LONG BEACH – With hopes of creating clearer and more accommodating options for new developments, Long Beach Community Development Director Kaye Simonson presented several parking lot municipal code amendments to Long Beach city council members Monday evening.

Currently, Long Beach Municipal Code requires that off-street parking lots have one ingress and one egress to prevent “continuous unregulated entry or exit of parking lots,” each with a maximum width of 15 feet.

But with more businesses popping up with specific needs, Simonson reported that some parking lots require a wider entrance or exit for bigger vehicles, or have unique circumstances that do not allow room for a separate ingress and egress. To accommodate these differences, Simonson presented council members with proposed changes that would allow a two-way driveway no wider than 25 feet, unless an approving authority grants permission to extend it to 30-feet wide.

For separate ingresses and egresses, 15 feet would remain to be the maximum width unless given permission to increase the width to 20 feet. According to Simonson, permission would be granted as long as: a wider access point is necessary to safely accommodate the size of vehicles associated with the property or higher traffic volumes; the wider width would not unduly impact pedestrians; and the property is served by only one access point on each street frontage.

Council member Fred Cook asked Simonson which governing body, city council or the planning commission, would be responsible for granting permission to build wider parking lot ingresses and egresses. Simonson stated that anything larger than 6,000 square feet would need approval from the city.

With approval from the planning commission, Simonson recommended that city council approve the proposal and direct city staff to formally notify the state of Washington for a 60-day review period.

Mayor Ralph Moore opened the public hearing but no one asked to speak and the hearing was closed. Council approved the proposal.

City Administrator Gene Miles presented a resolution that defined fees for “way-finder signs.” Miles proposed that the cost of the design, construction and placement of the sign be recovered from the businesses that request the signs. A $40 fee would be charged for each sign for the first year with an additional $25 fee charged each following year for maintenance. Miles noted that the fees are subject to change if laborers’ salaries or material prices increase. Council approved the proposed fees.

Council approved the purchase of a new photocopier for the Long Beach Police Department.

Also on the agenda was a briefing by Cook regarding the Visitor’s Bureau and media issues, but Cook reported that the briefing would take place during an October meeting.

In council reports, Cook reported progress on the Gateway Beautification Project and praised last Friday’s boat tour.

“The boat tour was pretty neat, I have to say that it was as good – if not better – than what has been provided on other tours I have been on. It’s unique … fun and interesting,” Cook noted.

Cook also announced that lodging occupancy rates were at 68 percent in July, the highest rate in July since 2003.

Council member Betty Ahern reported progress on the addition of a crab woodcarving and said the boat trip was “fabulous and enjoyable.”

Doggy Olympics planned for June 2008At the Sept. 4 Long Beach City Council meeting, Doggy Olympic Games Chairperson Jill Gray thanked the city of Long Beach and the general public for their support at the first annual Doggy Olympic Games on June 23. Gray created an informational review of the event and said that 223 entrants made up the 13 categories in the event and 59 percent of the entrants were not from the Peninsula.

“You did an excellent job, you put in all the homework that made this the success it was,” praised Cook.

Moore added that the event’s committee should keep in touch with the council and the finance director, so that they could be included in the city’s budget next year. The second annual Doggy Olympic Games is scheduled for June 21, 2008.

Seaview resident doesn’t want annexationDuring public comment, part-time Seaview resident Sally Filler urged council to deny the Seaview annexation proposal. Fearful of increased noise and traffic in her area, Filler said Seaview residents have worked hard to restore their cottages and preserve the town’s history.

“We like the way things are, we want to be unique,” said Filler.

Moore thanked her for her input and said that although the annexation proposal is moving forward in review, he does not know what the outcome will be said it will probably be a while before things are decided.

In council reports, Cook expressed safety concerns regarding the boardwalk’s Discovery Trail underpass, which has some tight turns, a low clearance and is somewhat difficult to see over the neighboring dune grass. He suggested that the grass be cut or mowed down so that people on bicycles can see the underpass from farther away. Council member Gordon Zuern agreed, stating that it’s about time to mow the area anyway.

Council member Betty Ahern reported that the 5th Street restroom facilities are being repaired and search continues for playground equipment funding.

In his report, City Administrator Gene Miles announced he now has a blog for people to read on the city of Long Beach Web site.

Finance Director David Glasson reported that lodging and sales tax revenue is currently at an increase, but is expected to significantly drop when the Wyndham (Trendwest) development is completed.

With a higher influx of calls coming into city hall each day, Glasson said he found a company that could sell them a newer, digital phone system that would provide eight replacement phones, more extensions and caller ID for $500 if the city sent them a letter for a $1,000 donation. According to Glasson, the replacement phones are worth $100 each, so the $500 total cost is a good deal. Miles added that the caller ID feature would make for better customer service, especially in instances where calls are lost.

Glasson also informed council that funding is available if the city would like to invest in an emergency vertical evacuation structure. Designed for tsunami evacuations, the 60-foot-tall structure would feature outdoor stairwells and hold up to 500 people.

Long Beach Police Chief Flint Wright reported that in addition to the assistance from Washington State Patrol and the county, 20 additional officers were hired to patrol the Peninsula during the Rod Run weekend.

In his mayor’s report, Moore said last month’s Kite Festival was a success and that Gary Luethe was appointed to the civil service board.