[4.1 DOWNTOWN PARKING - CURRENT STATUS - This item is placed on the agenda at the request of Commissioner Ross who will discuss existing parking management and demand. ]

IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD TO 4 POINT WANT TO GIVE THE FLOOR TO COMMISSIONER ROSS TO TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF DOWNTOWN PARKING.

THANK YOU, SIR . >> I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF WITH AN UPDATE ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ROSS. AS STATED, MAYOR, SOME IMPROVEMENTS WE HAVE MADE IN DOWNTOWN PARKING AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE FOR -- FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS. AS YOU ARE AWARE, WE HAD -- DOWN HERE A FEW MONTHS BACK. THIS PROVIDES US AN THE COUNT OF THE AVAILABLE , POTENTIAL AVAILABLE PARKING WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN PROGRAM. THE DAY-TO-DAY IN THIS SCENARIO WITH THE 681 SPACES FOR THE ACTUAL DOWNTOWN WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE HAVE DONE SINCE WE REALLY BEGIN THIS DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST YEAR IS THE PARKING LOT ANNEX. THIS IS AN IMPROVED LOT WITH ALL ADDITIONAL SPOTS ON EXISTING CITY PROPERTY. ADDITIONAL SPOTS . THIS IS THE SECOND BEACH, JUST SOUTH OF CITY HALL.

YOU'LL FIND EIGHT ADDITIONAL SPOTS THERE. AND ALSO, AN UNAPPROVED LOT. THIS IS AN IMPERVIOUS LOT USING RECYCLING MATERIALS AND IT IS NOT PAVED CAN WE SAY UNIMPROVED, THAT IS THE DESTINATION WE HAVE VERSUS A PAVED, ASPHALT SURFACE.

PARKING LOT D FOR THIS IS IMPROVED. THIS IS TO THE WEST OF CITY HALL. WE RECONFIGURED THAT. NEEDED TO BE REPAVED AND TO GET THE MORE SPACES OUT OF THE SLOT. INCREASING WITH 10 ADDITIONAL SPOTS PICK SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL WORK. TWO OF THE PARKING AREA. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE TOP PHOTO, THIS IS THE LAYOUT . SOME OF THE GREEN SPACE I LEFT THERE PROVIDE SOME AVAILABLE PARKING. CUTTING THOSE ISLANDS DOWN AND CURBING THEM AS SUCH. THAT IS ADDITIONAL SEVEN SPOTS FOR THE BOAT TRAILERAND PARKING AREA. YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE BOTTOM PHOTO AS A COMPARISON. OTHER COMPLETED WORK THAT HAS TO DO WITH WORKING . THIS IS KIND OF ONGOING EXERCISE BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE DID JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE IDENTIFIED AREAS ALONG ASH ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR.

DELINEATING THE SPOTS . WERE ABLE TO GET VEHICLES AND THEIR LITTLE TIGHTER THAT OPTIMIZES THE PARKING AND IMPROVES PARKING EFFICIENCY. IT IMPROVES THE SPACING OUT WITH SOME VEHICLES OF REDUCING AVAILABLE PARKING . IT IS NOT DONE IN A CLEAN WAY. ANOTHER PROJECT WE JUST COMPLETED WAS DAYS BEFORE THE FESTIVAL WAS THE WEST GO AND OF -- STREET. RIGHT DOWN THERE AT THE END OF THE LOT. THIS IS ON BROOME STREET AND WITH SOME DRAINAGE ISSUES AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL 17 SPOTS THERE. SOME OTHER COMPLETED WORK IS CURBING. THIS IS DELINEATING THE PARKING AREAS TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM PARKING IN ILLEGAL PARKING AREAS. YOU DO NOT PARK IN INTERSECTIONS.

PROVIDING SOME ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE AND MARKINGS TO HELP INFORM THE PUBLIC THIS IS WHERE YOU DO NOT PARK. NOW LET'S TALK OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS A CURRENT PICTURE OF NORTH SEVENTH STREET INTO DOWNTOWN. WE ARE LOOKING FOR -- YOUR PET AS YOU CAN SEE, THE ROAD IS CUT UP THERE. THE UTILITIES TEAM RECENTLY PUT IN SOME STORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENTS.

>> WHAT THAT ALLOWS FOR IS FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEW PAVING. REPAVING THIS ROAD, YOU ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY ADDING ADDITIONAL PARKING ALONG NORTH SEVENTH STREET NORTH

[00:05:06]

SEVENTH IS THE ONLY STREET, THE ONLY BLOCK IN THE DOWNTOWN THAT WAS NEVER CONVERTED TO ONE-WAY. AT THE TIME AT THE LAST REVITALIZATION EFFORTS IN THE LATE 1990S, THE EARLY STAKEHOLDER THERE AT THE TIME , AND MET THE RESTRICTION. WE MET WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE THERE AND HAD A GREAT -- GREAT MEETING WITH THE BAPTIST CHURCH AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH -- AS WELL. THEY BOTH WELCOMED THESE IMPROVEMENTS. DEPENDING ON HOW THE SURVEY WILL COME OUT, YOU'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY 26 PARKING SPACES .

