Amended Agenda Item 3CCITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Automation of Gates at Dutton Island and Tideview Parks
DATE: June 14, 2016
SUBMITTED BY: Donald D. Jacobovitz, P.E., Public Works Director
AMENDED ITEM 3C
JUNE 27, 2016
BACKGROUND: The Dutton Island and Tideview Parks have many users at sunset and
beyond. In the case of Dutton Island, the night time users are campers. In
the case of Tideview, the sunset time frame users are those that fish off the
deck, remove kayaks at the launch site, or observe the sunset. City Park
Rangers are tasked with checking for unauthorized users being in either
park after hours. Each park closes one hour after sunset.
After performing checks of each park, the Park Rangers inform all users
they find to leave the park by one hour after sunset. Park Rangers are
tasked to lock the gates at each park one hour after sunset. If users are still
in the parks after sunset (except for authorized campers in Dutton Island
Park), the Park Rangers leave the gates unlocked and inform the Police
Department (PD). The PD will check the park later and will roust any
unauthorized users and lock the gates.
Sometimes users are locked in either park by the Park Rangers because
they could not find these individuals when it was time to lock the gates.
Another problem is that the closing time changes when the time of sunset
changes. This creates confusion with users and scheduling problems for
the Park Rangers. The later closing hours during the summer causes more
overtime and less daylight park service availability.
There are three options available for solutions to the gate problems at
these parks. The first solution is to not close the gates at night and let
these parks operate like the other City parks. The second solution is to
leave the situation as it is. The third solution is to install automatic gates
at these parks that would close automatically at a designated time.
The first option would be acceptable if the City Commission deems it
appropriate for the users of these parks. This solution frees up the Park
Rangers from their end of day gate-locking task.
The second option continues the problems the City currently has, i.e., it
creates later hours for Park Rangers, it removes them from daylight park
service, it requires more overtime pay, it creates confusion among the park
users as to what time the parks actually close, it sometimes leads to park
BUDGET:
AMENDED ITEM 3C
JUNE 27, 2016
users being locked in a park with arrangements having to be made to let
them out, and it puts Park Rangers in unsafe situations as they try to find
and roust park users in the dark.
The third option provides an automated, unmanned closing of each park
with the ability to allow users to leave each park if they are inadvertently
locked in. Sensors would open gates for departures without allowing
ingress to the parks after they are closed. Dutton Island campers would be
given pass codes to allow them afterhours access to the park. These codes
would be erased after their camping use is completed. Gates can be
monitored or adjusted remotely. It allows Park Rangers to perform more
daytime duties at these parks while reducing overtime costs without
placing Park Rangers in unsafe conditions. It also reduces calls to the PD
to check these parks at closing and to lock the gates.
First Option:
Section Option:
Third Option:
No Cost
No Cost (other than the
regular operational
expenses the City already
incurs)
$25,000
(The cost to purchase one arm, light-weight, automated gates with their
associated hardware and to install them is approximately $8,000 to
$11,000 each. The cost to provide electrical service to the Tideview gate
area is approximately $3,000. The total cost for automating these gates is
estimated to be $25,000. New signage at each park could also be erected
at each park's gate entrances for approximately $500 each.
RECOMMENDATION: Staffs recommendation is Option 2-to lock the existing gates at
night -because it would keep additional people and vehicles out of the
parks that do not need to be there. With this option comes the
responsibility of Park Rangers and Police personnel to coordinate their
actions so that the gates are properly locked at night.
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER: -u._ {,/ ~ ~