Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/129431
Sarasota News Leader May 10, 2013 Page 100 Siesta Seen some pictures he had taken for "old cases" yards, because ambulances and fire trucks need to be able to get down those streets." related to parking complaints. Island resident Katherine Zimmerman objected to Lally's parking garage suggestion. "There's enough problems out here with drinking and driving," she said. "What we don't need is a big restaurant with a view" to entice more The fact of the matter is that more and more people onto the island, she added. people are coming to the island every year, he added. "We either need to quit spending Another audience member suggested a shuttle millions of dollars … getting people to come to the key from the mainland would amelioout here or we need to get some [additional] rate the parking situation. "A reliable shuttle," the woman pointed out. parking." "The situation out here — it's not getting any better," he noted. "And every season, it's going to get worse. Every holiday, it's going to get worse." Lally also talked about what he described as "controlled parking," with residents selling spaces in their driveways and yards; and "uncontrolled parking," such as the situation that has become the norm on Avenida de Mayo just on the outskirts of Siesta Village. "The main focus is how to solve the parking problem," Luckner responded. However, he pointed out, on a recent day, with people having parked on both sides of Avenida de Mayo, it would have been impossible to navigate a fire truck along that residential street. "It never would have happened," he stressed, reiterating a concern that Avenida de Mayo residents made during an appearance at the April 4 SKA meeting. Then Commissioners Paul Mercier and Shannon Staub joined Patterson in supporting the measure, but Staub ultimately changed her mind. That resulted in a subsequent board vote to withdraw authorization for county staff to seek a request for proposals for the program. "Why don't people pay to park here?" Zimmerman asked. Commissioner Nora Patterson — who arrived after the discussion — reminded me the next "Is it right that [homeowners are] charging day that she was one of three county commisfor parking? No," Lally said. "It's not right. It's sioners in May 2008 who voted for a pilot paid against the [county] ordinance." parking program at all the county's beaches. Commissioners Joe Barbetta and Jon Thaxton That type of parking is uncontrolled, Lally had voiced adamant opposition to the suggesadded. "I'd rather have [vehicles] up in the tion that people pay to park at the beaches.