RE Beach Renourishment Parking Credits - KBodge - Olsen 1Ellen: First file is the full report of parking inventory (see last page,
page 9, for summary list of parking.
Second file is a stand-alone copy of the parking inventory table (i.e., the
table we submit with our beaches funding requests).
Third file is Part 1 (of 2) of the parking maps.
I'll send you part 2 of map separately, owing to file size.
To your question re: parking exclusions.
Answer is in FAC 62B-36.002(14).
Public Beach Access...."The parking spaces counted for eligibility must be
within one-quarter mile walking distance of a lateral zone and available to
the general public...."
I'm no lawyer, but to my understanding and experience:
(a) It is okay to charge differential fees for public parking (i.e., a
discount for residences). That is because they struck the word "access on
an equal basis" from the Rule several years ago.
(b) It is not okay to limit particular parking spaces for "residents-only"
and then try to count those spaces toward your public beach parking
allocation. That is because the spaces must be "available to the general
public". The spaces can be free or discounted, but they cannot be
restricted to one class of persons.
So, if Neptune Beach is restricting certain spaces to NB residents only --
then that is contrary to public beach access parking count.
But otherwise, so long as the spaces are open to all, I think it is okay to
offer free or discounted parking to residents.
For further questions, you might call Hanna (below), who just took over
direction of the beach management funding program.
Hanna Tillotson
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection
Beach Management Funding Program
Hanna.Tillotson@FloridaDEP.gov
Office: 850-245-7540
________________________
Kevin R. Bodge, Ph.D., P.E.
President, Olsen Associates, Inc.
2618 Herschel Street
Jacksonville, FL 32204 USA
Office (904) 387-6114 / Cell (904) 307-9522
kbodge@olsen-associates.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Glasser, Ellen <eglasser@coab.us>
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 12:25 PM
To: Kevin Bodge <kbodge@olsen-associates.com>
Cc: Corbin, Shane <scorbin@coab.us>; Hogencamp,Kevin <kHogencamp@coab.us>
Subject: Beach Renourishment Parking Credits
?Greetings, Kevin:
Some questions have been raised about why Atlantic Beach can not offer
"free" parking to our residents as we move ahead with paid parking at
Beaches Town Center. We have responded that this could jeopardize future
renourishment dollars and our total count throughout AB depends on public
access, not just access to our residents. We include Town Center spaces
toward our count. For now, we have opted to provide a discount to our
residents, and all AB spaces are open to anyone.
Neptune Beach has taken a different approach to set aside some parking in NB
that is free for residents only. This lack of seamlessness makes public
buy-in on our side of the street hard.
Can you provide me with your most recent inventory or map of the number of
public spaces that get parking credits for beach renourishment? For AB, JB,
and NB? I have seen the numbers before but can not locate them.
Any comments you might offer on the free vs. reduced rate spaces to
residents would be appreciated. Along with any new updates that might be
relevant.
This is informal for now, but may need to follow up with a letter. Thanks
for all you do!
Best,
Ellen Glasser
________________________________
Ellen Glasser, Mayor
eglasser@coab.us
(904) 472-6262 (cell)
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