REHOBOTH BEACH — The Board of Commissioners agreed in a special meeting Jan. 9 to move ahead with several “immediate focus” recommendations given by the Rossi Group as part of its preliminary traffic and parking study presented to the board last month.

The Rossi Group is expected to make its final suggestions to commissioners in the spring. While its initial report in December focused on several items deemed to be relatively easy to achieve, the final report will detail projects that may require additional conversation, policy changes or longer-term implementation.

Among the recommendations on which the city will begin before the summer season are a pedestrian pilot program on King Charles Avenue, more clearly identifying 30-minute parking spaces, the installation of “Walk Your Wheels” markings on sidewalks and the use of additional “Yield to Pedestrians” signage.

To address requests for crosswalks and concerns related to speeding and sightlines, the city will use temporary materials, such as paint and bollards, to install curb bump-outs at King Charles and New Castle Street and temporary crosswalks with relief islands in the middle at King Charles and Stockley Street.

In addition, the city will mark parallel parking spaces between Stockley and New Castle streets, to test out whether striping improves parking capacity. This pilot program will be assessed during the summer.

The city also will install “State Law — Yield to Pedestrians” signs on both the east- and westbound signal masts at Rehoboth Avenue and First and Second streets.

To better identify 30-minute parking, the city will add “30-Minute Parking” stencils and colored stripes at the entrances to such spots.

And, to enhance pedestrian safety, the city will put up “Walk Your Wheels” markings on sidewalks throughout the downtown commercial area.

In addition, the city will request that the Delaware Department of Transportation undertake a signal-timing and leading pedestrian indicator study at Rehoboth Avenue and First and Second streets during the coming season.

Rehoboth Beach leaders will continue to implement a plan to meet standards for accessible parking spaces and trim or replace plantings along Rehoboth Avenue to enhance sightlines, as well.

All these recommendations, said interim city manager Evan Miller, can be implemented utilizing the current staffing and budget.

Commissioners also have discussed several other changes to parking for the coming season and are expected to vote on these at upcoming meetings. Among these changes are:

• Transition parking at Deauville Beach to a metered parking zone and set the price at $3/hour to match the rest of the city. Parking permits would no longer be accepted at Deauville Beach. “This change,” said Mr. Miller, “provides for a more efficient system that allows us to utilize the technology we’ve invested in. It will allow us to enforce parking in the same manner that we do in other areas of the city.”
• Eliminate the need for those seeking a scooter parking permit to complete an application.
• Provide a single daily parking permit rather than a different permit for weekdays and weekends. The cost of this permit for 2024 is proposed to be $20.
• Add the prohibition of parking on the median along Scarborough Avenue to the city’s code and consider making the area a tow zone.
• Increase the fine amount for parallel parking violations from $15 to $50.
• Authorize a one-time adjustment to certain overtime parking violations, when wrong license plate or vehicle information has been entered, from $30 to $15 if paid within a seven-day period.

This year, commissioners also anticipate a comprehensive review of parking season dates and rates, once the traffic and parking study is completed and in preparation for summer 2025.