>> A CONCERN WE HAVE IS JUST TO THE EAST OF THE WETLANDS THERE.

EAST OF THE CHURCH. YOU CAN SEE THE DENTS WOODED AREA THERE. WE KNOW THERE IS WETLANDS THERE BUT WHETHER WE GO DIAGONAL OR PARALLEL WHICH WOULD MAKE THE ROAD THERE ARE, BUT WE DETERMINE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONVERT TO ONE LANE AND PROVIDE ON STREET PARKING LIKE YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE OTHER DOWNTOWN AREAS. SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THERE'S ALSO A SIDEWALK . WE PLAN TO GO THERE TO IMPROVE WALK ABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY WITHIN THIS PORTION OF DOWNTOWN. WITH THAT, POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS PRIVATE LOT TO THE WEST OF PEBBLES. RIGHT AROUND THE CENTURY 21 BUILDING. YOU ACCESS THE LOT FROM THE FIFTH STREET SIDE. I HAVE HAD SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MANAGER OF THIS LOT HERE THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO LEASE THE SLOTS TO THE CITY. AT A REASONABLE COST. WE JUST WANT TO LOOK AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE CAN TO INCREASE PARKING. THAT IS AN OPTION TOO. THAT IS NOT OUR PROPERTY. THE DEVELOPER OR OWNER ANYTIME CAN SAY WE ARE READY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND WE HAVE TO VACATE THAT OUGHT TO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE TO PROVIDE SOME PARKING. OF COURSE , YOU DO NOT WANT TO PARK VEHICLES ALL THE WAY OUT THERE ON CENTRE STREET . IF A TO PERCEIVE THIS AS A PARKING ALTERNATIVE, YOU WANT TO KEEP THE VEHICLES PULLED AWAY FROM THE CENTURY TOWARD OUR BEER. IT IS NOT CITY PROPERTY AND THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A LEASE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER. THOSE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES WE ARE LOOKING AT. CENTRE STREET HAS THE MOST OPPORTUNITIES. THE ROAD, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY. AND ALSO, SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE GOING. SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. WE CAN TAKE AN ADDITIONAL VIEW IF YOU WANT. IF

NOT, WE CAN MOVE ON . >> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. NUMBER ONE. FIRST OF ALL, NICE HAIRCUT, MY FRIEND. IT LOOKS

REALLY GOOD. >>

>> AND NUMBER WO. I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE AGGREGATE . I KNOW THIS COMMISSION, WE APPROVED A LOT OF THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS BUT I DO NOT WANT TO COUNT THE ONES WE CAN

ALREADY PARK CARS ON. >> YOU CAN OUTFIT WERE PRETTY MAKE THE ARGUMENT BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS UNLINED, YOU CAN ONLY GET A FEW CARS IN THERE BUT NOW YOU CAN FIT MORE BECAUSE IT IS LINED. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENTIAL ON THAT IN TOTAL? BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT -- ON THIS. HOW MANY NEW SPOTS IN TOTAL HAS THIS COMMISSION ADDED TO OUR DOWNTOWN SO FAR? WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL, BASED ON THE STUFF YOU JUST PRESENTED ON SEVENTH

STREET? >> WITH RECENT IMPROVEMENTS,

LOOKING AT XT . >> 60 NEW SPOTS?

>> YES. OF COURSE , WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE OPPORTUNITIES WE JUST DISCUSSED, THERE IS 25 OR 26 ON NORTH 7TH STREET AND ANOTHER POTENTIAL 20 OR SO WITHIN THE LEASEHOLD WE COULD PURSUE THERE. THERE IS ANOTHER 45 POTENTIAL SPOTS THERE .

>> PERFECT. I APPRECIATE YOU AND THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT ALL YOU HAVE DONE. ALTHOUGH SPOTS, THE 60 SPOTS WE ALREADY ADDED IN THIS COMMISSION HERE. THAT IS BEEN DONE INTERNALLY THROUGH THE WORK. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE ON

[4.4 DOWNTOWN PARKING - NORTH 7TH STREET - This item is placed on the agenda by Commissioner Ross who will discuss adding additional parking spaces on North 7th Street between Centre Street and Alachua Street as approved by Resolution 2023-49. ]

THAT AND PRESENTING OPPORTUNITIES. I APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION HELPING SUPPORT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD WITH THAT, BACK TO COMMISSIONER ROSS .

