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Yahoo!Parking fees in the waterfront lots increased as of July 1. In an attempt to cover the costs of responsibilities recently reassigned to the Waterfront Department, such as maintenance of restrooms as well as maintenance of the dolphin fountain, the department has increased the hourly cost from $1.50 to $2 and the daily maximum from $9 to $12 in the lots with attendants. The honor fee-collection lot prices have increased from $2 for three hours to $3, with the daily maximum remaining at $7. Scott Riedman, business manager for the Waterfront Department, said the department is trying to keep the costs "as reasonable as possible," while increasing fees to cover the department's new expenses, which include not only the additional maintenance but pay for city lifeguards, and the cost of the Fourth of July fireworks displays, previously managed by the Parks & Recreation Department.
The annual permit for the Waterfront lots remains $95 and the first 90 minutes of parking are still free on Stearns Wharf with validation from one of the wharf's vendors. Similarly, the first 15 minutes are free when parking behind or across from the Visitor Center. Increased parking fees are only part of Waterfront's attempt to raise more money, which includes a controversial 4 percent increase in slip fees as well.
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Why doesn't SB take care of its beaches like every other beach destination on the planet? I was at the beach the other day and there was loads of seaweed all over the place with flies and trash.
They are raising fees as the people now have new duties but the flip side is that it was done before by somebody else who will now have less work. Just another fee hike or tax in disguise.
El_Informador (anonymous profile)
July 7, 2009 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
El_Informador: Why don't YOU do something about it? I have volunterred countless amounts of time to do a beach clean up day with my church and friends. It shouldn't be just one person/organization to do it, it takes everyone.
IndyClear (anonymous profile)
July 7, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Charging all that money maybe they can purchase and pass out pooper scoopers for the homeless that sleep on East Beach.
Byrd (anonymous profile)
July 7, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Informador's query is reasonable; BUT up to July 1 the beach has been maintained by Parks & Recreation (supported by general funds and user charges). The people who visit SB and spend money at the facilities leased by the City have a portion of their spending go to the Waterfront Department. Those revenues subsidized marina users while not providing for any of the beach cleanup, the lifeguards, or restroom clean up.
It makes real good sense for Waterfront to pay for beach clean-up. Now, they just need to do it.
maven12 (anonymous profile)
July 7, 2009 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not talking about picking up trash, I do that, I'm talking about having a tractor and gathering up the seaweed and driftwood and then raking the beaches so they look nice and are more user friendly. I don't own a tractor and other beach towns do groom their beaches daily or weekly.
El_Informador (anonymous profile)
July 10, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)