03-08-04 Workshop COAB Comm & NB Council vMINUTES OF THE JOINT WORKSHOP OF ATLANTIC BEACH CITY COMMISSION AND
NEPTUNE BEACH CITY COUNCIL HELD IN THE SEA TURTLE INN, ATLANTIC BEACH,
AT 5:00 P.M. ON MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2004.
Atlantic Beach Commissioners present were:
John S. Meserve, Mayor
Paul B. Parsons, Commissioner
Sylvia N. Simmons, Commissioner
J. Dezmond Waters, III, Commissioner
Neptune Beach Councilors present were:
Dick Brown, Mayor
Hamet Pruette, Councilor
John Weldon, Councilor
Larry Shealy, Councilor/Committee Member
Parking Study Committee Members present were:
Mike Borno, Chairman
Rona. Brinlee
Niall Falloon
Bob Hicks
Rene Schiegg
Staff present were:
Jim Hanson, Atlantic Beach City Manager
Jim Jarboe, Neptune Beach City Manager
Sonya Doerr, Community Development Director, Atlantic Beach
Jason Cleghorn, Community Development Director, Neptune Beach
Maureen King, Atlantic Beach City Clerk
Lisa Volpe, Neptune Beach City Clerk
The meeting was held for the purpose ofreceiving the report and recommendations ofthe committee
that was appointed to study the Town Center parking and to present options that might be feasible to
minimise parking problems that have evolved over a period of time within the Town Center area.
Chairman Mike Borno introduced the committee members and reviewed the written report and
recommendations of the committee. A copy of his report is attached hereto as Exhibit A. A
question and answer session following Mr. Borno's presentation.
,,,, The Committee estimated there was a deficit of approximately 30% of parking spaces and that
problems were most evident during evening and weekend hours and during the summer months when
greater numbers of people visited the beach. The committee presented both short-term and long-term
solutions. Short-term solutions included identifying and marking parking spaces that may be available
-.,, Page Two
Minutes -Joint Workshop Meeting
March 8, 2004
along public rights-of--way and developing signage to identify available parking for beach-goers. The
committee also suggested that both cities amend their ordinances to provide uniform parking
regulations and that both cities cease the practice of granting parking waivers. It was also thought
that the Town Center boundaries could be extended westerly and it was noted that more parking was
available along Atlantic Boulevard. The feasibility of building a parking garage was also discussed
and Mr. Borno said that while this may be a long term solution, the committee thought it would be
cost-prohibitive.
The committee also suggested forming a "parking authority" to continue working on this issue and to
pursue solutions that would m~ximi~e the available parking. Following further discussion both cities
agreed to continue working to minimise the parking problems in the Town Center area.
There being no further discussion the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Maureen King
Certified Municipal Clerk
EXHIBIT A
Workshop Minutes 3/8/03
~,,,, TOWN CENTER PARKING REVIEW COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION
MONDAY, March 08, 2004
INTRODUCTION
The Committee members appointed by the Mayors of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach are as
follows:
Rene Schiegg (President of the Town Center Merchant's Assn.), Niall Falloon (President of
Town Center Agency, Rona Brinlee (Past President of Town Center Merchant's Assn.), Neptune
Beach resident Bob Hicks, Neptune Beach Councilman Larry Shealy (who had to resign because
of other commitments) and I am Mike Borno, former City Commissioner of Atlantic Beach and
Chairman of the committee.
TASKING
The committee was broadly tasked with identifying parking issues and considering options,
which through a coordinated approach by both Cities, might be feasible to minimize parking
problems that have evolved over the years within the Town Center area.
SUMMARY
The problem was identified as presented in the written report, which has previously been
provided to each member of the Atlantic Beach City Commission and Neptune Beach City
Council. The current parking situation can be attributed to the success and allure of Town
,,, Center. The committee also recognized both Cities have been too quick to grant parking waivers
and vaziances without careful consideration of the long-range implications of those actions.
The committee recognized that the Town Center area is not formed by a ley~t boundary, but the
area functions as a unified central business district for both Cities as defined in the written report.
The committee prepared and distributed two questionnaires, one for the merchants and the other
for their customers, and this provided an informal method to obtain anon-statistical analysis of
how customers and merchants viewed the pazking issue. You have read how the surveys were
fairly equally divided and the general reluctance expressed by both customer and merchant
related to paying for parking if it were made available. Most respondents -customers and
merchants alike -seemed to share a realistic view that there are not Buick-fixes and that the
shortage of close and immediately available parking is somewhat the nature of the area, and that
the provision of a greatly increased quantity of public parking spaces is probably not
economically feasible.
The committee identified a broad list of twelve possible options for discussion and
considerations, which were then condensed or determined as being too costly, impractical,
undesirable or politically divisive. The committee in coordination with the Town Center
Agency, also brought in urban design consultants Mr. Tom Atkins and Joe Ehazdt from HDR /
Landers Atkins Planners to discuss a range of topics related to the future of Town Center and
how the success, character and economic viability of the area may be sustained and grown. A
summary of their report outline was included in the full report.
I wish to stress the CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS of the committee report.
CONCLUSIONS
As the committee concludes its study process, a general consensus has taken shape with the
following conclusions.
1. The demand for pazking is a "good" problem and speaks to the success of the area.
2. There is no feasible way to fully meet the demands of parking needs, and to do so would
result in a suburban-type retail area, which is in direct conflict with the existing and
desired character and the unique fabric of Town Center.
3. An objective of merchants, property owners and elected officials of both Cities should be
to coordinate efforts that reduce the perception that parking is a problem to the degree
that it deters people from visiting the area.
4. A significant contributing factor to the parking situation in the Town Center area
has been the quickness to grant waivers to required parking as new development
and redevelopment has occurred over the years.
5. The construction of a multi-level parking structure or purchase of private property for
~ new surface parking lots may be a long-term solution, but is not likely because of costs
and extremely high property values, and either of these options might well be found
objectionable by residents.
6. Consider creation of an overlay zone that could relieve or minimize parking requirements
within the limits of Town Center.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
After four months of thoughtful deliberation, the Committee offers the following suggestions for
consideration by the elected officials and the community. Some of these are broad and long-term,
while others are simple, and may be easily accomplished within the year.
Develop joint strategies, which de-emphasize the parking "problem" and focus on the
strengths of the Town Center azea.
2. Open and develop available pazking that may exist along public right-of--ways, where
reasonable. (Here aze some examples that were observed by the Committee as they
toured the Town Center area.}
3. Develop a signage and way-fmding program to identify available parking for beach-
goers, employees, visitors and for significant landmarks.
4. Cease the practice of granting parking waivers, and consider amending City Codes
to exclude such requests as a possible variance or waiver request.
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" "`' S. Promote the use of shared parking within private lots, particularly where peak-hour needs
differ.
6. Encourage businesses to require employees to park in locations that do not occupy prime
parking spaces for long periods of time.
7. Review the parking regulations of both Cities and amend as appropriate to create
consistency between the two Cities and also consider the establishment of a cross-
jurisdictional overlay district (zone) to create consistency in land use regulation and
development criteria for the entire Town Center area.
8. Consider the feasibility of a "parking authority" or some type of mechanism where the
costs of new and existing parking could be equitably shared.
Thank you Mayor Brown, Mayor Meserve, Councilors and Commissioners for allowing this
Committee to be of service to our communities.
That is the end of the presentation of the Town Center Parking Review Committee Report.
The Committee is now available to answer any questions you have in relation to the text of its
final report.
Revision: 3/2/04
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