[00:00:07]
I HEARBY CALL THIS WORKSHOP OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER. MARY MAYOR HERE.
>>COMMISSIONER STURGES: HERE. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: HERE.
>>COMMISSIONER ANTUN: HERE. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: HERE.
>>MAYOR BEAN: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED TO US BY VICE
MAJOR DAVID STURGES. >>VICE-MAYOR STURGES: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE UNITED STATES UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUST FOR ALL.
[4.1 DUNE PROTECTION]
>>MAYOR BEAN: YOU MAY BE SEAT. A FEW THINGS ON THE WORKSHOP.
4.1, DUNE PROTECTION. AND I THINK WE SHOULD START TALKING OF DUNE PROTECTION. LET'S TALK ABOUT -- I WENT AHEAD AND ASKED CITY STAFF TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION OF WHAT OUR DUNE ORDINANCE IS, WHAT IT DOES AND HOW IT IS CURRENTLY ENFORCED.
SO DO WE HAVE THAT? >> IT WILL BE JUST A MOMENT TO
BRING IT UP, SIR. >>MAYOR BEAN: YES, MA'AM, THANK
YOU. >>MAYOR BEAN: MR. GEORGE, WOULD
YOU MIND TAKING US THROUGH THIS? >>CHARLES GEORGE: SURE.
THESE ARE THE EXISTING REGULATIONS THAT WE FOLLOW.
THE FLORIDA DEP HAS THEIR REGULATIONS AND WE HAVE OUR CODE SECTIONS TO DISCUSS THE PURPOSE AND OF MAJOR STRUCTURES AND ALL HAVE DUNE CONCERN. IF THE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT CODE AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE .0.12. BASICALLY WHAT THIS IS LOOKING AT THE STRUCTURE OR RESIDENCE THAT IS BEING AFFECTED IN THE DUNE SYSTEM. WE HAVE COASTAL WETLAND PROTECTION ZONE 1,000 FEET LANDWARD OF THE CONTROL AISLE SET BY THE DEPCORP. THE DEVELOPMENT -- OUR CODE SAYS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD NOT AFFECT CONTOURS AND TOPOGRAPHY.
THIRD, THE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD NOT CAUSE A MEASURABLE INTERFERENCE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DUNE STRUCTURE. NATIVE VEG VATION WILL DESTABILIZE A SIGNIFICANT DUNE, CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT DELETERIOUS IMPACT. AND THE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD NOT RESULT IN REMOVAL OR OBSERVANCE OF SANDY SOIL TO THE DUNE SYSTEM THAT A DELETERIOUS ATTACK OF THE DUNE SYSTEM TO RESIST EROSION DURING THE STORM AND LOWERING LEVELS OF STORM PROTECTION.
THE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD NOT DISTURB THE TOPOGRAPHY SO THE SYSTEM CAUSES FAILURE OR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OR CAUSES IMPACT TO ENDEMIC SPECIES, SPECIES OF CONCERN OR THREATENED HABITAT. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE GOING BY AND EXISTING IN OUR ORDINANCE. A WRITE-UP OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT HIS GROUP WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER.
SOME OF THESE -- THESE EXISTING RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOLLOW PRETTY MUCH THE SAME MIND SET OF WHAT DR. HOFF HAS DONE.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE GO BY. IN THE PAST STAFF HAS NOT DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF MONITORING THIS, ENFORCING THIS, AND REVIEWING THE PLANS WELL ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE SOME ISSUES THAT WE WANT CATCH THAT UP. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH
>>CHARLES GEORGE: THAT IS WHERE WE GO WITH THE EXISTING SYSTEM.
>>MAYOR BEAN: UNDERSTOOD. TWO QUESTIONS ON THE EXIST SYSTEMS. MR. GEORGE, IN THE PAST, HAVE WE -- GONE BACKWARDS ON THIS. WE ALWAYS GO FORWARD.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE HAVE GONE FORWARD?
>>MAYOR: WE ALWAYS HAVE GOTTEN MORE AND MORE PROTECTIVE.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: 20 YEARS AGO IT WAS PROBABLY A FREE-FOR-ALL.
SO WE TRY TO GET SOMEWHERE WE HAVE RULES AND RESTRICTIONS ON, YOU KNOW, IMPACTS TO THE VEGETATION, TO THE DUNE SYSTEM, THE STORM PROTECTION AND THE FLOOD PROTECTION.
