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02-21-19 Agenda Packet City of Atlantic Beach Agenda Parking & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee Meeting Thursday, February 21, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. Commission Chamber City Hall, 800 Seminole Road Page CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approve Minutes of the February 7, 2019 Parking and Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee Meeting. Item 1A - DRAFT minutes of the February 7, 2019 PPSARC meeting 3 - 5 2. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR 3. REPORTS AND/OR REQUESTS A. DRAFT Recommendation - Creation of a Comprehensive Traffic Plan for One- Way Streets East of Sherry Dr./Seminole Rd DRAFT - Defacto Parking 7 - 10 ADJOURNMENT In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Office by 5:00 PM, the Friday prior to the meeting. Page 1 of 10 Page 2 of 10 Parking & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee February 7, 2019 MINUTES Parking & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee Meeting Thursday, February 7, 2019 - 6:00 PM Commission Chamber ROLL CALL: Present:Jennifer Lagner, Co-Chair, PPSARC Michael Tari, Co-Chair, PPSARC Paula O'Bannon, Member Woody Winfree, Member Absent:Greg Kupperman, Member Dale Wappes, Member Also Present:Lori Diaz, Records Clerk Cindy Anderson, Commissioner Seat 2 CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Tari called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM. ROLL CALL 1.APPROVAL OF MINUTES A.Approve Minutes of the November 1, 2018 18th Street Subcommittee of the PPSARC Meeting. B.Approve Minutes of the January 13, 2019 18th Street Subcommittee of the PPSARC Meeting. C.Approve Minutes of the January 3, 2019 Parking & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee Meeting. D.Approve Minutes of the January 17, 2019 Parking & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee Meeting. E.Approve Minutes of the February 4, 2019 Parking & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee Meeting. MOTION: To approve minutes as submitted Motion: Michael Tari Second: Paula O'Bannon Agenda Item #1.A. 21 Feb 2019 Page 3 of 10 Parking & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee February 7, 2019 Jennifer Lagner For Michael Tari (Moved By)For Paula O'Bannon (Seconded By)For Woody Winfree For Motion passed 4 to 0. 2.COURTESY OF THE FLOOR Shawn Griffith-Expressed his concerns with adding parking on Saturiba and his difficulty finding the Committee's minutes on the City’s website. Meghan Niemczyk-Spoke about her concerns with the parking reconfiguration on 18th Street. Co-Chair Tari asked Ms. Diaz, Records Clerk (RC), to clarify that all meetings were properly noticed and posted. Ms. Diaz stated that all meetings are posted outside of City Hall and on the City's website. Co-Chair Tari addressed comments made during COURTESY OF THE FLOOR and spoke about the goals of the PPSARC from inception. 3.REPORTS AND/OR REQUESTS A. Recommendation to extend tenure of PPSARC Co-Chair Tari asked Ms. O'Bannon and Ms. Winfree to give a status on the DRAFT Recommendation for extension. Ms. Winfree listed the points that have been put into the DRAFT. Discussion ensued regarding how to proceed with a final product and when to meet for a vote. Ms. O'Bannon informed the Committee that the City Clerk’s office will need the Recommendation by noon on February 12th for the February 25, 2019 Commission Meeting. It was determined that a meeting with a quorum would be difficult due to time restraint. Discussion ensued regarding items to list in the Recommendation and when to meet with a quorum before February 12th. There was CONSENSUS from the members present to make a list. The following points were discussed and added to the Recommendation: 1.) To extend the Committee for one (1) year. 2.) The ability to form Subcommittees of two (2) or more people. 3.) The Committee to consist of seven (7) members. 4.) Vacancy preference to be given to candidates from under-represented districts. 5.) New members must have majority vote of the PPSARC committee. Agenda Item #1.A. 21 Feb 2019 Page 4 of 10 Parking & Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee February 7, 2019 The Committee agreed to include an APPENDIX to the Recommendation highlighting their initial priorities. MOTION: To approve the list and submit to City Staff for presentation at the next Commission Meeting. Motion: Woody Winfree Second: Michael Tari Jennifer Lagner For Michael Tari (Seconded By)For Paula O'Bannon For Woody Winfree (Moved By)For Motion passed 4 to 0. Discussion ensued regarding who can attend the February 25th Commission meeting in support of the Recommendation, the status of the 18th Street Recommendation and clarification from Ms. Diaz (RC), that the Committee's minutes are posted online and the Donna Marathon route. ADJOURNMENT Co-Chair Tari adjourned the meeting at 7:11 PM. Attest: Lori Diaz, Records Clerk Michael Tari, Co-Chair ______________________________ Date Approved Agenda Item #1.A. 21 Feb 2019 Page 5 of 10 Page 6 of 10 CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH PARKING AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ADVISORY RESOUORCE COMMITTEE MEETING RECOMMENDATION FOR PRESENTATION TO THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH CITY COMMISSION REGARDING CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE TRAFFIC PLAN FOR ONE-WAY STREETS EAST OF SHERRY DR./SEMINOLE RD. AGENDA ITEM:Recommendation to the City of Atlantic Beach City Commission to direct City staff to conduct