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07-15-19 Minutes Commission WorkshopMINUTES Commission Workshop Meeting Monday, July 15, 2019 - 6:00 PM Commission Chamber ATTENDANCE: Present: Also Present: Ellen Glasser, Mayor - Seat 1 Cindy Anderson, Commissioner - Seat 2 Blythe Waters, Mayor Pro Tem / Commissioner - Seat 3 Candace Kelly, Commissioner - Seat 4 Brittany Norris, Commissioner - Seat 5 Joe Gerrity, City Manager (CM) Kevin Hogencamp, Deputy City Manager (DCM) Lori Diaz, Records Clerk/Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Mayor Glasser called the workshop to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 1. RIGHTS-OF-WAY 1A. Staff Overview CM Gerrity read the definition of right-of-way (ROW) for the record. The Commission was provided with a handout that listed all the ROWs, including the widths, in the City. CM Gerrity provided a PowerPoint of ROWs showing what is in them - for example many different types of landscaping, utility poles, and decorative rocks/walls/posts. Chief Cook addressed the Commission about ROWs relating to public safety, the uniform traffic code, signage, challenges with parking ordinances, and state laws relating to parking, sidewalks, driveways, intersections, crosswalks, and fire hydrants. As shown on the handout the ROWs vary in width from street to street which sometimes creates difficulty in determining where City ROW ends and private property begins. Chief Cook spoke about identifying problems and providing solutions regarding parking, going street by street. For example, the Police and Public Works departments started with 7th Street and marked where people can legally park. Next they did 1st Street, also marking the curb showing where it is illegal to park. Resident feedback has been positive so far. Chief Cook recommended including City Planning in this street by street process as well. Commission Workshop July 15, 2019 Page 1 of 5 IB. Commission Questions/Discussion Discussion and questions ensued about the street by street process, marking legal and illegal parking areas, and enforcement of City ordinances and State laws. Discussion and comments continued about ROWs, correcting conflicting language in the code, reaching equitable measures to educate and enforce ROW uses, parking resolutions, public beach access, and use of ROWs in relation to the Tree Ordinance. The Commission extended their appreciation to Staff for all the work done to find solutions and to benefit our citizens regarding ROWs and parking. 2. PAID PARKING - BEACHES TOWN CENTER DCM Hogencamp addressed the Commission about paid parking at Beaches Town Center and the upcoming proposed Ordinance to amend Chapter 1, creating a Metered Parking Program. Neptune Beach recently passed a similar Ordinance on July 1, 2019. There will be an Inter Local Agreement between Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach and it is currently being worked on. DCM Hogencamp stated this will be a pilot program, subject to change when needed, and residents of both cities will be offered discounted parking rates. There have been six different Commission meetings and workshops about Beaches Town Center paid parking over the past fifteen (15) months. Discussion and comments ensued about paid parking pros and cons, achieving traffic control, enforce parking space time limits instead of paid parking, parking rates being regressive fees, consistency between the Pilot Program and Inter Local Agreement time frames, parking rates used to pay for management and enforcement, parking creep, and many other coastal cities having successful paid parking programs. 3. PAID PARKING - 10TH, 18TH, AND 19TH STREET BEACH ACCESSES CM Gerrity spoke about charging an hourly rate at some of the beach accesses to achieve traffic control. The upcoming budget has allowed funding for beautification of the 18th Street parking area, consisting of 54 spaces. It is the City Manager's suggestion that parking revenues received should be reinvested back into the parking areas where generated. The rate structure will be similar to that used at the Town Center and citizens will be offered a discounted rate. CM Gerrity stated there are 7 spaces at 10th Street and 12 to 15 spaces on 19th Street. CM Gerrity explained that the upcoming proposed Ordinance is to allow for paid parking in these areas and setting recommended rates by the Commission. Chief Cook reviewed the 18th Street calls history and discussion ensued about the types of calls, public safety, paid parking encouraging turnover of spaces and traffic control, marking legal parking spaces, enforcement, hesitancy to have paid parking for beach accesses, and finding balance for everyone's interests. Commission Workshop July 15, 2019 Page 2 of 5 4. 18TH STREET/SATURIBA UPDATE CM Gerrity stated his research going back 7 to 8 years resulted in both sides of Saturiba have been signed for no parking. After a very hectic Memorial Day holiday and parking issues a decision was made to erect a guardrail/fence running the length of Saturiba. Chief Cook spoke about the 'no parking' signs on Saturiba stating they have been there since 2011 or longer, noting there is no record about who/when/why they were installed. The City's position is to enforce what is there now, at Saturiba and everywhere else in the City of Atlantic Beach. Chief Cook also explained the purpose of using snipe signs by the Police Department is to provide immediate enforcement in an area that cannot have an assigned officer due to limited manpower. Discussion and questions ensued about Chapter 19, ROWs and prohibited uses, maintaining and providing for beach access, and public safety. 