By WILLARD KILLOUGH III
Managing Editor
CAROLINA BEACH - The Carolina Beach Town Council approved a plan at their February 9th meeting to install parking meters at on-street parking spaces on Lake Park Blvd from Harper Avenue south to Fayetteville Avenue and in the 200 block of Cape Fear Blvd.
Town Manager Michael Cramer explained in a memo to the Council last week, "Last year the town added 25 parking meters on the 100 block of Cape Fear Blvd in order to help regulate the all day use of parking spaces and to encourage turnover for the businesses in that block. This program was very successful and we would like to expand the program to other areas this year. The current proposal would place 115 parking meters along Lake Park Blvd from Harper Ave to Fayetteville Ave and in the 200 block of Cape Fear Blvd. Using the same return on investment calculations used for the 100 block of Cape Fear we expect that these meters will pay for themselves in one season and help discourage all day beach visitors from parking in these locations."
The proposal from the Town's parking management contractor - SP Plus Corporation - says the cost for 119 new parking meters will be $93,958.
They estimate $144,223 in annual revenues from the placement of 115 new meters on Cape Fear Blvd and Lake Park Blvd from Harper Avenue south to Fayetteville Avenue and say the meters will pay for themselves during the first season of use. Last month the Town mailed notices to business owners in the affected area informing them of two meetings scheduled for Thursday February 4th at Town Hall to hear their input on how installing meters will impact their businesses. In 2014, paid parking revenues totaled $573,036.92. In 2015, those revenues increased to $674,338.38.
Cramer explained last week the parking management company is paid $28,992 per year plus 15% on any increased revenue over previous year.
He explained, "Last year we increased our revenue over 2013 by $254,768.32. We paid SP Plus $28,992 (Management Fee) and approximately $38,000 in a revenue bonus for a total of $66,992. They have not requested the revenue bonus from this past year so I don’t have those figures."
Danny McLaughlin owns the Fat Pelican Bar on Lake Park Blvd where meters are proposed for installation. Right now the spaces are time limited.
McLaughlin said Tuesday he was told by someone with SP Plus they had complaints of people parking long term in the time limited spaces in that area. He said, "Is this just a money grab or is it costing the public because they're not doing their job by enforcing two hour parking to begin with. They will be getting an increase in their revenue at the expense of small business owners."
McLaughlin spoke of the neighboring coffee shop as an example saying, "It may put the coffee shop out of business by inconveniencing their customers" because when they are in a hurry to get a cup of coffee, they won't make a quick stop at the shop because of the meters.
Meters are $1.50 an hour . You may use nickels, dimes, and quarters to purchase time in 2, 4, and 10 minute increments. Visa, Master Card and American Express may be used as well to purchase time in 20 minute increments with an hour minimum. Residents who purchase a Vehicle Identification Decal each year for $5 receive a Parking Decal that permits them to park in any meter parking space or Town parking lot for free. Non-residents can purchase the parking decals for $50. Meters are enforced from 7AM to 7PM April 1st to October 30th.
During the February 9th, meeting Cramer said the issue is parking turnover and the Town wants to discourage people from parking in those areas all day long and going to be beach because it makes it hard for customers of businesses to find readily available spaces in front of a business.
He explained, "What we've noticed over the last year with the spaces and meters on Cape Fear in the 100 block is that more and more people are staying longer durations in these high turnover parking spaces just because they are free and they are time limited. The difficulty for parking operations and enforcing a time limited space is that it's very labor intensive unlike a meter where you can literally drive by it and see if flashing and saying it's out of order or it's time is expired. You have to chalk tires with a time limited space and make sure you get back to that space and quite often what you find is that car has moved two spots down and you can no longer see the mark you placed on the tire."
Cramer said Havanna's Restaurant called at the end of the last season to ask if parking meters could be installed because many of the spaces were occupied by people parking long term throughout the day.
He said after speaking with area businesses, "We got mixed reviews" with some business owners concerned that installing meters will drive people to park in their parking lots rather than feed a meter.
He said those owners could install signs and have vehicles towed from their property.
Cramer said six businesses and a couple of residents attended the public meetings held last week at Town Hall and, "For the most part the questions we received were more related to how we are going to manage this and roll it out." He said, "In general we received either strong support or what I will call mild support. A little bit of concern, a little bit of trepidation but willing to try it. We did receive a couple of businesses that were adamantly opposed to meters... primarily because they were afraid of having more of their individuals who come in and go out quickly having to pay for parking especially if they are not going to use it."
Cramer said, "If our parking meters are a $1.50 per hour and someone goes in and wants to get a cup of coffee.... for 20 minutes, then they can put in a smaller" amount for 10 or 20 minutes and not paying for additional time they will not use. Or, they will pay the full rate and leave time on the meter for the next customer.
He said, "The businesses generally seem to be accepting the idea and our recommendation is to move forward with the purchasing of the 119 meters and have them installed by" April 1st.
Council member Leann Pierce said, "Personally if it was my business I would want to turnover that parking and then I heard some people say 'my employees park there' and that's kind of part of the problem" and they can get a sticker and park in a Town parking lot.
Cramer said employers can purchase parking decals for their non-resident employees for $50 each and park in parking lots.
26 businesses will be affected and six attended the February 4th meetings.
Pierce said, "I think most locals may not care one way or another... most people have a parking sticker. As long as they can park in those spots I think it will turnover the tourist more that are going down to the beach."
Mayor Dan Wilcox said, "Carolina Beach is unique. We still have some non-metered spots. Pretty much every place I go whether it's Wilmington, Wrightsville or Raleigh... if I pull up in front of a shop there's a meter there and I have to pay it. I know we've enjoyed not having that."
He said, "I can't understand the down side. I guess it tells us a lot that there is no one here tonight to speak on this or object to it."
Cramer said no public hearing was scheduled because, "In our ordinance it states these spaces are two hour limited spaces. Not that they are meters or sign limited spaces and so forth. If we needed to change an ordinance to be able to do this, yes I would have come to you with a public hearing. In this case they are not changing an ordinance we are changing the way we structure that two hour parking."
Councilman Steve Shuttleworth said he would like to explore extending enforcement later into the evening. He said, "One of the things we've been talking about is where are we going to generate revenue to pay for sand" for beach renourishment projects. Extending enforcement hours could lead to more revenue from meters.
Councilman Gary Doetsch said residents can park for free with a decal and, "I do know with the cost of everything rising... we have to figure out how to pay for things and this is certainly allowing people who come - and probably visit for the most part - to help us with our problems and not put the burden on the taxpayers completely."
The Council voted unanimously to approve of the proposal presented by the Town Manager.
