By KENNY WALTER
Staff Writer
SEA BRIGHT — The borough may be joining the ranks of Long Branch, Asbury Park and Point Pleasant Beach as towns charging for parking along the beachfront.
The council is considering implementing six parking kiosks at the borough’s beach lots in an effort to bring in additional revenues, possibly to offset the costs associated with superstorm Sandy.
“The economics on it are pretty sound, and there isn’t much downside for us,” Councilman Brian Kelly said during the March 10 Borough Workshop meeting. “It is the right time to do it, and it can be accomplished fairly easily with very little downside to the town.”
Mayor Dina Long said the decision to implement paid parking is a difficult one as she weighs the potential revenues to help offset the cost to recover from superstorm Sandy.
“I hate paid parking, and I also worry about having the culture change for parking, but I hate worse the thought of having to ding the taxpayer for the cost of reconstructing from Sandy,” Long said.
According to Kelly, a consultant with one potential vendor indicated the borough can expect a six-figure return from parking.
Kelly said the proposal would be to put six kiosks in the borough lot and charge for parking during the day from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is estimated to cost the borough about $70,000 to purchase all six kiosks.
“In 10 years the town can look at it then, but in the meantime, it should get us through a decade at a very low cost,” Kelly said.
He said there are at least three vendors who are equipped to install the kiosks and allow beachgoers to pay for parking at the kiosks or via a smartphone application.
“Some of the companies do cell phone only, but we don’t feel comfortable offering that because not everyone would be able to use that option so there is no way to enforce it,” Kelly said.
Councilman Charles Rooney III said one of the borough’s problem is beach club members using the borough lot. He also said the revenues are essential, especially as the borough continues its struggles over its school tax bill with the Shore Regional High School District.
“I think we lose a lot of money to the beach clubs to our parking lot, and it’s a double whammy by not having it,” Rooney said. “We lose people who would be going to the beach because they can’t park, and then people who are going back to the beach clubs are using it for free.
“On one hand we are fighting Shore Regional, and on the other hand, we don’t want to make money when we can make it.”
It is estimated to take six to eight months to install the kiosks so the council is expected to introduce and adopt an ordinance in the coming month. The council still is considering pricing and whether or not to waive parking fees for residents.
Kelly also said the kiosks can be easily removed during the off-season and possible storm events to prevent damage.
