Augusta leaders push for solutions to downtown parking problems

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Downtown parking was a big topic Tuesday when Augusta Commission met at the committee level.

The discussion of downtown Transportation Investment Act Improvements on Broad Street was requested by Commissioner Jordan Johnson, who told traffic engineering chief John Ussery he was “looking forward to the progress check.”

The transportation engineering staff told commissioners:

• There are 760 total parking spots on the surface street, including the recessed parking wells. The number would be about 620 if they were made standard.
• Most, if not all surface street parking stalls are substandard, causing, among other issues, crooked parking.
• Ussery says the current parking spaces are too narrow, based on current vehicle sizes. He gave a presentation demonstrating that vehicles have gotten larger since the 1990s.
• Construction plans show 590 street-level parking spaces.
• There are underutilized spots downtown in four available parking decks, including one that on a recent check only had 15% of spaces used and another that was only 31% full.

Johnson said city leaders must be mindful of downtown businesses that are struggling with parking deficiencies.

He asked city engineering chief Hameed Malik what can be done to speed up the work on Broad Street, but didn’t get a clear answer.

City leaders decided they’d discuss the matter further at the last commission meeting in May.

In other matters, commissioners:

• Agreed to launch an opioid advisory committee tasked with addressing the opioid crisis in the community and make recommendations for distribution of opioid settlement funds.
• Discussed the policy for neighbors to request a speed bump, and decided to look at amending the petition process.
• Consented to approve a bid for the purchase of one vacuum truck and full four-year maintenance at a total cost of $542,823 and the lease of two vacuum trucks for $1 million.
• Consented to purchase three enclosed utility-style service trucks at a total cost of $402,291 for the utilities department.

Commissioners also discussed the fate of one downtown business’s alcohol license.

Tiffany’s Eatery on Broad Street has come under fire from the sheriff’s office for allegations that it operates more like an unauthorized nightclub than a restaurant.

They also cited fights happening outside the businesses, as well as multiple ordinance violations like serving alcohol past curfew.

The business owner argued that these issues only began earlier this year when its weekend hours were extended. Sheriff Eugene Brantley argues the issues go far beyond that.

“Tiffany’s is consistently operating outside the parameters of a restaurant and has instead functioned as a nightclub, charging cover fees, allowing widespread smoking indoors, operating dancefloors without permits and serving alcohol well past allowable hours,” said Brantley.

Commissioners motioned to discuss this further in next week’s full commission meeting.

Commissioner Catherine Smith-Rice says she will make a motion to go with the sheriff’s office’s recommendation of suspending the business’s alcohol and restaurant license.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners motioned to approve Operation City Clean-Up.

This will be a group that will help keep the county’s public spaces and roadways clean.

As you’ve seen, Augusta has a problem with handling overgrown spaces and keeping public areas tidy.

Now, people who are sentenced to community service will be part of the group helping keep these spaces clean.

Mayor Johnson says you’ll see this group every Saturday once it gets up and running.

This will be discussed further during next week’s commission meeting as well.

To close the meeting, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson led a moment of silence for Deputy Sikes and White.

“Before we adjourn this session, ladies and gentlemen, I would ask us to observe a moment of silence as you know our neighbors in Columbia County have two deputies who were met with tragedy. One is fighting for his life, and one is planning a service for this Monday, so if you don’t mind ing us in a moment of silence for our neighbors in Columbia County,” said Johnson.

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