>>MAYOR BEAN: ABSOLUTELY. >>CHARLES GEORGE: CONSTANTLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THIS IS PRETTY MUCH MATCHING THE MIND SET OF WHAT EVERYONE WANTS IN DUNE PROTECTION.
WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ENFORCING THAT.
>>MAYOR BEAN: MR. GEORGE, FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR THAT.
IF WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ENFORCING IT, WHAT DO WE NEED.
IS IT JOB ASSIGNMENTS. >>CHARLES GEORGE: NOT SO MUCH THAT. WHAT HAPPENS IS, A LOT OF THE
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PLANS WITH HE GET FOR REVIEW SHOW THE LOCATION OF A STRUCTURE THAT WANT TO BE BUILT. BUT THEY DON'T REALLY DEFINE HOW CLOSE AND HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN THE DUNE FROM A QUALITATIVE. CUBIC YARDS OR WHATEVER.WE NEED TO START HAMMERING DOWN ON THAT DURING THE PERMIT PROCESS. WHAT HAPPENS IS IF WE DON'T SEE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T PROVIDED TO US.
THEY HAVEN'T STARTED BUILDING AND MAKE CHANGES DURING THE PERMIT PROCESS. WE NEED TO A BETTER JOB OF INSPECTING WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT.
>>MAYOR BEAN: VERY GOOD. ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MR.
GEORGE? >> MY ONE QUESTION KEEP WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY MENTIONED. THIS MORE OF MODIFICATION OF THE POLICY -- I GATHER IT IS MORE OF AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: NOT NECESSARILY ENFORCEMENT, BUT BEING MORE DILIGENT IN THE PLANNING AND PERMITTING PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF WHAT GETS PERMITTED.
>> THE OTHER QUESTION IS, ARE THERE ANYTHING IN THE POTENTIALLY PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT WILL BE TOO RESTRICTIVE THAT WOULD CREATE PITFALLS FOR THE CITY COMPLAINED TO WHAT WE
ARE DOING NOW. >>CHARLES GEORGE: LOT SIZES WEST OF FLETCHER AVENUE AND EAST OF FLETCHER AVENUE TOWARD THE DUNE PUT NEWS A TIGHT BARREL WHAT PEOPLE CAN BUILD WITH SETBACKS OFF THE ROAD. KIND OF A JUGGLING GAME DECIDING CAN THIS REALLY WORK. IF WE HAVE A DUNE GOING IN TOO FAR, THIS SITE MAY NOT BE BUILDABLE.
IF WE HAVE THAT, WE HAVE GOT TO DEAL WITH A PROPERTY OWN THEIR WE ARE BASICALLY TAKING THAT PROPERTY FROM THEM.
>>MAYOR BEAN: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. GEORGE? ANYBODY? ALL RIGHT.
I CAN OPEN IT UP FOR GENERAL COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION ON THIS.
ANYONE WISH TO COMMENT ON DUNE PROTE
PROTECTION? >> I CAN SAY A FEW THINGS.
WE HAVE GOT OUR CODE. YOU PROBABLY EXPLAINED IT VERY WELL. IT IS AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
THERE ARE WAYS TO WORK WITH OUR POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS AND OUR BUILDERS. AND LOOKING AT THOSE RESTRICTIONS OF SETBACKS. IF IT IS A DUNE AND IT IS GOING TO BE IMPACTFUL, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT VARIANCES OR MOVING SETBACKS AND THINGS LIKE WHICH WILL BE LESS IMPACTFUL ON IT.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO NOT REVIEW SOME OF THOSE THINGS WHEN THEY COME TO US. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP AS A POINT OF, YOU NKNOW WORKIN WITH AND TRYING TO ENTICE THOSE PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AND INTO A LITTLE BETTER COMPLIANCE WITH
>>MAYOR BEAN: VICE MAYOR. >>COMMISSIONER STURGES: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO CHARLIE, IF THIS IS AN ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURE AND YOU ARE SAYING WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE STAFF TO HANDLE THIS. PREVIOUS YEARS, PREVIOUSLY WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR AND WE HAD ALL THIS DISCUSSION, THERE WERE -- AND LYNN IS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION TO US PREVIOUSLY THAT DUNES WERE GETTING CUT AWAY AND WE WERE HAVING EROSION PROBLEMS AND THE BUILDING -- THE BUILDING SITES WERE LOOKING BAD AND CUTTING INTO DUNES AND DOING DOING THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY WANT OR WEREN'T PROTECTING THE TREES OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO PRODUCE THAT TODAY?
