CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. Parking and Traffic Committee. January 22, 2004

Transcription

1 CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA Parking and Traffic Cmmittee January 22, 2004 The Parking and Traffic Cmmittee met in frmal sessin at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, January 22, 2004 in The Alcazar Cnference Rm at City Hall. The meeting was called t rder by Chairman, Daniel Sullivan and the fllwing were present: 1. ROLL CALL Members: Daniel Sullivan, Chairman Henry Whetstne, Vice Chairman Gerald Dixn Fred Harris Tm Kavanaugh Jhn Marples Phillip Man Nancy Sikes-Kline David Tner Absent: William Abare Richard Pint City Staff: Jack Cubbedge, Assistant City Manager Jhn Regan, Chief Operatinal Officer James Whitehuse, Staff Attrney Pam Halterman, Recrding Secretary Mr. & Mrs. James Zimmerman, residents 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes f the January 8, 2004 regular meeting were apprved as presented. Mr. Regan nted that Mr. Abare might arrive late. 3. OLD BUSINESS 3.a. Staff update n VIC structure design Staff stated the fllwing pints regarding the VIC structure design:

2 Staff had met with the design team, wh started the prcess f the site survey alng with the getechnical investigatin that was key t the fundatin design Different strategies had been reviewed regarding prduct delivery as it related t the schedule f the Super Bwl Activity t sn begin arund the site Architectural dcuments t begin after survey cmpleted, which wuld lead t cnstructin dcuments Newsletter t be mailed with water bill, which wuld cver the "update n activities fr the implementatin f the master plan" Extensive public utreach prgrams had been budgeted and included in the cntract Tw majr public infrmatin meetings t be held NON-AGENDA ITEM Mr. Marples submitted a dcument t the members f the cmmittee and stated that he was disappinted that the cmmittee had eliminated the idea f a shuttle pilt study. He directed attentin t the study he had cmpleted and ffered the fllwing details: Prpsal f three dwntwn rutes fr the shuttle pilt prgram Used wn vehicle t simulate shuttle activity with stps/drp-ffs Rute B timing study indicated a seven t eight minute rute Cncluded that even in the wrse traffic situatins the shuttle system wuld wrk Fund it necessary that signage be added t begin pilt prgram Drp-ff and pickup areas currently existed It was nted that the JEA shuttle service had been terminated; therefre, the trlley type vehicle culd prbably be purchased at a reasnable cst. It was questined whether the City was against the prpsed shuttle prgram. It was nted that staff had suggested that it was nt the right time t begin a shuttle prgram. 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.a. Discussin f the Parking and Traffic Cmmittee s future purpse, gals and meeting schedule Mr. Harris submitted a dcument t the cmmittee members and explained that the letter did nt imply that he desired t quit any f the effrts that had been put frth ver the years. He ffered the fllwing pints frm the letter: The cmmittee had cmpleted the majr tasks that the Cmmissin had asked the cmmittee t undertake

3 The City s prfessinal staff and cnsultants wuld best perfrm and implement the detailed technical aspects f the master plan The cmmittee s effrts, as currently rganized, had hindered the technical prcess being planned by staff Rerganizatin f the grup shuld nt be gverned under the Sunshine Law Meet less frequently t allw staff time t cncentrate n the details f implementing the varius phases f the timeline Recnvene as a grup when staff r the City Cmmissin find it necessary Grup cnsisted f much knwledge, histry and experience, but nt expertise needed fr the technical aspects f the plan It was stated that many aspects f the master plan had nt been discussed by the cmmittee; hwever, the grup was needed in rder t cmplete an in depth review f thse aspects. It was suggested that the Chairman return t the riginal suggested prcedure by issuing a task fr each member f the cmmittee in rder t frm study grups t cmplete thse tasks, cllect data and make recmmendatins t staff. It was stated that the cmmittee had handled the situatin in reverse by asking staff fr their recmmendatins. It was suggested that each member f the cmmittee was highly intelligent, but the cmmittee had yet t find the rt f the prblem. It was stated that the lcal residents did nt plan t use the parking garages. It was suggested that the cmmittee was being led by smene that was leading staff. It was nted that an entire year had been wasted, and the system had prevented the cmmittee frm accmplishing many things. It was suggested that the cmmittee had prceeded past staff and it was time t slw dwn and allw staff t catch up. It was explained that the 2000 Transit System Study had suggested that parking facilities be cnstructed prir t the implementatin f a shuttle service. It was suggested that the PAT cmmittee shuld meet less frequently. It was suggested that meeting less frequently wuld be mre apprpriate, and it wuld nt leave the dr pen fr mre cntrversy and grandstanding by cmmittee members. It was viced that the City shuld cnduct a test f a shuttle system prir t cnstructin f the parking facility. It was nted that the members were speaking n a number f different issues. It was suggested that a pilt prgram wuld be an attempt in micr-managing. It was nted that the issue invlved the master plan and hw it shuld be implemented. It was suggested that the cmmittee shuld remain under the Sunshine Law, because the cmmittee was cnducting the public s business and nthing prevented ne frm talking with the cmmunity as a whle, as individuals. It was stated that t mve frward it was necessary fr the cmmittee t remain unified and cntinue t functin under the Sunshine. It was expressed that the cmmittee had been a help t staff with ideas and as a sunding bard thrugh many gd discussins during the meetings. It was suggested that meeting nce per mnth wuld be apprpriate in rder t tweak the master plan as time went by. It was stated that the cmmittee shuld be lking at the next blck r phase after the cmpletin f the first parking