a comprehensive study to determine feasibility of creating one-way streets between Beach Ave and Sherry Dr./Seminole Rd. and First St. through 20th St. addressing “defacto” parking and resulting safety issues. SUBMITTED BY:Jennifer Deery and Michael Tari, Co-Chairs – PPSARC REPORT DATE:21st of February 2019 BACKGROUND:The Parking and Pedestrian Safety Advisory Resource Committee (PPSARC) is charged with making recommendations to improve pedestrian safety within the City of Atlantic Beach. Its primary focus is to make the streets of the city safer. In this effort the committee has made every effort to insure its recommended actions in safeguarding the public create a minimum impact on both access to our beaches and the integrity and character of Atlantic Beach neighborhoods. Shortly after its inception, members of the PPSARC conducted a thorough survey of all marked, unmarked and potential parking spaces within the area bounded by Atlantic Blvd and 20th St., Beach Ave and Sherry Dr./Seminole Rd. During the conduct of that inventory it was noted many of the East/West oriented two- way streets in the area have paved widths significantly narrower than the FDOT recommended width of 20’ for streets having two- way traffic. The majority of the streets in question have paved widths of 16- 18 ft. They also typically have no sidewalks. “Defacto parking” (unmarked spaces routinely used by residents, visitors, and commercial vehicles which extend into traffic lanes) on these Agenda Item #3.A. 21 Feb 2019 Page 7 of 10 streets create potentially serious risks to pedestrians walking on the street shoulders who are put at greater risk when forced to go into the street to get around the illegally parked vehicles. A particular concern to the PPSARC is the congestion and pedestrian safety issues resulting from “defacto” parking that is experienced in and around Atlantic Beach Elementary School and the Community Presbyterian Church. An additional area of concern is 1st St. where “defacto” parking spaces are routinely created by customers and employees of “Town Center” business establishments. As parking demands in the area increase, the PPSARC believes the conditions currently experienced on 1st may migrate further north along 2nd and 3rd. In prior discussions, the Atlantic Beach Commission has indicated a desire to make the city beaches more accessible. Further, Olsen and Associates has indicated the city has insufficient public beach parking which requires Duval County and the State of Florida to fund a disproportionate share of Beach Re-nourishment costs otherwise covered by the Federal Government. While the PPSARC does not agree with either the figures or conclusions of Olsen and Associates, it does believe, in converting many of its streets to one-way, significant numbers of added public parking spaces would result and access to the beaches by the general public would increase exponentially. Members of the PPSARC created Attachment (1), a possible street configuration addressing many of the issues addressed herein. The PPSARC believes a plan such as this would minimally impact the quality of the neighborhoods affected while enhancing the safety for both foot and vehicular traffic. It recognizes however, there are many other factors to consider in implementation of any comprehensive traffic plan. Data has not been obtained regarding the total number of citations issued by the Public Safety department in this area however there is at least one documented instance where illegally parked vehicles blocked the passage of emergency vehicles. There may be other historical information not presented in this chronology and not available at the time of the drafting of this report. Agenda Item #3.A. 21 Feb 2019 Page 8 of 10 JUSTIFICATION:Vehicles parking in the throughways of the city significantly impact the free-flow of traffic and the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Congestion caused by vehicles using these “de facto” parking spaces adversely impacts the timeliness of responses by emergency vehicles. Creating a comprehensive one-way traffic plan on narrow streets in the area could successfully resolve these issues, allow planning for future sidewalks, and establish clearly marked and easily enforceable parking spaces where now there are none. (The PPSARC planned to work with staff to address these issues should its charter be extended. If it is not, the PPSARC believes the issues to be of sufficient magnitude that staff be directed to address them anyway.) BUDGET:Budgetary impact has not been determined at this time. Should staff determine creating one-way traffic patterns is an appropriate method by which to address the issues identified above, costs would be limited to signage and painting of legal parking spaces where they do not currently exist. Staff has indicated a “Pay-for- Parking” system will soon be implemented in the beaches area. With the additional spaces identified, costs for the paint and signage may be recoverable from the proceeds of that system. RECOMMENDATION:The PPSARC recommends the City Commission direct staff to determine the feasibility of establishing one-way traffic patterns within the city to alleviate congestion, identify legal parking spaces, create safer traffic corridors especially between 1st and 7th, and 13th through Coral and create a comprehensive traffic plan incorporating one-way streets throughout the area as appropriate. PRESENTATIONS:None at this time. APPROVAL: _________________________________________ Agenda Item #3.A. 21 Feb 2019 Page 9 of 10 Agenda Item #3.A. 21 Feb 2019 Page 10 of 10