SRIA eyes patron-only parking at Boardwalk
BY LISA NEWELL Gulf Breeze News lisa@gulfbreezenews.com

With parking at a premium in the boardwalk area, the members of the Santa Rosa Island Authority are considering making spaces available to patrons only. If approved, employees would be banned from parking between Key Sailing and Island Style.

However, board members couldn't agree on how to enact the proposition, and some questioned how to enforce the measure.

The issue will be further discussed at the next SRIA meeting on Wednesday, July 23.

In other action, SRIA:

Agreed to Sunset Holdings request to raise the daily fee for adult fishing on the Gulf Pier to $7.50 and raise walking rates by a quarter to $1.25. However, the annual pass rate will be rolled back $30 because the most recent increase didn't have SRIA approval.The pass will be in effect for a year from purchase.

Directed Executive Director Buck Lee to get three verbal bids to produce a conceptual drawing for retail space, restaurants, parking garages and a boardwalk on Pensacola Beach.

"We need to get a conceptual plan to market, educating the county commission, businesses, residents so everyone has a clear set of what direction we are trying to take," Chris Shearman said. He is volunteering to present with options to develop infrastructure in the core area.

Discussed protecting public property on Pensacola Beach in case fee simple title is granted. Lee said one way to protect public access is to deed the property to a non profit entity such as the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Allowed Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier to sublease to retail shop Go Fish

Approved a policy to reimburse some SRIA fees to non profit charitable organizations holding preapproved events.

Discussed the need for parking based on restaurant, bar and retail space, discovering that the Boardwalk has 231 more spaces than required and the Via De Luna shopping center is 125 spaces short.

Discussed the efforts by Escambia County deputies and private security to reduce incidents of crime on Pensacola Beach.