>>CHARLES GEORGE: HAS BECOME MORE OF A FOCAL POINT.
WE SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON EARLIER THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR.
SEVERAL GOING AT ONE TIME. AND THAN WHAT WAS SHOWN ON THE PLAN. AND KEEPING WHATEVER SAND THEY CUT OUT OF THE DUNE THERE ARE TO STAY ON THAT SITE JUST A MATTER OF MAKING SURE THAT WE DID DO MORE DUE DILIGENCE AND ANSWERS FORCING THEM AND MAKING THEM COMPLY WITH THAT.
>>COMMISSIONER STURGES: WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING SAYING WE HAVEN'T DONE A DUNE. WE DID A BOARD.
WALK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BUT NOT A DUNE TO BUILD A HOUSE.
MY QUESTION AND CONCERN ABOUT THIS IS, THERE IS NOTHING ON THE
APPLICATION THAT SAYS -- >>CHARLES GEORGE: THE SITE PLAN SHOWS AN EXISTING TOPO ON THE SITE PLAN.
>>COMMISSIONER STURGES: CORRECT. >> AND PROPOSED TOPOGRAPHY BASED ON DRAINAGE, SITE, BUILDING FOOTPRINTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SOMETIMES THE CONTOURS AREN'T WELL ENOUGH DEPICTED THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT A FEW MINUTES AND SAY THIS IS CUTTING OUT SIX FEET. SOMEONE SUBMITS SOMETHING ON FLETCHER, EAST OR WEST WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS HARDER AND WITH
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ALL DETAIL WITH ALL THIS IN MIND TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THEBEST THING. >>COMMISSIONER STURGES: I WILL BRING UP SOMETHING IN THAT RESPECT.
SO DO YOU THINK WITH OUR NEW STAFF, THAT THEY ARE CAUGHT UP AND HAVE THE TIME TO LOOK THROUGH THESE THINGS AND PICK IT OUT THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS, A ESPECIALLY IF -- DO WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE APPLICATION.
I MEAN, WE HAD IT ON OUR SYSTEM. WE CAN PUT IT IN OUR NEW SYSTEM THAT COMES UP IF AN ADDRESS TYPES IN SOUTH FLETCHER AND FIRST AVENUE, ANY ONE OF THESE HOT -- ANY ONE OF THESE ROADS SHOULD BE ABLE -- I WILL USE A WORD THAT I AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE RIGHT NOW. SHOULD BE ABLE TO INSTALL IT INTO THE COMPUTER. AND WHERE IT SETS OFF THE PERMITTED PLANS, EXAMINER SCREEN THAT SAYS THESE ARE DUNE AREAS.
THIS IS A DUNE AREA. WE SHOULD -- IT IS NOT THAT MANY HOUSE IS WHAT I AM GETTING ALAAL
AT. >>CHARLES GEORGE: TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB OF CITY ENGINEER LOOKING AT THOSE SITES WHEN THEY CAME IN. I NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB.
>>COMMISSIONER STURGES: I APPRECIATE YOU GAINING RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT IS NOT 100% YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: IT IS AN ENGINEERING ISSUE.
>>COMMISSIONER STURGES: I DO APPRECIATE YOU OWNING THE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I THINK YOU DIDN'T HAVE HELP WITH ENFORCEMENT. AND I AM NOT PUTTING A BLAME ON SPECIFIC PERSON, BUT A SYSTEM THAT SAYS, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE CHECKING. TWO WEEKS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND CHECK. IS THE CONTRACTOR DOING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING
>>CHARLES GEORGE: I DO, BUT TO ME THE ENGINEER SHOULD HAVE THE
MOST ENFORCEMENT THAN ANYBODY. >>COMMISSIONER STURGES: DO YOU.
YOU DO, CHARLIE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK,
THANK YOU. >>CHARLES GEORGE: THANK YOU.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, VICE-MAYOR.
