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Commissioners debate paid parking on Reed Avenue as a revenue and parking-management option
Summary
Commissioners discussed a paid-parking plan for Reed Avenue to manage tourist parking and raise funds for downtown improvements; staff recommended workshops and business surveys before any implementation.
Port St. Joe commissioners and staff spent substantial time discussing a downtown paid-parking proposal focused on Reed Avenue and surrounding side streets.
One commissioner reported meeting with local business leaders and the chamber to survey interest and proposed using a mobile payment platform (for example, ParkMobile) to operate paid parking for visitors while exempting local business owners or residents. The plan under discussion would create a downtown parking district covering Reed Avenue to 5th Street with roughly 220 on-street spaces, leave parking lots open and use revenue for downtown improvements and added off-street parking.
Officials emphasized that merchant buy-in is essential; several commissioners recommended a public workshop to present options, gather resident input and assess exemptions for locals and handicapped spaces. Commissioners also discussed timing relative to upcoming tourism growth and a proposed hotel development on Highway 98 that would shift parking demands.
No formal action was taken; commissioners agreed to schedule a workshop and to gather more data, including merchant surveys and a financial model showing how revenues would be used for downtown improvements and parking management.
