Seen around: Beachside parking fees fall

An article appeared this morning written by RICK NEALE; a reporter with Florida Today.

VIERA – Facing a barrier-island backlash, Brevard County commissioners have scrapped plans to charge motorists $5 admission fees at two popular beach parks.

This disliked pilot program was scheduled to start Monday at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach and Howard E. Futch Memorial Park at Paradise Beach near Indialantic.

But Michael Sapourn, managing member of Paradise Beach Properties, LLC, told commissioners Tuesday that beachgoers already have been parking in his lot to try to avoid the $5 fees.

Sapourn’s firm owns the bustling commercial plaza housing Ichabod’s Bar & Grille, Thai Thai II and other businesses, directly across State Road A1A from Futch Park.

Predicting he would become “embroiled in disputes I don’t want to be embroiled in,” he warned that he had no choice but to start towing vehicles.

“The people that get towed are going to come back from a day at the beach — then they’re going to have to take a cab out to Sarno Road and pay $150 to get their car bailed out. And, I can assure you, virtually every one of them are going to come to me,” Sapourn said.

Commissioners unanimously voted to rescind the pay-parking plan, which might have generated $300,000 within 12 months for maintenance and operations.

Now Jack Masson, parks and recreation director, said staffing and programming may face further cutbacks to cover this budgetary gap.

The controversial pay-parking initiative dated to February 2009, Masson said. That’s when commissioners asked recreation officials to study fees at 12 Space Coast beach parks and 23 boat ramps.

“Our budgets are reducing every year. We were tasked and asked to look at other revenue sources so we can continue to provide the quality of services that our residents and visitors expect in the Brevard County park system,” Masson said.

Commissioners said they received numerous phone calls from residents irritated by the $5 beach charges. Commissioner Chuck Nelson, a former parks and recreation director, said he knew admission fees were going to be “a nightmare.”

“I don’t support charging to go to our parks. I think it’s a headache. I think it’s minimal revenue. And, I think it’s a disservice to our community,” Nelson said.

By staffing tollbooths with temporary part-time employees, Masson estimated it would have cost his department $92,605 to collect fees at Lori Wilson Park, which has two entrances, and $61,738 at Futch Park.

Sapourn and six other residents spoke at the public podium Tuesday, all opposing the fees.

Melbourne resident George Robinson has worked in the surfboard industry since 1971. He disagreed with the proposed “no re-entry” policy at the Lori Wilson parking lot, saying many beachgoers briefly leave to eat at Wendy’s or buy sunscreen.

“I wonder what would happen if we took one of those county roads and made it a toll road. Just out of nowhere — it’s five bucks to travel that toll road,” Robinson said.

Commissioners Andy Anderson and Trudie Infantini said they do not want county managers to cover the scuttled parking program’s revenue losses by using reserve funds.

Commissioner Robin Fisher said the beach-parking brouhaha is a sign of things to come as budget talks heat up. He warned that Brevard may not be able to afford to keep open 121 developed parks and 17 libraries.

“Citizens are going to have to understand that if you want those amenities, then you have to pay for them. And, there’s going to be a charge in paying for them,” Fisher said.

“You’re either going to pay for them through property tax, or you’re going to pay for them through user fees, or you’re going to pay for them by finding another way to generate revenue,” he said. “That is the reality of where we are today.”

Jack Masson, Brevard County parks and recreation director, said parking meters were too expensive to purchase for a pilot program.

Howard E. Futch Memorial Park at Paradise Beach and Lori Wilson Park contain a combined 415 parking spaces.

Based on discussions with Cocoa Beach and Indialantic officials, Masson estimated it would cost $145,250 to buy meters, $18,675 to install them, using county workers, and roughly $20,000 to buy two golf carts for meter readers.

Annual enforcement/collection costs could hit $67,392 for staffing (72 hours a week of part-time
labor), $13,671 for maintenance and $16,100 for inevitable meter repair-replacement as they rust in the sea spray-laden air.