THANK YOU, MR. GEORGE. WHAT I SAW FROM THAT PRESENTATION AND FROM SPEAKING WITH MR. GEORGE IS THAT, NUMBER ONE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE STRONGEST DUNE ORDINANCE THAT OUR CITY EVER HAD.
WE CURRENTLY DO. WE ALWAYS HAVE GOTTEN MORE AND MORE STRICT. THIS DUNE ORDINANCE IS ALREADY A VERY RESTRICTED DUNE ORDINANCE. THE KEY IS, WE NEED ENFORCE IT AND SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T CURRENTLY -- OR WE DID OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND THE HARD WORK OF MR. GEORGE AND CITY STAFF TO WORK ON THESE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
WE HAVE THESE RULES ON THE BOO, AND ALL ABOUT ENFORCING IT AND PROTECTING OUR DUNE AND OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON DUNE
[4.2 Downtown Parking Management]
>>MAYOR BEAN: ALSO ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
DOWNTOWN PARKING MANAGEMENT. PLACED ON THE AGENDA BY THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER ROSS. COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR, SIR. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: THANK YOU.
>> YOU WANT THE MAP FIRST? >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: THE MAP FIRST AND THEN THE SECOND ONE. SO OUR FAVORITE TOPIC, DOWNTOWN PARKING. I INTEND TO BE BRIEF.
THIS SHOWS CURRENTLY THE SITUATION THAT THERE IS DOWNTOWN, THERE IS 1880 PLUS OR MINUS PARKING SPACES THAT IS NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
IF ANYTHING, IT WILL DECREASE AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE WORK WITH. SO I THINK THE GOAL AND THE POLICY OF THE CITY COMMISSION SHOULD BE HOW ARE WE GOING TO MANAGE THAT. AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT A SAFE AREA FOR PEDESTRIANS AND A CONVENIENT AREA FOR PARKING.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE. AT THE AND THERE ARE ONLY TWO.
SO DOWNTOWN PARKING MANAGEMENT. WE KNOW WE HAVE PARKING LOTS.
WE HAVE -- PRIMARILY THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE PARK IS ON THE RIGHTS-OF-WAY OF RESIDENTIAL STREETS.
AND THE SECOND -- THE SECOND AREA IS COMMERCIAL STREETS.
THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE PARK AND THERE ARE PARKING RULES TO MAKE IT SAFE AND CONVENIENT FOR PEDESTRIANS AND PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. LEAVE IT RIGHT WHERE IT IS.
FLORIDA STATUTE OUT OF AS SAY YOU CAN NOT PARK WITHIN 15 FEET OF A FIRE HYDRANT. I WAS WONDER WHAT THAT WAS.
YOU CAN'T PARK WITHIN 30 FEET OF A STOP SIGN.
20 FEET OF A CROSSWALK AND NO STOPPING OR STANDING IN SPECIFIC
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PLACE. RIGHT NOW IF YOU TAKE YOUR BICYCLE OR WALK OR DRIVE AROUND, VIOLATION OF ALL THESE THINGS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING -- FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE. AND SECOND OF ALL, THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT -- THEY CAN'T JUDGE 15 FEET FOR 20 FEET, WHATEVER IT IS. THEN WE HAVE TWO LOCAL RESTRIMGSS. ONE IS NO PARKING AREAS SET UP IN THE PAST BECAUSE SOME OF THE STREETS ARE NARROW AND WE DON'T WANT PARKING ON ONE SIDE AND ALWAYS ACCESS BY -- BY EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND THREE-HOUR TIME LIMIT DOWNTOWN.SO I THINK THE GOALIE OF OUR ENFORCEMENT SHOULD TO BE MAKE THIS AS USER-FRIENDLY FOR PEOPLE, BUT LET THEM KNOW WHAT THEY -- WHERE THEY CAN PARK AND HOW THEY CAN PARK.
SAFETY, PARKING, TURNOVER, REVENUE, PARKING FUNDS.
THE CITY GETS 50 -- 30,000, I THINK, CHIEF TOLD ME A YEAR.
30,000 TO $40,000 IN FINES WHICH IS INCONSEQUENTIAL.
