Ok Guys, I made the front cover page of News-Journal... I went over my neighbors house and they said you made the COVER of the News-Journal!!! and gave me a copy... New Smyrna may charge at beach parks, not boat ramps By Richard Conn richard.conn@news-jrnl Published: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 9:13 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 10:19 p.m. NEW SMYRNA BEACH — City leaders are moving forward with a plan to charge for parking at four beachfront parks, but won’t look to install pay kiosks at boat launches. That was the consensus during a special City Commission workshop Tuesday, one that was packed with local boaters who were mostly against a potential $10 charge for vehicles pulling boat trailers to use the boat ramp on the North Causeway or the launch under construction at the former W.E. Swoope Power plant site on North Dixie Freeway. City staff had presented commissioners with revenue projections that showed the city could bring in $790,000 within five years by charging $10 at the boat launches. The money would have been used solely for the operation and maintenance of those sites. Sam Florio, a New Smyrna Beach resident who formed a fishing club, said that would be too much for local fishermen, some who use the causeway boat ramp several times a week. “It would make somebody pay $50 a week, $200 a month that would force them to go to a closer nearby community where they could launch for free,” he said. However, Mayor Adam Barringer said he doesn’t want to charge that much for local residents to use the boat ramps. “I’m not a proponent for charging ten bucks day and I’m not a proponent for charging a $10 a day for our residents who already pay taxes,” he said. Commissioner Judy Reiker suggested the commission put any discussion of fees at the boat launches “on the backburner,” which elicited applause from the audience. Page 2 of 2 While no official decision has been made, commissioners seem on board with a plan to charge $5, potentially from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to park at the Flagler Avenue Boardwalk, 27th Avenue, Esther Street and North Beach parks. It’s a fee that city officials say is needed to cover operation and maintenance expenses at those facilities. The city would look to hire two part-time employees for enforcement and the revenue generated could pay for their salaries and also be used to buy more parking spaces. The city would offer an annual parking pass for New Smyrna Beach residents, which could cost between $10 to $15. Realizing the $5 fee could drive some to park in surrounding neighborhoods, city officials will establish a “pilot” no-parking zone along Florida Avenue, from Pine Street to Atlantic Avenue. City officials initially considered limiting parking along Flagler Avenue to two hours, but are leaning toward extending that time limit after hearing from business owners. “Two hours is not enough time to do it,” Adele Aletti, president of the Merchants of Flagler Avenue, told commissioners. “ I think we’ve got to go with three or four hours for parking for customers.” An ordinance establishing the rules for the city’s new parking system could be considered by the commission Dec. 10. City officials would hope to have pay kiosks installed at the beachfront parks by April or May. news-journalonline/article/20131119/NEWS/131119389/0/API?Title=New-Smyrna-may-charge-at-beach-parks-not-boat-ramps-
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 22:55:37 +0000
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