Council directs staff to target public-parking areas and safety fixes along Highway 98

Council and residents spent a substantial portion of the meeting discussing parking and pedestrian safety along Highway 98 and at major beach access points. Council emphasized public safety as the primary driver: limiting parking in DOT right-of-way where it creates sight-line problems, designating public parking areas (Parker Park, 37th Street lot, 14th Street, Canal Parkway) with signage, and educating visitors on where to park. Lieutenant Marty and other staff are engaged in conversations with businesses such as Beach Bear, which currently relies on state right-of-way parking, about potential diagonal parking and other mitigations. Resident Carrie Reschly said she had video of a near-accident and argued the problem had intensified during spring break.

Council discussed grant and planning options to address systemic issues. Staff highlighted the federal DOT SS4A (Safe Streets for All) planning program as an opportunity to fund a planning-and-demonstration study that can be turned into shelf-ready projects for DOT or other grant programs. Councilors directed the city administrator and public works to identify several public parking locations, begin a public-information campaign and pursue short-term safety measures (signage and possible diagonal parking trials) in locations with the worst line-of-sight issues.