THE YEAR IN GENERAL AND PARKING TICKETS -- CERTAINLY NOT MAKING MONEY ON THIS. THE THREE-HOUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT DOWNTOWN BY EVERYBODY'S AGREEMENT IS TOTALLY UNENFORCED. CHIEF TOBASCO HAS SUGGESTED IT WILL COST ABOUT $150,000 A YEAR FOR US TO ENFORCE THAT ORDINANCE. I THINK HE CAN SPEAK TO THAT IF HE NEEDS TO. WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO GET OUT OF THIS THAT THE CITY COMMISSION DIRECT THE STAFF TO MAKE THE DOWNTOWN PEDESTRIAN PARKING EXPERIENCE SAFE AND CONVENIENT.
THAT BE DIRECT THE CITY STAFF THAT THEY PUT UP NO PARKING SIGNS AS NEEDED ON STREETS THAT -- BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGER, THE ROADS DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE AND RESCUE PEOPLE.
AND POLICE SAY THERE SHOULD BE NO PARKING BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THAT WE WORK WITH MAIN STREET TO COME UP WITH DIRECTIONAL GUIDING SO MOTORISTS KNOW WHERE TO PARK.
AND FINALLY, THAT -- THAT WE HAVE THE STAFF DECIDE WHERE TO MARK CURBS AND PUT SIGNS UP TO DETERMINE WHERE PEOPLE SHOULD PARK AND SHOULD NOT PARK DOWNTOWN AT THEIR DISCRETION.
AND IT IS BASICALLY TO MAKE IT A SAFER PLACE FOR PEDESTRIANS.
AND MORE CONVENIENT PARKING. THE FINAL THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK IS I THINK THAT THE THREE-HOUR NO PARKING.
IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO SPEND $150,000 A YEAR TO FOR IT, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ELIMINATED. IT IS NOT -- MANY PEOPLE CHASTISE THE CITY FOR NOT ENFORCING IT.
IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE IT WE SHOULD ELIMINATE IT AND REMOVE THOSE SIGNS. IS THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO GET OUT OF THIS FOR THE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD AND MARK -- TO DETERMINE WHERE THESE PLACES ARE.
AND MARK THE CURBS AND SO ON SO THAT IT IS OBVIOUSLY WHERE PEOPLE CAN PARK. AND SO THEY ARE NOT BLOCKING FIRE HYDRANTS, STOP SIGNS AND CROSSWALKS.
THOSE ARE WERE MY THOUGHTS AND I WAS WONDER WHAT YOU ALL WANTED TO DO. AND PARTICULARLY WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO ABOUT THE THREE-HOUR NO PARKING SITUATION.
>>MAYOR BEAN: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT PAR
PARKING? >> I THINK THESE ARE PERFECTLY FINE SUGGESTIONS FOR SAFETY PURPOSES.
I THINK IT IS A FAIR POINT THAT IT IS KIND OF A GO OR GET OFF THE POT WITH THE THREE-HOUR TIME LIMIT.
EITHER WE SHOULD ENFORCE IT OR DO AWAY WITH IT BECAUS IF WE ARE ULTIMATELY LOSING MONEY ON THAT POINT.
I HAVE SEPARATE FEELINGS OF WORKING TOWARD PAID PARKING.
BUT I AM OPEN TO THAT DISCUSSION AS WELL.
>>MAYOR BEAN: I DON'T THINK IT IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
[LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT, ANY -- ANYBODY ELSE?
COMMISSIONER ASKCUE. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: I GET THE POINT OF THE THREE-HOUR PARKING. I THINK IT PROBABLY DETER AS LITTLE BIT. I KNOW IT IS NOT ENFORCED BUT I BELIEVE THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME PEOPLE THAT HOLD TRUE TO IT.
AND AT LEAST IT MAY HELP SOME. THE OTHER ONES, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH. AND I THINK EVEN WHEN COMMISSIONER ROSS, WHEN YOU BROUGHT UP THE LS AND THE TS, I IS IT NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
I KNOW THERE WAS A BIG BACKLASH TO IT.
I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE AN ISSUE.
I WILL BRING UP A SUGGESTION THAT SOMEONE BROUGHT TO ME, TO
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EXTEND THE ONE WAYS. I KNOW THAT WILL BE A HUGE BACKLASH AS WELL, BUT SINCE WE ARE HERE TALKING OF DOWNTOWN PARKING IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME.I'M PUTTING ANOTHER IDEA OUT THERE THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH TO ME. NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT I AGREE WITH IT. BUT MORE IDEAS ON THE TABLE.
