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Atlantic Beach raises Beaches Town Center parking rate; commission asks staff to examine vendor options
Summary
The commission approved a change to Beaches Town Center paid parking: from $1 per 30 minutes to $2.50 per hour and four hours free for registered Atlantic Beach residents, and asked staff to study whether the city should administer paid parking rather than rely on interlocal arrangements with Neptune Beach.
On Jan. 12 the Atlantic Beach City Commission voted to increase paid parking rates in the Beaches Town Center from $1 for 30 minutes to $2.50 per hour and to allow Atlantic Beach residents who register to park free for up to four hours.
City Manager Kevin Hogancamp asked the body to authorize the change while staff negotiates an updated interlocal agreement with Neptune Beach and evaluates vendor proposals. "My request of the city commission today is to permit me by virtue of your vote to modify the Beaches Town Center paid parking rate from $1 for each 30 minutes to $2.50 an hour and to allow free parking for up to 4 hours instead of 3 for Atlantic Beach residents who've registered for the paid parking," Hogancamp said.
Commissioners pressed staff on the cost and feasibility of the city administering its own paid-parking program. Police Chief Vigilia said the city is negotiating with T2 (the vendor used by Neptune Beach) to manage resident lists and meter collections and that enforcement and people-hours are the largest operational expense. The chief also noted the city recently started using a collections vendor for outstanding fines and is beginning to see some recovery.
Opponents warned that higher town-center rates could shift parking patterns and affect merchant turnover. Commissioner Kelly voted against the fee increase, citing concerns about impacts to merchants and turnover; the motion passed 4-1.
Staff will return with a draft ordinance and the updated interlocal agreement with Neptune Beach for final action, and the city manager said staff will include cost modeling and vendor terms for commission review.
