SEBASTIAN — There should be fewer parking complaints related to City of Sebastian events. At the Aug. 26 regular meeting, the Sebastian City Council unanimously approved a parking use agreement with M. C. Miller Company Inc., located at 11640 US 1.
Following numerous phone calls and complaints received after the annual Sebastian 4th of July event, Councilmember Andrea Coy directed City Manager Al Minner to investigate the possibility of an agreement with Al Hilberts, president of M.C. Miller Company Inc. for parking at the company owned site, formerly the location of Wal-mart.
For the cost of $1, Sebastian will have access to free public parking during the Sebastian Clam Bake, the Holiday Parade, the Sebastian Fine Arts and Music Festival, the Pelican Island Wildlife Festival, and the 4h of July Celebration.
The agreement will be on an annual basis. The present agreement will ensure parking for the Clambake and Holiday Parade in 2009.
The Council must seek an additional agreement for parking for events in 2010. Sebastian must formally notify the company a month in advance of all events for scheduling. Sebastian must also accommodate M. C. Miller’s tenants, including local businesses Country Ham and Egg, Al’s Place, and Patty’s.
All Council members agreed to a proposal by Councilmember Eugene Wolf that a sign be prominently placed in the M.C. Miller Company parking area during City events thanking the company for use of the lot and asking the public to respect the company’s property. The sign will be a positive reminder of the company’s generosity and deter the setting off of fireworks or other types of vandalism in the lot during the city events.
City staff will investigate and report on whether additional insurance is required as a result of the agreement with M. C. Miller.
Additionally, City Manager Al Minner has not yet spoken to the owner of the southern portion of the parking lot, which is owned by another company, to determine if it can also be utilized for public parking during Sebastian events.