DOWNTOWN PARKING IS AN ISSUE. I KNOW IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN I SHALL PEW. WHEN I GO TO THE TOWN CENTER I DON'T GET PARKING AT THE APPLE STORE.
SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PARK SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I HAD TO ADD.
>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
WE WILL GO TO COMMISSIONER ROSS. BEFORE THAT, I WILL WEIGH IN.
COMMISSIONER ROSS, THE LIST OF IDEAS, I THINK THEY ALL SOUND VERY ARE REASONABLE. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS I DON'T THINK A DECISION -- IN A WAY WE ARE CHANGING THE WAY DOWNTOWN LOOKS. WE ARE ADDING DIFFERENT COLORS.
WE ARE ADDING -- WE ARE ADDING STUFF TO DOWNTOWN.
THAT'S IT. TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS A DECISION WE SHOULD MAKE IN A WORKSHOP WITHOUT SEEING A PICTURE.
IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION AND MR. GEORGE MAY ALREADY HAVE A PICTURE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE THE CURBS WILL BE PAINTED.
WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE. SAMPLES OF THIS FROM CITY STAFF SO WE CAN JUDGE IF IT IS A GOOD FIT FOR DOWNTOWN.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FROM THE COMMISSION FOR STAFF TO IDENTIFIES A PLAN LIKE THAT AREAS WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES AND WE COME BACK WITH YOU WITH THAT PLAN AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE THEY AE -- WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.
>>MAYOR BEAN: EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.
ANYBODY GOOD? COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: ANY THOUGHTS ON THE THREE-HOUR
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: YOU WILL BE THE CITY MANAGER AT THE MOMENT.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: I AM OF A MIND SET IF YOU HAVE A SIGN THAT SAYS THREE-HOUR PARKING, WE OUGHT TO ENFORCE IT.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: DO WE HAVE $1 50,000 OF YOUR BUDGET TO ENFORCE IT? GOSHLGZ GEORGETOWN NOT ANY MORE.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: WE CAN'T ENFORCE IT.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: UNLESS THE COMMISSION DIRECTS US OTHERWISE.
>> THE $30,000 OR $40,000, HOW THAT ENFORCED?
>>MAYOR: JUST PARKING TICKETS. >> ILLEGAL PARKING ANYWHERE.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO MONITOR THE THREE
HOURS. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: YOU NEED A BODY TO DO IT. A PERSON.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: MAYBE I WILL DO THAT IN MY NEXT RETIREMENT.
>>MAYOR BEAN: SOUNDS GOOD. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: CAN WE COME BACK NOT ONLY WITH AN ORDINANCE BUT A SUGGESTION FOR RESOLVING -- SO WE CAN VOTE ON WHETHER TO RESCIND THE PARKING OR NOT.
A SEPARATE ORDINANCE. >>MAYOR BEAN: LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT NEXT PART A LITTLE BIT MORE NOW.
IF I MAY ASK COMMISSIONERS, WHY IS -- WHY DON'T YOU -- LET ME PHRASE THIS QUESTION CORRECTLY. NOT HURTING ANYONE TO HAVE THE SIGNS UP. IF ANYTHING, IF THE GOAL IS TO HAVE TURNOVER IN DOWNTOWN PARKING.
THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW THAT IS NOT ENFORCED, THOSE PEOPLE, MOST LIKELY COME TO VISIT FOR LUNCH AND OUT OF TOWN MAY DECIDE NOT TO LEAVE THEIR CAR THERE AND MIGHT NOT MOVE.
IF OUR LOCAL AND SOMEONE THAT KNOWS THAT PERSON MAY -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE HARM. HAVING THE SIGN IF WE DON'T SPEND $1 350,000 TO ENFORCE. WHAT IS YOUR ARGUMENT.
>>COMMISSIONER ROSS: MY ARGUMENT IS THUS.
DOING THAT FOR SIX YEARS. UMPTEENTH TIME IF YOU DON'T ENFORCE THE THREE-HOUR RULE, IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.
IF YOU DON'T ENFORCE IT, YOU DON'T ENFORCE IT.
SENDING A MESSAGE THAT THE CITY HAS AN ORDINANCE THAT IT IS NOT ENFORCING. IF I HAVE AN ORDINANCE, YOU SHOULD ENFORCE IT, IF NOT, TAKE IT OFF THE BOOKS.
