City Manager’s Comments – Beaches and Parks

By Dale Martin, City Manager

At the City Commission’s January 3 workshop, the primary topics of discussion were beach related: beach parking and beach harmonization. At the conclusion of the workshop, the City Commissioners indicated that they would like to hear comments from the general public about the two issues.

It is necessary, though, to clarify the origin of the topics, beginning with beach parking. The summary of plans and recommendations were developed by consultants funded by Nassau County officials: “Nassau County BOCC has hired Walker Consultants to prepare the following draft report that supports the Phase 2 scope of services for the Amelia Island Beach Access and Parking Study. The information contained herein represents our preliminary solutions and system enhancements for the Amelia Island Beach Access and Parking program” (April 22, 2022 correspondence). None of the plans or recommendations had been endorsed or approved by the City Commission or by city staff. The purpose of the workshop was to initiate public discussion on what the City Commission and the community supported (or didn’t support).

The Executive Summary of the draft report begins with the recommendation to form an Amelia Island Parking Authority to “relieve the County and City of its day-to-day management responsibilities of the beach access parking facilities and enable both organizations to focus on the ability to provide the much-needed essential services for its residents, visitors, and larger constituent groups.” The Authority “would be responsible for the collection of fees and forfeitures in exchange for managing and maintaining the Amelia Island beach parking assets.”

Question #1: What are your (residents) comments for the establishment of an Amelia Island Parking Authority?

An inventory of parking capacity associated with the beaches reveals that nearly 850 parking spaces are available within the city at a variety of locations. Unincorporated county has approximately 600 spaces and with nearly 200 more at Fort Clinch, about 1600 beach parking spaces are available (although no reference is made to Amelia Island State Park, which would likely significantly increase that number).

The Walker report offered recommendations to expand parking at North Beach (90 spaces), “formalizing” Ocean Avenue parking (194), Dolphin Street (40), Tarpon Avenue (46), Atlantic Avenue (153), Jasmine Street (50), and Sadler Road (119). Additionally, a parking structure is suggested to be located at the city’s Atlantic Recreation Center.

Question #2: In which of the described areas do you support expanded parking?

Although those described areas were oriented to vehicle parking, some reference was made to expanded bicycle facilities: bicycle lanes, non-motorized paths, lockers, maintenance operations.

The final parking recommendation called for the establishment of paid parking: “Paid parking regulations would include options for permit parking, hourly or incremental rate parking, daily parking, and event parking or fixed rate parking. The goal is for the establishment of a paid parking program to assist with the inventory management and utilize proceeds to reinvest in parking inventory enhancements and mobility alternatives.”

Question #3: What are your comments regarding paid beach parking?

The other beach component discussed by the City Commission was also funded by Nassau County: beach harmonization. This effort examined each beach area and offered a series of enhancements to each park for the city to consider.

Question #4: What efforts would you support at North Beach:

  1. Parking
  2. Bathrooms
  3. Pavilions
  4. Boardwalks

Question #5: What facilities would you support at Main Beach:

  1. Expanded skate park
  2. Amphitheater
  3. Parking
  4. Pavilions
  5. Restrooms
  6. Playground
  7. Multi-use courts

Question #6: What projects would you support at Seaside Park?

  1. Additional boardwalks (accessible)
  2. Pavilions
  3. Rinse stations
  4. Landscaping

The City Commission is only now beginning to review the many facets of the reports and recommendations offered by county officials and consultants. City Commissioners greatly desire comments and feedback from you about the City’s Atlantic Ocean beaches and parks.

Please share your thoughts with City Commissioners:

Thank you for your insight.

 

 

 

 

8 Comments
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Al MacDougall
Al MacDougall (@guest_66730)
1 year ago

Here is a perfect opportunity for joint city-county action, rather than the go-it-alone approach so frequently taken by city hall.
Work together for a change….share ideas and share costs for the benefit of all.

chris subleski
chris subleski(@oldtimehockey)
1 year ago

NO to additional bureaucracy! And heck NO to parking fees!!

Michael Carabetta
Michael Carabetta(@kt22mike)
1 year ago

Lived in a beach community where residents paid $25 for a season sticker and renters and visitors paid $100 a week or $300 for the season. With Wildlife coming on line we need to make sure residents have priority over visitors. Also everything was done on-line so not sure why you would need to set up a commission to do this. Install some credit card/phone meters for daily users in Main Beach. Make hotels provide shuttles for daily visitors to minimize parking. No parking structures!

DAVE LOTT
DAVE LOTT(@dave-l)
1 year ago

Michael, the City received an “opinion” from the Army Corps of Engineers” ( ACOE) years ago that since the City received federal monies for the beach nourishment project, it is not legal to differentiate beach access fees between residents and non-residents. Personally, I think the City should challenge this as I know of plenty of other places along the East Coast that have also received beach nourishment funds and differentiate parking fees for beach parking lots as you also indicated.
Just say “NO” to any parking authority as the City needs to handle this issue on their own. So many questions to be asked as this idea moves along.

Betsie
Betsie(@betsie-huben)
1 year ago

Would encourage everyone interested in this topic to be as informed as possible by watching the video replay of the FBCC workshop session. Very revealing! Number of spaces and utilization of same is detailed comprehensively and the results will surprise you. Local residents giving up local control of their primary community asset that folks are already paying for via their property tax bills – no thank you!

Dave Scott
Dave Scott (@guest_66736)
1 year ago

Glad that a study is being done and that the City is willing to invest in itself through infrastructure additions and improvements. Long overdue! But why no mention of adding charge stations for electric bikes and cars? We need those as well and now is the time to add those to the discussion and plans. Thanks for the report and your continued work too.

Bill Fold
Bill Fold(@bill-fold)
1 year ago
Reply to  Dave Scott

No thanks! My tax dollars should not be used to fund charging your electric bike or car. If you’re too lazy to peddle a bicycle stay at home. And that goes for all of you who drink the climate change/global warming coolaid. Another thing: this so-called “study” that’s being done is nothing more than BS and another way to piss away taxpayer dollars. What we need are experienced people in charge of the commission and city government who can make informed decisions without having to rely on hiring out consultants to do studies for every decision they make. What good are commissioners that don’t know how anything works except pushing paper across a desk?

DAVE LOTT
DAVE LOTT(@dave-l)
1 year ago
Reply to  Dave Scott

Dave, while a valid question, it is one that appears simple but is actually very complex. The electric car manufacturers have their own propriety charging plug. Is there a universal adapter available? Can an EC park in a charging spot and not use the charging feature? So many questions, so little time.
https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/on-the-move-unpacking-the-challenges-and-opportunities-of-electric-vehicles