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Small businesses urge pause on Beaches Town Center rate increases as Atlantic Beach seeks more data
Summary
Retail owners and residents told the commission rising parking rates in Beaches Town Center are reducing visits and sales. City staff said negotiations with Neptune Beach and vendor data collection are ongoing and proposed a one‑year extension of the old 70% gross split while both cities analyze the impact.
Local business owners and residents pressed the Atlantic Beach City Commission on parking rates for Beaches Town Center during public comment on March 9, asking the city to pause further increases while more local data is gathered.
"The higher parking costs discourage them from visiting as often as they once did," Rachel Chrisman, who said she co‑owns a children’s boutique in Beaches Town Center, told the commission, citing sales declines and customer complaints that higher meter costs and a $60 fine for a few minutes over paid time push visitors away.
Multiple speakers and commissioners urged patience and data collection. City Manager Kevin Hogankamp told the commission that Neptune Beach is negotiating a new vendor arrangement and that Atlantic Beach must be consulted before Neptune Beach implements any peak‑hour rate changes. Hogankamp said the Neptune Beach vendor has added data and collections capabilities the city previously lacked and proposed staff seek a one‑year extension of the existing agreement (a 70% gross split to Atlantic Beach) to allow both cities time to build a local data record and analyze the program’s seasonality and merchant impacts.
Why it matters: commissioners noted the initial intent of paid parking was curb management, not primary revenue generation, and asked for a fee study and merchant input before adopting further increases. Commissioner Grant and others recommended holding the current pricing for at least a year to understand occupancy, peak times and business impacts.
What happens next: staff will continue negotiations with Neptune Beach, work with the vendor data, and provide additional information including the cost to withdraw from any interlocal or vendor agreement if Atlantic Beach seeks an independent program. The commission did not adopt a new rate at the March 9 meeting; it directed staff to return with further data and analysis, and to consult the city attorney on legal requirements for use of collected parking funds.
