Title
Discussion: Button Ordinance and Removal Plan Update.
Body
Background
At its April 12, 2016 meeting, the City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 2016-25, prohibiting buttons and other encroachments in the right-of-way without City approval, notifying the community to remove them within 90 days, and directing the City to remove any remaining buttons and other encroachments after the 90 day period. Residents have been notified since April of this year about the City’s new ordinance that prohibits the use of buttons, pyramids, reflectors and other permanent encroachments in the public right-of-way. The grace period for removing the buttons and other encroachments expired in July.
Staff observed a reasonable amount of compliance during the 90 day period, and addressed a significant number of resident phone calls and emails expressing concern about having to remove the buttons, and inquiring about alternative options for protecting the condition and aesthetics of their grass swale. Residents indicated two primary reasons for utilizing the buttons:
· To prevent vehicles parking on the swale
· To mitigate damage to the swale edge from vehicles going around other vehicles where stacking or queuing occurs at intersections.
Next Steps
The Commission’s authorization of alternative swale treatments at its July 26th meeting, which coincided with the ending of the 90 day grace period in July, has provided us the opportunity to offer landscaping options to residents experiencing excessive parking on their swales, in lieu of buttons or no parking signs. Landscaping 100% of the swale with City approved plant material in areas where grass is unable to grow (due either to excessive shade or parking) is the primary solution for preventing vehicles from parking on the swale. Staff recommends the following implementation plan for addressing future requests for buttons and removal of the remaining buttons in the public right of way:
· Incorporate requests for buttons int...
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