Memorandum 16-056 Long Term Boat Trailer Parking

Memorandum 16-056

TO:                       MAYOR BETH WYTHE & HOMER CITY COUNCIL

FROM:                  BRYAN HAWKINS, PORT DIRECTOR/HARBORMASTER

DATE:                   MARCH 22, 2016

SUBJECT:           NEW LONG-TERM BOAT TRAILER PARKING PLAN, IMPLEMENTATION, & FEES

Background

The Port and Harbor Advisory Commission and Harbor Staff have been discussing Spit parking and focusing on the more chronic enforcement issues, which are the over-parked (more than seven days) vehicles and boat trailers.

At their regular meeting on January 27, 2016, the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission stated no objection to the proposed 2016 efforts.  Harbormaster Hawkins explained his recommendation for trailer parking for this year:

Step up efforts to have better signage and enforcement of current code.
Implement a long term boat trailer-only parking plan and fee structure for the Spit with a monthly rate in a designated area.
Purchase wheel boots to impound vehicles or trailers in place.

Staff has worked to amend the Port and Harbor Tariff to further define our goals, with respect to existing parking rules, and to implement a long term parking fee program for boat trailers on the Spit.  The Tariff also needed to be amended to give definition as to what must happen after a vehicle or trailer is parked for seven continuous days on the Spit; they must be removed from the facility for 24 hours before being eligible for additional days of free parking.

Current tariff rules state that a $25.00 fine can be issued for each day a vehicle is in violation of posted parking rules, and it was agreed that staff would STEP UP efforts to enforce this rule.  Staff has evaluated the existing signage in the parking areas and determined that additional roadside signage is needed to help notify harbor users of the parking rules, ensuring the seven-day free time parking rules are clearly defined.  Staff also determined that it has become necessary to be able to impound vehicles and/or boat trailers in-place, and will also need to purchase enforcement wheel boots for this purpose.

Recommendation

Approve Ordinance 16-15 amending the FY 2016 Operating Budget by appropriating $9,000 from Port and Harbor Reserves for Homer Spit parking signage and long term boat trailer parking enforcement improvements; Resolution 16-033 amending the Port of Homer Terminal Tariff No. 600 to include long term boat trailer parking fees; and Resolution 16-032 amending the City of Homer Fee Schedule to include long term boat trailer parking fees.