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Commission gives consensus to advance Pay‑to‑Park pilot at three beach parks; staff to finalize contract and outreach plan
Summary
After staff outlined options and revenue estimates, commissioners agreed by consensus to finalize a Pay‑to‑Park pilot covering three parks with pay‑by‑hour/day and an optional annual permit; staff will complete the contract with PCI Municipal Services and develop a communications and operations plan including kiosks and enforcement.
The Fort Pierce City Commission gave staff a consensus direction to finalize a Pay‑to‑Park pilot for three city parks with a private vendor and to return with contract documents, an education plan and operational details.
Parks staff and PCI Municipal Services presented options and estimated revenues. Staff explained an earlier request by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and county staff: federal beach‑renourishment agreements require parking be provided on equitable terms at Jetty Park, which constrains resident‑only permit programs at that specific site. Staff therefore presented two main options: (1) a two‑park pilot (South Causeway and JC Park) allowing free resident permits and pay‑to‑park for others, or (2) a three‑park pilot (South Causeway, JC Park and Jetty Park) that treats all users equally and includes an annual permit option for anyone who wishes to purchase one.
PCI presented estimated gross and net revenues for the options. Staff estimated that a two‑park pilot with free city resident permits would generate roughly $475,000 in gross income with approximately $166,000 net to the city after vendor and program fees (staff noted a projected shortfall versus current maintenance costs). The three‑park option with an annual permit for all produced higher estimates: roughly $900,000 gross and about $281,600 net to the city after vendor fees; staff compared those figures against current park maintenance costs of roughly $300,000 annually. PCI described an education plan with social media, kiosks, warnings and outreach; staff reported limited interest among nearby businesses for a validation program.
Commissioners discussed resident access, impacts on restaurants and turnover, pavilion/event handling, boat trailers and enforcement. Staff noted kiosks and license‑plate enforcement would be used, and permit holders’ plates would be registered in the system. The commission supported proceeding with a pilot that includes hourly and daily pay‑by‑phone options and an annual permit option; staff were directed to finalize the contract with PCI, incorporate enforcement and kiosk plans, prepare communications and present the final contract and fee resolution for formal approval.
