News

By Tim Pallesen

    Parking meters aren’t going to be installed downtown after city commissioners split on the controversial issue at a May 12 workshop.
    Mayor Cary Glickstein advocated strongly for the meters to generate $3.6 million each year as an alternative to raising property taxes.
    “Nostalgia doesn’t pay the bills, folks,” Glickstein said. “We need money to move this city forward. This is a means to that end.”
Glickstein got support from Commissioner Jordana Jarjura. “This is a way to collect from visitors who impact the city but don’t pay taxes,” she said.
    But in a rare split with the mayor, Commissioner Shelly Petrolia rejected the parking meters for fear they might hurt Atlantic Avenue businesses.
    “Are we risking killing the goose that laid the golden egg?” Petrolia asked the other commissioners.
    The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce supported the meters, but the owners of Big Al’s Steaks and Hand’s Office & Art Supply opposed them at the meeting.
    The meters got nixed when Commissioners Al Jacquet and Mitch Katz joined Petrolia.
    “I always oppose parking meters,” Jacquet said. “All they do is tax residents and businesses out of Delray.”
    City staff had estimated that the new downtown parking meters, combined with meters that the city already has in the beach area, would generate $5.3 million in annual revenue with $1.7 million in costs.
    Staff had recommended that some of the $3.6 million profit be spent on the Beach Master Plan, which needs $3 million to beautify Ocean Boulevard for motorists and pedestrians. Beach maintenance and dune restoration were also proposed for funding with meter money.
    Commissioners directed staff to replace existing beach-area meters with new “smart meters” that accept various forms of payments, including by cellphone. They also said they want more signs downtown to direct motorists to city parking garages.