>> WE HAVE A CONSENSUS ON NORTH 7TH STREET THAT WE CAN MOVE

FORWARD WITH THAT? >> IN REALITY, WE ARE READY PASSED RESOLUTION THAT ARE PRESENT

>> THAT WAS PART OF THE INITIAL RESOLUTION, WITH DOCUMENT JEREMIAH, AND YOU HAVE THE AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE THE NORTH

7TH STREET IMPROVEMENTS? >> THIS WAS SO FAR BACK AND HAVE SOME OTHER ROADBLOCKS IN FRONT OF US . SOME OF THE WETLAND DELINEATION CONCERNS. SOME THAT HAVE BEEN DONE. THIS ROAD NEEDS TO BE PAVED. WE STILL HAVE CONSENSUS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS , THESE IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE SIDEWALK. YES, STAFF VERY MUCH SUPPORTS AND RECOMMENDS THIS

[00:10:04]

ACTION.? I WILL TELL YOU WHAT . EVEN THOUGH WE ALREADY VOTED ON AT ONCE, LET'S GET A VERBAL CONSENSUS AGAIN TONIGHT WITH THE NORTH 7TH STREET IMPROVEMENTS . TO MAKE THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS, YOU HAVE TALKED TO THE STAKEHOLDERS?

>> YES . >> INCLUDING THE HOMEOWNERS?

>> WELL, ALONG THIS CORRIDOR ON NORTH 7TH STREET. THERE'S JUST THE CHURCH THERE. THAT WHOLE BLOCK , THE BAPTIST CHURCH. AND OF COURSE, THERE IS -- THAT IS THERE ON SATURDAYS. THEY WILL APPRECIATE THE IMPROVEMENTS WITH WIDENING THE ROAD. IT ALSO PROVIDES SOME WALK ABILITY. YEAH, THEY WILL SUPPORT THOSE

IMPROVEMENTS. >> OKAY. GREAT. IT SOUNDS LIKE I DO NOT WANT TO PUT WORDS IN ANYONE'S MOUTH, BUT IT SOUNDS

[4.2 NEW DOWNTOWN PARKING LOT - 115 SOUTH 2ND STREET - This item is placed on the agenda by Commissioner Ross who will discuss City acquisition of 115 South 2nd Street for the purpose of creating additional downtown parking.]

LIKE THERE IS NO OBJECTIONS BUT I THINK WE HAVE UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE NORTH 7TH

STREET PROJECT. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS ? 4 POINT

2. >> YES HERE WE GO.

WE HAVE ONLY TALKED ABOUT THIS THAT I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT IN DOING THIS. THE NEXT ONE. SO PARKING.

MANY PEOPLE , I GET EMAILS, MULTIPLE EMAILS BECAUSE OF A PARKING PROBLEM. I WANT TO POINT OUT THIS IS ON NORTH THIRD STREET. YOU CAN SEE FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, 360 DAYS A YEAR, I CAN PARK RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY WHATSOEVER. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? YOU CAN SEE GOING ON THE NEXT BLOCK, IT IS PRETTY MUCH EMPTY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO I LIVE TO A HALF BLOCKS FROM CENTRE STREET. 360 DAYS A YEAR, I CAN TELL YOU, YOU CAN GO DOWN THAT STREET OR THE STREET BEFORE BETWEEN -- AND BROOME STREET AND FINE PARKING. AND THAT IS SIMILAR ON MANY OF THE SIDE STREETS THERE.

SO I AM JUST POINTING OUT THAT THERE IS AMPLE PARKING IF YOU WANT TO PARK IN FRONT OF -- FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT. IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO PARK THERE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT AND YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AT ANY TIME, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE

ABLE TO DO THAT. >> THERE IS A PARKING PROBLEM.

BUT I THINK, WE SHOWED THAT THERE ARE 600 SPACES IN THE CORPORATE OVER 1800 SPACES IN THAT AREA. SO THAT IS BASICALLY WHERE WE ARE AT. THIS IS WHAT THE CONFERENCE APPLIANCES. THE CITY SHALL ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF VEHICULAR NONMOTORIZED PARKING TO SERVE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES WHILE MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER OF THE DOWNTOWN AND MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS WITH ADEQUATE SUPPLIES NOT DEFINED. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS DO WE BELIEVE THERE IS ADEQUATE PARKING? OR IS THERE A PROBLEM? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT? I HAVE SOME IDEAS ABOUT IT GOING FORWARD . BUT IF NOBODY THINKS THERE IS A PARKING PROBLEM , OR IS UNABLE TO DEFINE A PARKING PROBLEM, YOU CANNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS. THE ISSUE ABOUT PARKING AS I SAID. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY.

DO NOT ALL SPEAK AT ONCE. >>

>> WELL, YOU CANNOT JUST SAY A FLAT ANSWER OF YES OR NO.

