Parking group votes 8-4 for relaxed rules

During an almost four-hour meeting, a majority of the Boca Grande Parking Committee voted 8-4 to allow for a seasonal relaxation of parking restrictions in three-hour parking areas downtown. But because of the way the committee is structured, that recommendation will not go forward to Lee County.

Present at the meeting were Chairman Hugh Sullivan and Vice Chair Sandi Youngquist, along with Barbara McLaughlin, Cheryl Hopkins, Louis Sarkes, Bruce Kenan, Richard Weber, Sally Downey, Kim Whipple, Nikki Heimann, Mark Spurgeon and Bart DeStefano. County staff included Joseph Adams, assistant county attorney, and, from the Lee County Department of Transportation, Bruce Littleton and Jillian Scholler.

There were three main items on the agenda. Before the agenda items were discussed, the first major discussion was whether handicapped tags were legally enforceable under the parking ordinance because of state law.

After a member of the public raised the issue, Hugh Sullivan said that people were given permits based on criteria established by state law. Downey said that there is a misunderstanding about what supersedes what and asked for clarity as soon as possible. Adams stressed the county’s view being that because there is no charge for the passes, the handicapped exception does not apply.

“It is not under this ordinance,” said Adams, the county attorney.

The larger agenda item, discussing how to educate the public about where they could park and how to direct them, turned into a discussion of fines and whether the signage was helpful.

“The public does not realize the severity of the ticket,” said Spurgeon.

Scholler said there are standards for how signs are created and that there is limited space on them. Adding some sort of plaque underneath would require additional effort.

“People are confused and that is the root of the problem,” said Barbara McLaughlin.

During the discussion about education, there was also discussion of a number of tickets that were dismissed by a Lee County judge, an incident reported in the Beacon this spring. Adams reminded the committee that the county itself does not enforce the code. Spurgeon described the process sheriff’s deputies follow before issuing a ticket, including taking a photo to document whether there is a sticker.

Regarding education, the board unanimously proposed that Spurgeon work with the Chamber and others to create a map and a QR code.

“I don’t think we can micromanage it,” said Weber.

The main item was a discussion of whether the three-hour parking restrictions downtown could be relaxed during the period when The Inn was closed.

“We have heard from the majority of the people on the island saying, ‘Will you help us?’” said Downey. “I don’t want to play with people’s livelihoods. What is the worst-case scenario?”

Youngquist reported on a Florida Gulf Coast University study being conducted with county economic development officials that is still in progress and focuses on retailer sales. She noted that Memorial Day traffic on the Causeway was down as well. She said the relaxation would be “showing a spirit of goodwill to the businesses.”

Sullivan said that the purpose of the ordinance was to preserve the character and quality of the island. “If traffic is down, that is not necessarily a sign of failure,” Sullivan said.

He said that this year on Memorial Day people were parking in town all day and on the beach. “We had tent against tent,” said Sullivan, “the same kind of conditions we had prior to the ordinance.”

He reminded the committee that enforcement had not yet started in town. DeStefano noted that most streets were empty.

“Is it only the people that live on the beach that matter?” DeStefano asked.

Downey reminded the committee that “we have businesses that say ‘we are in trouble.’” She asked what happens if those businesses do not make it.

Sullivan said that the county does not currently have the technology that makes timed parking easy to enforce, though the county has “now gotten some bids.”

McLaughlin said that parking was largely a perception problem.

“I want to know what problem we are trying to solve,” said Weber.

The motion called for a trial period from July 6 through Sept. 30. The motion vote count was 8-4, but the action will not move forward to Lee County because it did not receive a super majority of the 15-member board.

At the meeting, the board unanimously passed, by voice vote, a resolution instructing county attorneys to return with a proposal allowing golf cart rental agencies to tag carts on their own for Island overnight rentals. Currently, The Inn leases its own carts, and there was discussion about whether guests at The Inn were equal to those renting carts outside The Inn.

The resolution requested that staff determine whether the change could be made administratively or would require a code amendment.

“From my point of view this is not unreasonable to try,” said Sullivan.

Also at the meeting, Youngquist reported on a county-owned property on the island, the Addison property, and asked whether it could be converted into parking.

The board will not meet again until Oct. 14. Topics will include further education and signage, rules concerning golf carts and the Lighthouse United Methodist Church parking situation.