Please place on the December 13, 2023 agenda a referral to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee to discuss the creation of residential parking permit zones in North Beach. The sponsors propose the issuance of residential parking permits which would allow only permit holders to park a motor vehicle within the designated zone(s) during certain days/hours, in order to protect the quality of life of North Beach residents in areas where residential parking is severely impacted by competing uses and/or a heavy concentration of commuter vehicles that are parked night and day for purposes unrelated to residential uses.

The City is a small barrier island consisting of approximately 82,000 residents and fifteen (15) square miles of land within its territorial jurisdiction. However, despite its small size, the City is an internationally renowned tourist destination and hosts thousands of visitors each and every day and night of the year. Moreover, due to its density and small geographic area, there is limited residential parking within the City, so the City Commission previously created residential parking permit areas (meant solely for the benefit of City residents who reside in such areas, and their occasional invitees). Presently, there are twenty (20) such residential parking permit zones in the City, but almost none of the residential parking permit zones are located in North Beach. Unfortunately, parking has become quite challenging for many North Beach residents, which has unduly restricted entry of North Beach residents to their homes.

Accordingly, I propose the creation of residential parking permit zones in North Beach, as a one (1) year Pilot Program, which will allow the City Commission to evaluate whether the implementation of residential parking zones mitigates the parking problems in the area. If approved, the proposed Ordinance creating residential parking permit zones in North Beach would automatically sunset after one (1) year.

As part of the discussion, I request that the Parking Department be prepared at Committee to provide input and recommendations concerning potential areas within North Beach that may benefit from being designated as residential parking permit zones, along with any issues or concerns relating to the creation of such zone(s).