INAUDIBLE ] REALISTICALLY, IN MOST OTHER EVENTS AND MY OWN EXPERIENCE, TO GO DOWNTOWN ON A THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT , IT IS NOT AS COMMON TO SEE THAT EVERYONE OF THESE SPACES IS OCCUPIED. IS IT DIFFICULT TO FIND THE MOST CONVENIENT SPACE? YES. SO I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFICIENCY OF DOWNTOWN. BUT I ALSO WOULD MAKE THE CLAIM THAT THE AMOUNT OF -- WE HAVE DOWNTOWN IS ONLY RELATED TO SO MUCH. HOW MUCH MORE MARK ALMOST 2000 SPACES ARE WE GOING TO GET? NOT CONSIDERING THAT SUCH AS A PARKING GARAGE. I'M NOT SAYING I'M IN FAVOR OF THEM, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO GET VERY CREATIVE WITH THE PARKING.

>> I WOULD SAY I HAVE WALKED ALONG THE STREETS. I THINK JEREMIAH AND HIS CREW HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF FINDING ALL OF THE LITTLE NICHES. I DO NOT THINK THERE ANYMORE. EXCEPT THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT. SO BASICALLY, EXCEPT A COUPLE OF OPTIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT , I MEAN, THERE ARE NUMBER PLACES TO PUT PARKING SPACES. THAT I KNOW OF.

PARTICULARLY -- ANYBODY ELSE?

[00:15:01]

>> ALL RIGHT . DOES ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WISH TO SPEAK?

>> YES?

>> I HAVE TO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ANTUN . IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE DAY AND TIME. THERE ARE TIMES IT IS PRETTY PACKED DOWN HERE.

IT IS DIFFICULT ON SOME OF THE SIDE STREETS. THE QUESTION IS NOT NECESSARILY AN EASY ONE TO ANSWER. THERE ARE TIMES IT IS REALLY BUSY AND TIMES WHEN IT IS NOT SO BAD. SUMMER TIME, IT IS GETTING BUSY RIGHT NOW. IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO FIND PARKING. SOMETIMES IN THE OFF-SEASON, IT IS PRETTY EASY TO FIND IT RIGHT OFF CENTRE STREET PUT A VERY DIFFICULT

QUESTION TO ANSWER. >> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE? VICE

MAYOR STURGES? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR BEAN. I WOULD SAY THE ANSWER IS LIKE YOU SAID. UNFORTUNATELY, IT ALL DEPENDS . IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT TIME OF DAY AND DEPENDS ON WHO IS THERE AND WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE GOING ON. WE ARE SEEING, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, WE ARE SEEING A CHANGE. NOT JUST ABLE TO DRIVE IN PART ANYWHERE FROM JANUARY, FAIRBURY, MARCH . THAT USED TO BE A SLOW SEASON.

WHETHER WE ADDRESS IT NOW OR WE CHOOSE TO ADDRESS IT AT A LATER DATE, THE PARKING HAS CHANGED. IF WE DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT IT, IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET MORE DIFFICULT. HOWEVER, MY IDEA IS IF WE DECIDE TO DO A PARKING GARAGE AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO START PLANNING FOR IT. IF WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THEN THAT IS WHERE MOST PEOPLE COME TO VISIT . HISTORICALLY, THEY SEE THE AREA, THEY WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING DOWNTOWN. THAT IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE RESTAURANTS ARE PACKED. IT IS OUR ENTERTAINMENT AREA ABOUT WHETHER YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT ARE NOT TREATED THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. SO I WOULD SAY , I THINK THE BEST OPPORTUNITY IS BEHIND -- THE PARKING GARAGE.

>> BECAUSE THAT AREA PUTS IT IN AND OUT OF EIGHTH STREET EASILY. SOMEBODY WILL BE ABLE TO PARK, LEAVE THAT AREA, GO ALL THE WAY DOWN. WALK ALL THE WAY DOWN. WALK ALL THE WAY BACK PAST EVERY BUSINESS THAT GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY AND A SORT OF SAINT AUGUSTINE IDEA OF WHERE YOU CAN GO. IF THAT IS A DECISION WE DECIDE TO GO WITH, I DO NOT THINK THERE ARE ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT I DO NOT THINK YOU WANT TO PUT A PARKING GARAGE THE RIVER. I DO NOT THINK YOU WANT TO PUT, BECAUSE IN ALL OF THE CARS HAVE TO COME HERE AND LEAVE THROUGH HERE.

SO THE IDEA IS TO PUT IT SOMEWHERE WHERE IT IS TO THE CLOSEST MAJOR ROAD TO GET OUT OF TOWN.

>> AND BACK TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE ISLAND THAT IS MY OPINION. WHETHER WE DECIDE TO START DOING IT NOW AND ADDRESSING IT, I KNOW THE METHODIST CHURCH OWNS THAT LOT.

