John Forer, a consultant with Fishbeck, detailed the findings of a study begun in the previous year, highlighting both current issues and opportunities for improvement. The study involved stakeholder interviews, an open house, and an online survey, gathering insights from local business owners and residents. A key finding was a strong community preference against the reintroduction of parking meters, a sentiment echoed by both survey respondents and interviewees. The desire for increased parking availability while maintaining accessibility, especially for ADA requirements, was a recurring theme.

Forer’s analysis revealed that downtown DeFuniak Springs currently has adequate parking, with 63 on-street spaces and about 853 off-street spaces. However, certain high-demand “hot spots” experience over 90% occupancy during peak hours, such as lunch and in the evenings. The consultant noted that strategic planning and land use are important to accommodating potential future growth, particularly with the influx of new businesses that could strain existing parking resources.

The council then deliberated on potential enhancements to the parking system, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning. Suggestions included developing a municipal parking lot accessible to all and regularly measuring parking demand to inform long-term strategies. The idea of modifying existing parking layouts, such as shifting angled spaces to 90-degree configurations on Baldwin Street, was also proposed to maximize available space without significant reconstruction.

Further discussions highlighted the need for collaboration with private property owners and the potential use of recently acquired properties, like the Thriftway site, as additional parking solutions. The council also considered a new zoning policy to alleviate mandatory parking requirements for new developments, thus supporting economic growth while reducing congestion.

In addition to parking, the meeting addressed infrastructure improvements, particularly the need for better crosswalks and connectivity across Highway 90.

The council expressed a desire to establish a parking working group to facilitate communication between businesses and the city on parking-related matters. This group would be responsible for conducting regular parking occupancy counts and ensuring that parking management remains straightforward and adaptable to changing conditions.

Another topic was the connection of properties to the city’s sewer system. The council discussed a proposal allowing properties currently paying for sewer services, but not connected, to join the system without additional fees. However, property owners would still need to cover their own connection costs, which could be significant due to elevation challenges in certain areas. The council recognized the importance of identifying all affected properties to provide a comprehensive resolution to this issue.

The expansion of the city’s gas system was also a point of discussion, with residents facing high costs to connect to existing lines. The council considered the feasibility of a collective approach to sharing these costs, which could encourage more residents to join the system and enhance overall infrastructure efficiency.

Maintenance of the downtown area was another focal point, with concerns about cleanliness and upkeep in preparation for upcoming events. The council discussed the potential designation of downtown as a park area to streamline maintenance responsibilities and improve resource management. Community involvement was emphasized as important to maintaining an attractive and inviting downtown environment.