Atlantic City council approves higher parking rates for beach blocks and meters

Atlantic City’s City Council voted to raise certain on‑street parking rates and beach‑block meter fees, approving an ordinance that increases standard on‑street meter rates from $1 to $1.50 per hour and raises fees in designated beach blocks from $2 to $2.50 per hour.

The measure, introduced as an amendment to chapter 243‑83 (ordinance 6e), passed on a 6‑2 roll call after a brief debate over potential effects on foot traffic and local businesses.

The ordinance matters because it changes the city’s parking pricing across high‑demand waterfront areas and will affect daily visitors, beachgoers and local merchants who rely on boardwalk foot traffic. City staff said the change brings Atlantic City’s rates closer to comparable shore communities while remaining below some private parking providers.

City officials and council members discussed the scope and mechanics of the change before the vote. Director Finch described the proposal as “taking the existing kiosks and increasing from a dollar to a dollar 50 or $2 to $2.50” and said one additional street near the Golden Nugget (Huron) would be included. A council member asked whether the city retained the full increase; Finch said the city’s share percentage would remain unchanged at roughly 2 percent.

Opponents warned the hike could deter casual boardwalk visits. One council member who voted against the measure said she was “reluctant to do anything to deter any way foot traffic” and noted the broader dynamics of online gambling and visitor trends in Atlantic City. Another dissenting vote cited similar concerns about discouraging local shoppers.

Supporters said modest, targeted increases were appropriate in high‑demand beach blocks and pointed to parity with private parking rates in some areas. Council members also asked administration staff to review private lot pricing before second reading so the council could compare municipal and private rates.

The ordinance passed with Councilmen Kurtz and Tibbitt recorded as the two no votes and six other members in the affirmative. The change will take effect according to the timeline set in the ordinance and after any required second reading steps; the ordinance was amended on first reading as Ordinance 6e and advanced by vote.

Implementation details recorded during the meeting: the rates to change from $1 → $1.50 per hour (standard on‑street) and $2 → $2.50 per hour (selected beach blocks); the city’s revenue share percentage was described as remaining at about 2 percent; one additional street (Huron by the Golden Nugget) was added to the zones covered. The administration said it would report back with comparative private‑lot pricing ahead of the ordinance's next hearing.

Council action: motion and second were recorded, and the ordinance passed 6‑2 on the roll call.

Less urgent background: the rate update came after a revenue and finance committee discussion that also covered acceptance of an opioid trust settlement grant and other fee adjustments; council members asked the administration to ensure the increases do not unintentionally depress boardwalk foot traffic.