THAT IS JUST THE FIRST ONE THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE IT GOES DOWN MAINE. SO IT IS NOT GOING TO LOOK OVERLY IMPRESSIVE WHEN YOU RIDE ACROSS THE STREET BECAUSE OF WILL BE ALMOST A LITTLE MORE OF YOUR EYE LEVEL. BUT THAT IS JUST APPROACHING THE FUTURE. THAT IS WHAT I THINK. I THINK IT IS, WE NEED TO START PLANNING FOR IT EVENTUALLY. AND LOOKING INTO IT AND FINDING THE FUNDING AND COMING WITH AN IDEA TO DO IT. I DO NOT KNOW I WOULD WANT TO SPEND $2 MILLION. BUT WE WILL

TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE . >> WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT

PARKING GARAGES. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.

SOMEBODY ELSE TALK. >> THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR STURGES. I THINK I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A POINT HERE. I HAVE A VIEWPOINT AND I WILL GO THROUGH THEM. NUMBER ONE. I DO NOT NECESSARILY THINK, AND THIS MIGHT SOUND CONTROVERSIAL. I RECEIVED THE SAME EMAILS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HERE HAS BEEN I DO NOT NECESSARILY THINK WE HAVE A PARKING PROBLEM. THAT IS FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF GROWING UP HERE AND LIVING HERE MY WHOLE LIFE. I GO DOWNTOWN ALL THE TYPING I GO DOWNTOWN ALL THE TIME. I WILL TELL YOU THIS BUT I THINK MANY WILL HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS ME. I WILL REFERENCE THE EMAIL I THINK WE MIGHT'VE ALL GOTTEN. THERE WAS ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS MAKES THE CLAIM THAT SHE DOWNTOWN , CANNOT FIND PARKING, SO SHE WENT BACK HOME AND DID NOT STAY DOWNTOWN. I WOULD SAY I DO NOT THINK THAT IS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. THERE IS NEVER BEEN A CASE WHERE I'VE GOT DOWNTOWN , AND I'VE GONE AT THE BUSIEST TIMES, AND I GOT ON A TUESDAY.

I COME EVERY OTHER TUESDAY, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, I AM HERE. I'VE GONE ON FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY NIGHT, SUNDAY AFTERNOON BUT I'VE GONE EVERY POSSIBLE TIME DOWNTOWN AND THERE'S NEVER

[00:20:01]

BEEN A SINGLE EXAMPLE WHERE I COULD NOT FIND A SPOT WITHIN THE MAIN FOUR BLOCKS OF DOWNTOWN.

I CANNOT NAME ONE SINGLE EXAMPLE OF IN FACT, I WILL MAKE THIS OFFER. I LIVE NEAR CENTRAL PARK BEHIND THE FIRE STATION. I LIVE RIGHT OFF OF B STREET. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE ME UP ON THIS. IF YOU THINK YOU CANNOT FIND PARKING, FEEL FREE, MY NUMBER IS IN THE NEWS LATER. COME PICK ME UP AND I WILL HELP YOU FIND A PARKING SPOT DOWNTOWN. I WILL SHOW YOU WHERE

IT IS AND I WILL WALK HOME. >>

>> FOLKS, I WILL GO A LITTLE FURTHER BUT I'M WILLING TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION FOR THAT IS SOMETHING CITIZENS ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT IT COMES TO A PARKING GARAGE.

I WOULD SAY, AND I WILL SAY SOMETHING ELSE. I CANNOT PREDICT THE FUTURE. NOBODY CAN. WHAT I CAN SEE TRENDS. SO I WANT YOU TO PICTURE WHAT THIS COMMISSION WAS THINKING IN 1999. WE HAD PAYPHONES HERE. YOU GUYS REMEMBER THOSE. I LOVED HER AT THE TIME AND YES, I WAS HERE. THERE WERE

PAYPHONES ALL AROUND DOWNTOWN. >> WERE THEY ROTARY?

>> PAYPHONES THAT I WILL MAKE THE POINT THAT IN 1999, WE HAD ALL PAYPHONES IT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE FOR THE COMMISSION IN 1999 , DOING WHAT THEY DO AT THE TIME ABOUT TELEPHONES, CELL PHONES WERE NOT A BIG DEAL YET. THEY WERE BIG AND BULKY AND PEOPLE WERE NOT USING THEM. HOWEVER, THEY WERE COMING.

PEOPLE COULD SEE THAT. WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO INVEST IN ALL NEW PAYPHONES BUT BEFORE WE KNEW THERE WAS A LOT OF COMING? MY QUESTION IS, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE AN EVENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IT MIGHT MEAN YOUR CAR TO PICK YOU UP AT THEIR MAY BE SELF TRAVELING CARS. YOU CANNOT PREDICT THE FUTURE. THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. IT MAY NOT ACCENTS TO INVEST IN A NEW MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PARKING GARAGE AT THIS PLACE AND TYPE IT SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION. FINALLY, WHAT I WANT TO END ON IS PAID PARKING.

