committee continued the discussion.
Mr. Wilson said that he would do whatever the committee wants.
Mr. Wolff asked that Mr. Fleetwood be approached to see if he would allow the use of the area for
parking first; second, talk to the Marine Science Center to see what their plans are; third, talk to the
DNR.
Mr. Garbett stated that he thought a new plat showing where the new Marine Science Center would
be located will be available soon.
II. 3rd of July Parking— Policy Discussion for Fireworks Day
Ms. Schleicher said that last year there was an action plan for the 3rd of July. Parking was not as bad
last year because it was in the middle of the week. It should be the same this year.
Mr. Garbett pointed out that the 4th is always a holiday, so there will always be a large crowd,just not
as big as it would be on a weekend.
Mr. Wilson asked to discuss the portions of the policy involving parking in landscaped areas. He also
asked for clarification on signage and ticketing.
The committee discussed ticketing of cars parked on residential landscaping.
Mr. Ryerson stated that use of the orange cones worked well.
Lt. Moseley said that it should work better this year with the placement of officers.
Ms. Schleicher asked if the "ticket any vehicle that is parked onto residential landscaping" should be
removed and modify the "ticket any vehicle that is parking in a signed prohibited zone" to say "City
signed zone.
The committee discussed 3rd of July parking further.
Mr. Garbett asked if the committee should approve the plan or continue to next meeting or run by Mr.
Hughes.
Ms. Schleicher said that she would run it by Mr. Hughes if that is what the committee wants. She said
that she did not believe that it was a legal issue, but a policy issue. She said that she believes that the
"residential landscape" issue and emphasize that it is City signs are the main concerns.
Mr. Groover asked if a resident could barricade his property or is that still going to be illegal.
Ms. Schleicher advised that it is not illegal and Mr. Ryerson said that it makes it easier for parking
services when residents do that.
Mr. Wolff made a motion to approve the policy as written with the exception of striking "ticket any
vehicle that is parked onto residential landscaping" and insert "city" between "a" and "signed" in the
fourth bullet.
Mr. Groover seconded the motion. The vote to carry was unanimous.
Mr. Ryerson asked how the committee wanted parking services to enforce. After discussion, the
committee advised to enforce parking as is normally done.
Mr. Groover asked if the sign on Hwy 80 was approved.
Ms. Schleicher explained that Chatham County had approved and were going to pay one-third of the
sign. The letter to GDOT at the state level, signed by the Mayor was mailed. We are awaiting state
approval on the sign for use this season. Ms. Schleicher further explained that the sign will be used to
advise of traffic jams, wrecks, high water and other traffic issues. It is a DOT sign that will only have
DOT information.
Mr. Groover asked about the possibility of using a digital sign to advise of parking.
Mr. Wilson stated that the sign would be used to advise of the lane closure.
The committee discussed using a digital sign.
III. Private parking lots in R-2 zoning
Mr. Garbett advised that, at the last meeting, Mr. Brown had asked Mr. Hughes to look into the
revoking of the ordinance that allows parking in residential zones. He said that he did not know where
it stands.
Ms. Schleicher stated that it was in the Land Development Codes and was with the Planning
Commission. It would then go to Council.
Mr. Wolff stated that the lots are performing a service and if they want to pay the $335. fee for three
weekends a year, then let them.
Mr. Wolff made a motion that the committee recommend to planning commission or Council or both
that we leave the parking policy in R2 as is so that they can accept overflow parking on holiday
weekends.
Mr. Garbett seconded the motion. Mr. Wolff and Mr. Garbett voted for the motion. Mr. Groover voted
against.
Mr. Garbett asked that the motion be sent to Planning Commission as a recommendation and they can
reference the parking committee's recommendation when they send it to Council.
IV. Lovell Ave between 14th and 15th— Review Possible Layout
Ms. Dubuque advised that six spaces could be fit in by Mrs. Jolley's and one more diagonal by the well
fence for a total of seven spaces.
Ms. Schleicher advised that people are parking in six spaces by Mrs. Jolley's but they are hanging over
about a foot. She said that improving it would make it safer.
Mr. Groover made a motion to improve the ROW to allow six spaces south of the pump station on
Lovell and Fourteenth to be decal parking only.
Mr. Wolff seconded the motion. The motion to carry was unanimous.
V. Change in Collection Method of Ad Valorem Tax
a. Review of Ordinance Regarding Current Complementary Decal for Residents Connected to Ad
Valorem Tax Payment
Ms. Schleicher said that it was her understanding a number of years ago the city fathers decided that it
would be good to allow residents to have a decal and base it on ad valorem tax. It was decided to tie
the tax to decal and to give the residents a little something for having to deal with the tourist season.
Ms. Schleicher said that now the ordinance does not fit with the new law any longer.
Ms. Dubuque explained that there will no longer be ad valorem tax on new vehicles. Older vehicles will
still pay ad valorem.
The committee discussed the ordinance and the new ad valorem tax law.
Mr. Wolff recommended amending the policy to capture new cars.
The committee asked Ms. Schleicher to contact Mr. Hughes for his opinion on amending the ordinance
on any car purchased after March 2013. Ms. Schleicher was also asked about ways to identify
residents, whether it is voter residents, utility bill or vehicle registration.
Mr. Wolff made a motion that Ms. Schleicher contact Mr. Hughes to ask his opinion on updating this
ordinance to the effect that any car purchased after March 1, 2013, registered to a Tybee full time
resident that the resident can get a decal for$20.00 after proving residency in the form of vehicle
registration and/or utility bill, voter registration or whatever Mr. Hughes suggests.
Mr. Groover seconded the motion. The motion to carry was unanimous.
VI. Update by parking staff
Ms. Dubuque explained that City Hall has been open on Saturday for the last three years. The cashier
cannot be in the building alone. Parking has always been the department to be in the building with the
cashier. It is the same as having DPW in the office on Saturdays.
Ms. Schleicher said that to open on Saturdays during the busy season to sell a few decals and have a
few people using the bathroom is not a good use of resources. Tybee is the municipality that is open
longer hours than any other.
The committee agreed that it was a better use of time and resources to close on Saturdays.
Mr. Wolff made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Groover seconded the motion. The vote to adjourn was
unanimous.