Six weekends through March and April, the traditional spring break period, are targeted for a pilot program in traffic management.

"This is not a silver bullet." Public Works Director Martha Graham told commissioners Monday. "The focus will be on public information, traffic control and increasing shared inventory."

A Public Information Cooperative with the Visitors and Convention Bureau, Florida Department of Transportation and city will include message boards, dial 511, website links, maps and social media.

Among the efforts, Graham said ten parking lots in the downtown area with 423 spaces will be managed by non-profits.

Commissioner Leanna Freeman said she'd hoped there'd be "parking closer to our entry corridors and (visitors) trolley in." Mayor Nancy Shaver responded this could be a pilot for peak load management at any time, but "We have to begin somewhere."

In a companion note, City Manager John Regan said a $2 increase in the visitor center parking facility charge "anticipated a 20% revenue increase. We are currently running 37% over the same period last year in all our parking revenue."

 

 

City Manager John Regan outlined for city commissioners Monday city hall's operations plan for Celebrate 450 focused on programming, public works, public safety and support services.

He said alliance partners and neighborhoods have been contacted and promised updates every two weeks to be published online shortly.

"An example," he said, "is the Maritime Heritage Foundation christening of the chalupa they've built March 22 at the Fountain of Youth. We're working with them on how they want to use the chalupa in programming. There would be time specific for demonstration of the chalupa on the bayfront. We said, 'You worry about rowing the chalupa. We will take care of the rest.'"

Admission to the Fountain of Youth will be free for the 3 to 6 pm ceremony Sunday, March 22, to christen the early Spanish workboat replicated by hand by volunteers over the past three years.

Stages for the September 8 celebration weekend will be set up in front of and in the Plaza de la Constitución, Colonial Quarter, Hypolita Street, Aviles Street, and Lightner Museum pool on Friday and Saturday nights - the stage in front of the plaza to be the main stage.

 

City commissioners Monday gave a team led by Flagler College's ENACTUS students "assurance that the Lincolnville museum will get the Journey assuming we are able to meet the criteria," as the student group advisor Donna DeLorenzo put it.

Among the arguments that it can work in the Excelsior Cultural Center on ML King Avenue:

A previous survey of area attractions noted the Dow Museum of Houses, without marketing, attracted 13,000 visitors at $8.95 admission.

Flagler College's Legacy Tours have grown to three quarters of a million dollars annually in revenue.

"A museum of this caliber can succeed," said one student. "There is a market for black heritage tours."

The team envisions executive directors for the museum and Excelsior Cultural Center, "and they can bring in jazz festivals, and events, music lessons ..." said DeLorenzo.

Commissioners called for feasibility details on retrofitting for the exhibit, costs, and maintaining the exhibit.

 

$750,000 grant process endorsed

Commissioners  approved moving forward with the application process to the State Legislature for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $750,000 in monies from last year's voter approved Amendment One, addressing conservation needs.

Subject to a second public hearing, targeted projects are an upgrade of Lincolnville's sewer line, water line and force main "because it was shovel ready and in the grant process we would get extra points," Deputy General Services Director Tim Fleming explained, "and the South Dixie highway project already in the works.

"The Issue did come up about housing rehabilitation (in Lincolnville)" said Fleming. "We felt that was covered by the creation of a Lincolnville Community Redevelopment Area."

 

'After-fact' permit fee increase advances

Commissioners advanced to public hearing and final action at a later meeting a proposed ordinance increasing after-the-fact tree removal permit fees.

The measure was developed by the Street Tree Advisory Committee and endorsed by the Planning and Zoning Board. It would increase those fees from $50 regardless of the number of trees on a site to a graduated scale for each tree, ranging from $100 to $800 depending on size.

Also included, better definition of tree removal and pruning  and holding the applicant, permittee, landowner and person performing trimming jointly and severally liable for a tree's maintenance.