THAT IS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY, VERY UNEQUIVOCALLY BE AGAINST. I WILL NEVER BE IN FAVOR OF PAID PARKING FOR THE REASONS I JUST DESCRIBED IT I WILL TELL YOU THERE IS NOTHING STOPPING ME RIGHT NOW FROM DRIVING DOWNTOWN, TRY TO GET A PARKING SPOT . WHAT WILL STOP ME FROM DRIVING DOWNTOWN AND FINDING A PARKING SPOT IS IF I HAVE TO PAY. IF I DRIVE DOWNTOWN, NEAR 70 GREAT BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN THAT DO NOT DESERVE US PUTTING UP A BARRIER. ONE LOCAL TO RESTORE THEIR ON CENTRE STREET. IF YOU PUT UP PAY PARKING, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE THAT SAME CLIENTELE THAT MAYBE JUST WANT TO POP IN FOR SOMETHING QUICK . THEY MIGHT GO TO ONE OF THE FREE PARKING ESTABLISHMENTS ELSEWHERE. PAID PARKING FOR ME IS A NONSTARTER. I DO NOT THINK THIS COMMUNITY WANTS IT OR DESERVES IT, FRANKLY. WE DO NOT NEED TO BE LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE. WE ARE OPEN AND FREE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH THAT IN MIND, THAT IS WHERE I'M GOING TO END MY COMMENTS . I APPRECIATE AS HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO TALK ABOUT PARKING. THAT IS AN ISSUE ON MANY OF OUR CITIZEN'S MINDS BUT I WOULD SAY MAYBE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THE PARKING IS . CAN WE SHOW CITIZENS WERE PARKING IS? I WILL TELL YOU, I'VE NEVER, EVEN ON STREET FEST WEEKEND, I CAN PULL UP ON B STREET AND PARK WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OVER THE SHRIMP IS GOING TO DROP 30 MINUTES BEFORE IT DOES BUT I DID THAT AT THE LAST SHRIMP DROP IN EVEN ON THE BIGGEST SPECIAL EVENTS , ENTRE FEST WEEKEND, THERE WAS OPEN PARKING ON CEDAR. YOU COULD PULL UP AND PARK ON CEDAR MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AND PUT I WILL MAKE THAT COMMENT. I THINK THERE IS PARKING BUT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

WITH THAT IN MIND, I WILL GO AHEAD AND END. I THINK THAT IS EVERYTHING ON THIS ITEM. I SEE ITEM 4.2 . COMMISSIONER ROSS,

GO AHEAD . >> ADEQUATE PARKING SUPPLIES, IT DEPENDS. CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE? SO THERE IS -- THE NEXT ONE? SO NEXT ORDER WAS , RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, THERE IS A WAREHOUSE FOR SALE. YOU COULD PUT 65 ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES IN THE. NEXT ONE. THAT OPPORTUNITY PROBABLY HAS EVAPORATED. THERE WAS AN OFFER MADE LAST NIGHT . CLOSING IN 30 DAYS. SO WHETHER THIS IS EVEN AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT. BUT LOOKING AT TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT COSTS FOR PARKING , THE WHOLE REASON THERE IS NO FREE

[00:25:01]

PARKING. ASKING PRICE FOR THE PROPERTY IS TO $.2 MILLION.

CONSTRUCTING THE PARKING AND YOU'RE TALKING APPROXIMATELY -- IF WE BORROW MONEY, IT IS APPROXIMATELY $350,000. IF WE USE TAX REVENUE, IF WE DO NOT PURCHASE IT, THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE PUBLIC USE. SO ASSUMING THIS CLOSES , IT IS REALLY A MOOT POINT. IT MAY NOT. SO IS THERE ANY CONSENSUS YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE LOOKING AT DOING THIS?

>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE, YOUR LIGHT IS ON .

>> YES. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

SO HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. INVESTIGATING. THIS IS

BASICALLY -- >> WELL, AT THIS POINT, I WILL SAY, WE START TALKING ABOUT LARGE ASKING PRICES LIKE THIS DOWNTOWN AND ANYWHERE IN THE CITY IS EXPENSIVE. $2.2 MILLION .

I WOULD JUST SAVE THAT TO $.2 MILLION . THIS IS GOING TO BE A RATHER, JUST OUT OF THE BOX THOUGHT PROCESS. YOU KNOW, PARKING IS SUPPLY AND DEMAND. AND THIS BUILDING WE ARE IN RIGHT EAR DEMANDS PARKING. IT DEMANDS IT ON TUESDAYS. IT DEMANDS IT FIVE DAYS A WEEK . IT DEMANDS UP BECAUSE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS HERE. IT DEMANDS IT WITH PLANNING. I WOULD JUST, I WOULD LOOK AT IF WE COULD SELL THIS BUILDING , TO $.2 MILLION , AND MOVED CITY HALL OUT OF DOWNTOWN. WE COULD GIVE THE CITIZENS SO MUCH MORE BANG FOR THEIR BUCK. AND WE COULD GET THE DEMAND THAT CITY HALL IS OUT OF DOWNTOWN. THE TRAFFIC THAT COMES DOWNTOWN AND ALL THE PARKING THAT IS AND D RIGHT NOW WOULD BE FREED UP. THE CITIZENS WOULD GET MORE BANG FOR THEIR BUCK AT A NEW CITY HALL SOMEWHERE, NOT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. YOU CAN DO CITY BUSINESS ANYWHERE IN THE CITY.