4 garage. It was expressed that the cmmittee remained valuable and culd help supprt and prmte the parking facility t the cmmunity nce the cnstructin started. It was questined whether the City had retained a prtin f the San Sebastian prperty in rder t cnstruct a parking facility at that lcatin. Staff advised that the City had nt yet entered int a cntractual agreement with any ne firm fr that prperty; hwever; the purchaser selected by the City Cmmissin had agreed t the suggestin f the RFP criteria t allw 1-_ acre f the eastern mst area t remain in City wnership fr the develpment f a private/public parking facility. It was nted that n final results had been determined. It was suggested that the cmmittee was t detail riented. It was nted that nt many peple had attended the meetings t vice their pinin. It was explained that the Sunshine Law had handicapped the cmmittee, althugh the cmmittee had made prgress. It was stated that the cmmittee culd be as much r mre effective with less rganizatin. Mtin was made and secnded t supprt the PAT Cmmittee meeting every ther mnth and be allwed t hld special meetings when necessary. It was suggested that meeting every tw mnths wuld delay slutins, which culd turn int an electin issue. It was stated that the cmmittee had nt determined wh the prblem was r what r where the prblem existed. It was explained that the cncept f the previusly cmpleted traffic and parking studies invlved the minimizatin f the amunt f traffic in the cre area and t prvide mre parking in and near the cre area f the City, which wuld create a mre pedestrian related City. It was asked that the mtin be amended t allw the PAT Cmmittee t meet mnthly n the furth Thursday f each mnth. It was nted that any meeting culd be cancelled if required. It was suggested that the cmmittee chse ne tpic t discuss each mnth instead f placing a variety f issues n the agenda. It was agreed and secnded t amend the mtin t allw the PAT Cmmittee t meet each mnth t start with the February 26 th, 2004 meeting. Vte n the mtin. In Favr Oppsed Sullivan Harris Whetstne

5 Dixn Kavanaugh Marples Man Sikes-Kline Tner Mtin carried 8/1. Staff advised that the first part f any prject was the design and scping the criteria and the secnd part wuld be implementatin. It was explained that it was staff s respnsibility t handle the criteria, as develped by the PAT Cmmittee and recmmended t the City Cmmissin, which was currently public plicy, and turn it int smething cncrete. Staff nted that anther critical issue was signage. It was stated that feedback frm the wrk already cmpleted was an imprtant functin. It was suggested that being t far ahead f staff did nt allw staff t fcus n the sequential steps assciated with the prject. It was nted that criteria needed t be established n each element f the master plan. It was explained that the gals were t refine the criteria with each element in that part f the public plicy. It was suggested that the cmmittee s gals, purpse and missin needed t be clearly stated. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS Nne 6. MEMBER COMMENTS It was nted that the cmmittee was advisry t the City Cmmissin and was a sunding bard fr staff. It was asked whether a missin statement culd be created fr the cmmittee. It was stated that the cmmittee was charged with "finding a wrkable slutin t unravel the stp-and-g traffic knts alng the twns main thrughfares by apprving the flw f egress by any way pssible and attempt t limit the vehicles traveling in the center f twn". It was added that the cmmittee shuld attempt t prvide adequate parking fr residents, shppers, businesses, emplyees, students and visitrs; all t be accmplished within the City s financial means. 7. DISCUSSION OF TOPICS FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETING It was suggested that the cmmittee s tpic fr the mnth f February shuld be types f vehicles. It was nted that Fred Halback, wh was the representative fr the

6 FDOT, alng with Walker Parking Cnsultants culd prvide the cmmittee with detailed infrmatin. Staff stated that ne facet f the CRA was the ability t mnitr the prgress. It was suggested that the cmmittee review that dcument in rder t establish perfrmance indicatrs t judge whether they were being successful with the master plan. It was suggested that the cmmittee familiarize themselves again with the CRA and the traffic circulatin element f the Cmprehensive Plan. Staff advised that the CRA had been included in the cmmittee s first packet; and staff wuld make a cpy f the Cmprehensive Plan available t the cmmittee members. NON-AGENDA ITEM It was nted that Jack Cubbedge wuld be retiring sn and the cmmittee agreed that he had shwn prfessinalism and prvided much assistance since the start f the new cmmittee. 8. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjurned at 9:40 a.m.