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Saturday, June 14, 2014

Increased Parking & Beach Access


Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter

Rich Civic Times 

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  June 12, 2014.  The studies and drawings for expanded beach access and parking have been completed by JUB Engineering.  With the widening of 75 North, 150 North and 350 North there will be an increase of 300 parking places for people wanting to use the beach.  The parking places will be striped at 45 degree angles and there will be trees along the roadway and walkways for beautification.
350 South has room for significant parking. There will be 42 parking spots to where the walkway will hook onto the boardwalk into the beach. The property is owned by Gloyd Sprouse but the city has an easement for a walkway.
The City plans to start building the parking and turn-arounds on 75 North and 350 North in the next thirty days.  The road improvements will go to bid on July 1.  It will take $500,000.  Over half of that money will be used to improve 150 North.  This makes access to beach convenient and easier.  For less disruption, 150 North will be worked on after labor day.
The city is considering buying two used buses to have them running through the city in the summer on weekends to shuttle people to the beach and to the downtown. City Councilman Bruce Warner does not want to add anything to the sales tax to run it but wants to run it out of the existing budget.  Mayor John  Spuhler suggested that it might have a fee for use, but others countered that the city wants the bus to encourage visitors to use it to do more shopping in town. Warner said, “we are taking on a new continuing expense we should be able to pay for it out of existing funds.”  Sphuler said the visitors will use it the most and the visitors increase sales tax.  The sales tax passes the cost to the visitors, but Warner said it affects our citizens here too.  Spuhler said that every time the city gives visitors something to do it causes an increase the sales tax.
The tourist kiosk is being finished.  Power will be there this week with the signs and maps coming in the next week. The kiosk will have the interactive computer installed soon.
The jetty boat launch idea is getting a lot of support.  Mayor Spuhler said he will be meeting on July 12 with several legislators to get support for the state to build and own it.  It would be a resource for Rendezvous Beach.   The Director of Wildlife Resources said he liked the idea because it creates a fish structure as well as providing a launch.

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