YOU CAN ONLY DO DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DOWNTOWN. SO I KNOW THAT IS JUST A COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BOX IDEA. TO ME, SUPPLY AND DEMAND ARE PART OF THIS. REDUCE THE DEMAND BY MOVING

CITY HALL OUT OF DOWNTOWN. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER

COMMENTS? >>

>> ON THAT PARTICULAR NOTE, I DO NOT THINK YOU NEED TO $.2 MILLION FOR THIS PARCEL. NUMBER TWO. THERE ARE HISTORIC BUILDINGS. AND THEY ARE TRYING TO TEAR THAT DOWN. SO BE THAT AS IT MAY. IS THERE ANY APPETITE? WHAT I'M REALLY LOOK BEING AT IS IS THERE ANY APPETITE FOR PURSUING THIS

OPPORTUNITY? >> I THINK -- SAYING YES TO THAT. THAT IS A BIG BENEFIT FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

>> I CALLED 15 PEOPLE, ALL RIGHT? AND THEY WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THIS IS THE BEST THING YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO TO THIS IS THE STUPIDEST THING YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO.

AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. AND SO I CAN TELL YOU, ] DIFFERENT PEOPLE. BUT I THINK THE CONSENSUS OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SOME HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

>> ALTHOUGH IT IS A GOOD START, IT IS DEFINITELY NOT -- I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING AT AN EMAIL FROM A CONSTITUENT. I WONDER IF THERE'S ANY APPETITE TO POTENTIALLY CONSTITUTE SOME KIND OF CITIZEN BASED SOLUTION COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THIS AND SEE IF THEY WOULD GATHER SOME FEEDBACK TO MAKE THAT MORE

EFFICIENT? >> ALL THAT IS FINE. ON A MISSED OPPORTUNITY, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE.

>> GOING THROUGH THE USUAL GOVERNMENT STUFF OF TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS . THE OPPORTUNITY IS NOT GOING TO BE THERE. SO THIS PLACE IS GOING TO SELL AT SOME POINT AND THEY HAVE ALREADY SOLD. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING, WHETHER YOU CAN DO IT NOW OR NOT, WE NEED TO DO IT NOW.

THAT IS FINE. >> WITH MY THIS EXPERIENCE, I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO NOT MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION ON A WHIM.

>> YOU WANT TO PURSUE THE OPPORTUNITY AND SING AT THIS POINT, I THINK THIS IS TOO RICH FOR WHAT WE WANT TO DO .

>> I GET WHERE THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOW. WITH MORE FEEDBACK, YES. I DO NOT THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY PREMATURE THAT WE HAVE COME TO A CONSENSUS.

[00:30:02]

INAUDIBLE ] WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK.

>> OKAY. I WILL TAKE THAT AS A NO.

>> COMMISSIONERS, I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU AGREE WITH THAT OR NOT?

>> IF YOU'RE SAYING I DO NOT WANT TO DIRECT STAFFING OUT TO MAKE AN OFFER, I DO AGREE WITH THAT. WHAT I WILL SAY A LITTLE FURTHER IS IN MY DUE DILIGENCE FOR THIS LINE ITEM, I AM AWARE THAT THE OFFER IS PRETTY SOLID.

>> I THINK IT IS UNDER CONTRACT AND MOST LIKELY -- SO I THINK MOVING FORWARD. SO THIS IS ACTUALLY KIND OF MOOT TO BEGIN

WITH. >> NEXT. PARKING GARAGES.

[4.3 NEW DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE - LIBRARY PARKING LOT - This item is placed on the agenda by Commissioner Ross who will discuss constructing a parking garage in the existing library parking lot. ]

LET'S TALK ABOUT PARKING GARAGES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE COST . THE COST OF GETTING LAND IN DOWNTOWN OF $2.2 MILLION. AND THIS , PARKING GARAGES ARE TRADITIONALLY RIGHT NOW , ABOUT $30,000 PER SPACE WITH CONSTRUCTION AND 40,000 .

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 40,000 WITHOUT THE LAND COST. EVEN IF YOU TOOK THE PARKING GARAGE AND DID SOME SCHEMATICS , YOU COULD PUT ABOUT ONE SETS OF -- 170 NEW PARKING SPACES. I DO NOT THINK IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE THAT A PARKING GARAGE MERITS ANY CONSIDERATION . THAT IS MY PERSONAL OPINION. I THINK IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE. I DO NOT THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT. THAT IS ME PERSONALLY.

THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS. I MEAN, IT IS EXPENSIVE.

