Flagler Beach holds paid-parking workshop; Passport presents app, merchants and resident-permit options

Flagler Beach — City commissioners on April 10 heard a Passport demonstration of mobile-based paid-parking tools and discussed options for resident permits, merchant validation and enforcement, but took no formal vote, saying the topic will return during strategic planning.

Passport regional director Alexandra Wells, who said she has worked with the company since 2013, told the commission the system is designed to boost turnover and “increased parking turnover and efficiency,” which she said typically helps merchants by freeing curb spaces for more customers. “There’s enough parking for everyone; it’s just a matter of being able to, you know, better organize what you have and allocate those spaces accordingly,” Wells said.

The presentation described features the company calls guest checkout (text- or QR-based short flows for visitors who do not want to download an app), resident permits that register license plates for a discounted rate, merchant validation codes to reimburse customer parking sessions, and printable passes for unplated vehicles such as golf carts. Wells said Passport’s app uses GPS zone checks and optional session reminders and that the company can supply signage “initially at no cost.”

Why this matters: Commissioners framed paid parking as a tool to manage visitors, address congestion and produce discretionary municipal revenue that could be reinvested in mobility and sanitation.…