WHY HAVE A RULE THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE.
PUT UP THREE-HOUR PARKING SUGGESTED.
IF YOU ARE SAYING A THREE-HOUR PARKING MINIMUM, YOU SHOULD ENFORCE THE LAW. IF THERE IS A STOP SIGN AND SOMEONE GOES THROUGH IT, YOU SHOULD ENFORCE THE LAW OR PULL YOU OVER AND SAY YOU WENT THROUGH STOP STEIN.
DON'T DO IT ANY NEXT TIME. WE HAVE A LAW ON THE BOOKS THAT WE ARE NOT ENFORCING. I AM OPPOSED TO HAVING LAWS ON THE BOOKS -- NOT JUST THIS LAW BUT ANY LAW, IF WE DON'T ENFORCE IT. HAD.
>>MAYOR BEAN: WHAT IS YOUR DECISION ON ENGINE BREAK BRAKING. WE PUT IT UP THERE.
NO ENGINE BRAKING SIGNS UP TO AVOID PEOPLE FROM ENGINE BRAKING
DOWNTOWN. >>COMMISSIONER ROSS: I AM NOT I AM NOT GOING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ENGINE BRAKING AND THE HISTORY OF THOSE SIGNS.
I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. IF IT IS JUST PUT THERE -- WE SUGGEST NO ENGINE BRAKING. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
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THAT. JUST -->>MAYOR BEAN: MY POINT IS I DON'T THINK THIS PARTICULAR CASE IS THE ONLY CASE WHERE WE HAVE A SIGN THAT IS -- IT IS MORE OF A SUGGESTION. TATE ONLY CASE, CHARLIE?
>>CHARLES GEORGE: NO, IT IS NOT. >>MAYOR BEAN: OTHER CASES.
>>CHARLES GEORGE: WHERE THERE ARE TRUCK ROUTES AND NONTRUCK VO VOTES.
>>MAYOR BEAN: WE HAVE THE ABILITY DO -- GONZALEZ GONZALEZ WESTERN THE ABILITY AND DON'T ENFORCE IT.
>> WE HAVE SIGNS THAT SAY NO SMOKING ON THE BEACH.
HOW MANY TICKETS WRITTEN SO FAR SAYING NO SMOKING ON THE BEACH.
>> OR LIGHTS AT NIGHT DURING TURTLE SEASON.
I MEAN, EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD HAS THESE -- WHERE YOU HAVE THESE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T ENFORCE.
BUT THERE ARE -- THIS IS NOT JUST AN UNIQUE SITUATION WITH
THE THREE-HOUR PARKING. >>MAYOR BEAN: COMMISSIONERS, I WILL POSE THIS AS AN IDEA. IDEALLY, I THINK WE ALL AGREE UP HERE THAT THE IDEAL FOR OUR DOWNTOWN PARKING SITUATION ESPECIALLY ON CENTER STREET IS WE WISH TO ENCOURAGE HIGH TURNOVER. WE WISH TO HAVE PEOPLE NOT PARKING THERE AS A PARKING LOT. SOMEONE COMING FOR THEIR COFFEE AND THEY WANTED TO STOP IN TO GET THEIR COFFEE AND LEAVE WITHIN AN HOUR FOR THE NEXT PERSON.
THAT IS IDEA FOR DOWNTOWN. AND I SEE TAKING DOWN THOSE SIGNS AS TAKING A STEP AWAY FROM THAT IDEA.
AND TAKING A STEP TOWARD THE -- TOWARD THE PATH OF DOWNTOWN IS A PARKING LOT. AND EPICENTER STREET, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE USE OF THE BUSINESSES.
AND THE USE OF THE PUBLIC AND FOR THAT REASON, I THINK -- I THINK THE SIGNS PROVIDE BENEFIT. HAND THIS -- I KNOW WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THAT. I KNOW WHERE COMMISSIONER AS SKEW STANDS. A WAY FROM VICE-MAYOR STURZ.
WHAT DO YOU THINK. >>COMMISSIONER STURGES: WELL, UM
-- >>MAYOR BEAN: DON'T MEAN TO PUT
YOU ON THE SPOT. >>COMMISSIONER AYSCUE: THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE. I BELIEVE THAT AT SOME POINT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT PAID PARKING.