>> COMMISSIONER AYSCUE? >> IT IS EXPENSIVE. I THINK THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN REALIZE A PARKING GARAGE DOWNTOWN OR ANYWHERE IN THE CITY, NO MATTER WHERE IT IS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PAVED. THERE IS NO WAY YOU COULD REALIZE THAT WITHOUT TRYING TO REFUTE SOME OF THAT COST AND THE MAINTENANCE ON IT.

AND I AM WITH THE MAYOR HERE. I AM STAUNCHLY AGAINST PAID PARKING. ANYWHERE IN THE CITY. SO WHILE WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, THAT IS THE FOOTHOLD INTO PARKING WITH THE , WITH THE PARKING GARAGE.

THERE IS NO FISCAL FEASIBILITY TO DO IT WITHOUT. SO THAT IS JUST WHERE I AM ON THE PARKING GARAGE.

>> MAKE THAT A NOTE. >>

>> ANYBODY ELSE ? >> I WOULD AGREE WITH HALF OF THAT. YOU MUST CERTAINLY CONSIDER A PAID PARKING SITUATION IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT. PERSONALLY, I AM NOT OPPOSED IF THERE IS SOMEWAY WE CAN CREATE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH SEASONAL PARKING. POSSIBLY ONLY DOING IT IN THE CENTER AREA REFERRED TO AS THE BOX. 600 SPACES. THESE ARE THINGS I THINK, I HAVE HAD CITIZENS MENTIONED THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN. IT MAY NOT BE THE MAJORITY BUT I'M HERE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION.

>> >> I THINK THOSE ARE THE COMMENTS I HAVE . COMMISSIONER ROSS?

>> OKAY, SO JUST TO RECAP. THERE IS NO APPETITE AT THIS TIME TO PURSUE A PARKING GARAGE .

THANK YOU. THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT --

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THEM AGAIN. WHERE ARE YOU CURRENTLY ADDING 26 NEW SPACES . I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WITH EVERYBODY. THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE DOING'S WORK IN HOUSE.

THAT IS SO MUCH AND WE CANNOT LET THAT GO BY WITHOUT REALLY COMMENTING ON THAT. IF YOU HAVE TIME , WE WILL TAKE COMMENTS AT THE END BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THROUGH ALL THE MATTERS FIRST. I WILL ACCEPT THAT QUESTION BUT AT THE END OF THE

[4.5 SPECIAL EVENT PARKING - This item is placed on the agenda at the request of Commissioner Ross who will discuss amending the Special Event permit process to include parking plans for major special events. ]

MEETING, IF THAT IS OKAY WITH YOU? I APPRECIATE IT.

>> SO PARKING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

>> I AM NOT SUGGESTING THERE BE ANY KIND OF PARKING IN THE SENSE YOU'RE GOING TO PARK HERE OR PARK THERE. BUT FROM WHAT I SAID , I CAN PARK 360 DAYS PER YEAR. FIVE DAYS OF THE YEAR, I CANNOT PARK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE . THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, THAT IS WHY IT IS THERE. BUT ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS , TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO DIRECT TRAFFIC IS WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE, THEY DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO PARK. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT LIVE HERE. IT IS A PROBLEM FOR THEM.

>> I AM WONDERING, AS PART OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS, PROVIDED BY THE CITY, TO COME UP WITH THE PLAN FOR DIRECTING PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN FIND PLACES TO PARK. ESTABLISHED THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE PARKING. BUT HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT? MAYBE PUTTING SOMETHING ON A WEBSITE. MAYBE OTHER THINGS. SO I WAS

[00:35:01]

WONDERING IF THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE PLAN FOR SPECIAL

EVENTS? >> I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU FOUND A PLACE TO PARK AT SHRIMP FAST . WHEN I CAME HOME ON SUNDAY, MY STREET WAS TOTALLY JAMMED.

I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU ALL THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS, I WILL COMMENT WITH THE SHRIMP FAST COMMITTEE. THEY HAVE PUT OUT MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS ON

WINTER PARK. >> I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT FROM VEST. I'M TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE ACTUALLY.

>> I'M WILLING TO DISCUSS THAT BUT I DO NOT KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING FOR US TO NITPICK THE DETAILS HERE. I CAN POSSIBLY DIRECT OUR STAFF. I THINK WE CAN GET MR. GEORGE TO GO AHEAD AND DIRECT. HOW CAN WE REVAMP OUR PERMIT PROCESS? I THINK THAT ONUS SHOULD BE NOT ON THE CITY. IT SHOULD BE ON WHOEVER IS HOSTING THE EVENT . I'M JUST REMINDING EVERYBODY. THE CITY DOES NOT HOST THE EVENT THAT IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO PUT IN THE -- SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I THINK MAYBE WE CAN ADD THAT.

DISCUSSING REVAMPING THE PROCESS. SO I THINK THAT WOULD