Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation Parks Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission amends recreation and parking fees: higher hourly beach rate, lower boat-ramp annual fee, new veteran pass
Summary
The City Commission voted 4'to—2 on July 15 to update Recreation & Parks fees: increase hourly oceanfront parking to $3.50, create a $50 military veteran annual pass, reduce the annual boat-ramp pass from $200 to $100 and raise a nonresident annual beach pass to $250. The commission also kept a two-hour minimum beach parking session.
The City Commission on July 15 approved changes to Recreation & Parks user fees, adjusting hourly parking rates, annual permits and boat-ramp pricing.
Key changes approved: The commission approved increasing the hourly oceanfront parking rate from $2.50 to $3.50 and retained a two-hour minimum stay at the oceanfront lot. Staff also recommended and the commission approved a $50 annual pass category for military veterans, and a reduced annual resident boat-ramp pass from $200 to $100; the nonresident annual beach pass was raised to $250.
Staff rationale and data: Ted Lushach, compliance manager for parking services, said the city's current citation and parking rates were last raised in recent years and that fee changes reflect regional comparisons for boat ramps and aim to manage demand at Oceanfront Park. Lushach also noted most annual permits sold are to seniors and urged better promotion to increase resident uptake.
Public and commissioner concerns: Commissioners discussed supply of parking spaces at Oceanfront Park (staff reported about 258 spaces) and requested that staff pilot a portion of spaces reserved for annual pass-holders near the lot entrance. Commissioner Turkin, who moved the fee resolution, said he supported returning boat-ramp fees to pre-pandemic levels. Commissioners asked staff to pilot designated pass-holder spaces to help frequent users find parking and to monitor impacts on revenue and access.
Vote and next steps: Commissioner Turkin moved approval; Vice Mayor Hay seconded. The motion passed 4'1. The commission asked staff to study and report back on pass-holder parking allocation and to monitor utilization and revenue effects.
What it does and does not change: The fee changes apply to the city's Recreation & Parks fee schedule; they do not change underlying parking regulations beyond the retained two-hour minimum. Staff said disabled parking and state-defined exemptions (for example, disabled veterans parking privileges) remain in effect per state law.
