Parking Ordinance Advisory Committee Meets

The first meeting of the Apopka Parking Ordinance Advisory Committee was held last Monday at the Leroy F. Gilliam Training Center. The committee is chaired by Apopka Police Chief Michael McKinley and Captain Randy Fernandez.

The other members of the committee are:

• Jackie Sandler - Pines of Wekiva
• Dan Burrington - Piedmont Lakes
• Steve Coleman - Lake Todd Estates
• Gudrun “Goddy” Davis - Errol Estate
• Misha Corbett - Dream Lake Estates
• Mike Files - Rock Springs Ridge
• Marvin Guttman - Rock Springs Ridge

Chief McKinley opened the meeting by laying out the following criteria for any parking ordinance:

1. Public Safety is paramount. Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services vehicles must be able to travel freely on the streets of Apopka.
2. Other government services cannot be hampered. This would include garbage and recycling vehicles as well as mail delivery.

McKinley then laid out the schedule and timeline for the committee. The committee will meet bi-weekly. McKinley stated that he hoped the committee could conclude its work within 90 days. McKinley also said that he did not want to rush the committee's afforests to reach a solution that would work in the long term. "We do not want to be doing this again two years from now," McKinley said.

The members of the committee then shared their thoughts.

Some committee members thought that on-street parking was necessary because the driveways in many older subdivisions were not long enough for the number of cars in each family. Other members felt the problem was people using their garages to store "treasures" rather than automobiles. Mike Files stated, "I don't understand why you should be allowed to park in the street at all."

Another observation was that the current ordinance did not allow for any service vehicle, such as lawn maintenance contractors, to ever park on the street.

And, in at lease one subdivision, there are residents who immediately call and complain when they see a car parked on the street.

The committee members all agreed to study the parking ordinances of other cities in Central Florida and report back at the next meeting.

The next meeting of the Apopka Parking Ordinance Advisory Committee will be at 6:00 PM on August 1st in the City Council Chamber at Apopka City Hall. The public will be allowed to provide input at this meeting.