5. PUBLIC COMMENT Pam McCrary spoke about offering free parking for Atlantic Beach residents, inquired if the 16 parking spaces on Ocean between Ahern and 1st Street are paid parking, spoke about adding handicap parking spaces/ low speed vehicles spaces/motor cycle spaces. Staff response - the 16 parking spaces are designated for the Town Center paid parking program. Mark Johnson spoke about 15th Street experiencing the same problems as 18th Street. Mike Waters stated his property backs up to 18th Street beach access and he spoke about the ongoing parking and traffic problems as well as the disrespectful and irresponsible people - problems. Mr. Waters spoke in favor of paid parking. Scott Cairns spoke about public access on 10th Street and the townhouse residents dedicated parking spaces. Ken Brown stated he lives on Third Street, spoke about criminal activity, having free parking for residents. Lenny Jevic spoke about 10th Street, 18thStreet and 19th Street paid parking and the kiosks, all beach accesses becoming problem areas. Kathryn Steelman spoke about dangerous parking problems on 18th Street, and spoke in favor of paid parking. Mayor Glasser requested staff comment on free parking, using volunteers for parking enforcement, and 15th Street and 16th Street parking. CM Gerrity spoke about beach renourishment funding, which comes from the State and Federal Government, and explained the amount is dictated by the public beach accesses and parking for Commission Workshop July 15, 2019 Page 3 of 5 use of the beach. For example all the parking at Town Center is considered beach renourishment reimbursement parking areas. DEP has confirmed that reasonable discounts can be offered to residents, but not free parking. Chief Cook spoke about the Police Department Volunteer Program. She explained the application and training process for people who are interested in volunteering. Some volunteer positions, such as parking enforcement, require additional training and certification per the State regulations. LT David Cameron is the Volunteer Coordinator and can be contacted via phone, email, and at the department. Chief Cook spoke about 15th and 16th Streets parking and explained the initial recommendations have been submitted to her. The City Planner will also be included in the review process and it is pending. Commissioner Norris Spoke about 18th Street and 19th Street parking problems. Requested the City Attorney provide an opinion on Rights-of-way, to clarify the code section about construction, adding definition, in order to understand what is being enforced. Spoke about reversing 'the policy of ordinances supporting signs', to 'signs advertising ordinances'. Spoke about Beaches Town Center paid parking and requested a schedule of the Pilot Program. Stated not in favor of adding more parking at Saturiba. Spoke about 10th Street parking and regulations. Spoke about readjusting Waters Park to handle parking overflow from 18th and 19th Streets. Spoke about the parking kiosks and time limits. Requested Chief Cook address the topic of standardizing parking throughout the City. Commissioner Waters Spoke about standardized parking not being feasible due to varying needs of different communities. Spoke in favor of the street -by -street approach. Spoke about too much signage and the use of pop-up signs. Spoke about parking creep into neighborhoods. Spoke about traffic and pedestrian safety issues. Commissioner Anderson Stated not in favor of paid parking. Spoke about limiting parking times. Spoke about budgeting for and adding parking enforcement personnel to enhance enforcement. Spoke about excess signage and the use of snipe signs. Stated parking at 18th Street needs to be more traffic and pedestrian friendly. Spoke about the need for more enforcement. Commission Workshop July 15, 2019 Page 4 of 5 Commissioner Kelly Spoke about having a fair, impartial, fiscally responsible, safety conscious, compliant, and turnover of spaces for a parking program for people to access the public beach. Spoke in favor of the street -by -street approach with a consistent team. Stated in favor of providing a discounted cost for paid parking, not free, for residents. Stated more time needs to be spent on rights -of way and investigating potential parking uses. Stated if the Paid Parking Pilot Program is successful then additional kiosks could be added at other locations. Mayor Glasser Extended her appreciation to everyone in attendance and for their participation. Stated parking and mobility is a priority for this Commission. Spoke about Hannah Park and making it more accessible. Spoke about an access point outside of COAB. Stated in favor of the street -by -street approach with neighborhoods. Acknowledged the problems on 15th and 16th Streets are being addressed. Spoke about having volunteers involved with enforcement. Spoke about the Town Center paid parking being seamless with Neptune Beach. Spoke about providing a discounted cost for paid parking, not free, for residents. Spoke about rights-of-way. Stated not in favor of parking on Saturiba. Stated in favor of a lighted crosswalk and a sidewalk at 18th Street. ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion and Mayor Glasser adjourned the meeting at 8:33 PM. Attest: Donna L. Bartle, City Clerk Ellen Glasser, Mayor Approval Date: Commission Workshop July 15, 2019 Page 5 of 5