I BELIEVE THAT IT IS ULTIMATELY. IF ALL OUR RESIDENTS ARE TAX-PAYING CITIZENS DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING.
WE WOULD HAVE MORE TURNOVER AND REVENUE IF WE HAD PAID PARKING.
I WILL SKIP THE THREE-HUR PARKING.
I FEEL IF WE WANT TO ENFORCE THE THREE-HOUR PARKING, I WILL ENFORCE THE THREE-HOUR PARKING. THE $150,000 THAT HELP US AND SET US UP IN THE SYSTEM FOR PAID PARKING AT A LATER DATE, WE COULD DO IT EVENTUALLY. I AM NOT SAYING DOING IT TODAY, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS THE RIGHT THING.
A PARKING GARAGE TO PAY IN THE PARKING GARAGE.
DOESN'T HAVE TO DIRECTLY BE DOWNTOWN.
I BELIEVE A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME AT SOME POINT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS TO BE DONE THIS YEAR; HOWEVER, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN.
HAS BEEN A REALITY SINCE I HAVE BEEN A COMMISSIONER.
I GOT TWO OR THREE E-MAILS TODAY.
PLEASE, I AM A RESIDENT. AND EVERYBODY DOESN'T WANT PAID PARKING AND THE DEATH CURSE TO EVEN TALK ABOUT IT; HOWEVER, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, MOST PEOPLE CAN FIND A SPOT AND WALK MOST OF THE TIME. HOWEVER, WE ARE MISSING.
AND WE DO HAVE A JEWEL IN OUR CITY.
SO I WILL TALK BRIEFLY THAT WE HAVE A JEWEL THE FACT THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE LAST EXISTING CITIES THAT DOES NOT HAVE PAID PARKING. SO DOYENNE JOY THAT; HOWEVER, YOU ARE BURDENING ALL 16,500 RESIDENTS OR WHATEVER WE HAVE THAT PAY TAXES. YOU ARE BURDENING ALL THOSE PEOPLE FOR 1.6 MILLION TRAVELERS A YEAR THAT STAY HERE.
SO I BELIEVE AT SOME POINT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THAT WE ARE GIVING UP A $1 MILLION YEAR IN PAID PARKING IN OUR CITY. ADDS 1 MILLION WORTH OF REVENUE OR SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO THAT WORTH OF MONEY THAT WE COULD BE PUTTING TO FIX DOWNTOWN, FIX THE OTHER AREAS.
BUT I AM NOT SAYING I HAVE TO JUMP ON THAT -- THAT BATTLESHIP TODAY, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO PUT A PLAN OR EVEN GET CLOSER TO A PLAN AND NOT BEAT AROUND THE BUSH.
AND AT SOME POINT, WE NEED TO EXECUTE THAT PLAN.
IF WE START IN SMALL INCREMENTS, I STILL BELIEVE THAT THE CITIZENS WHO ARE PAYING THE TAXES NOT THE ONES THAT WILL HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY PAYING.
I DON'T CARE IF THEIR TAX STATEMENT SAYS $50 OR $15,000 OR MORE A YEAR, WHATEVER THE CASE IS, AS LONG AS THEY ARE A TAX P PAYING CITIZEN THEY SHOULD GET
[00:30:03]
FREE PAID PARKING SPOTS. THAT IS MY OPINION.>>MAYOR BEAN: THANK YOU HAVE VICE-MAYOR.
I SEE SEVERAL APPLICATION ITEMS FROM THIS DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
NUMBER ONE, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM CITY STAFF IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH THAT PICTURE OF A PLAN THAT WILL SHOW US THE CHANGES TO DOWNTOWN PARKING. WHERE THAT "NO PARKING ZONES" WILL BE HAND THIS PICTURE WILL BE SOMETHING WE CAN VOTE ON AND IMPLEMENT IF WE SEE FIT AT THAT TIME.
THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK WE PUT A LITTLE PIN -- TWO AND TWO.
PUT A PIN ON IT. THE TIE MEANS THAT THE SIGN WILL STAY TO THE FUTURE WHERE WE HAVE THREE OPPOSED.
THAT SOUNDS GOOD. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL SEE YOU GUYS ALL RIGHT BACK HERE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.