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Parking at beach? It'll cost you
A new ordinance raises the all-day rate for parking at Pass-a-Grille Beach and increases the hours that the meters are enforced.
By NICK JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Published October 28, 2007
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[Photo submitted by Basil Garzia]
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ST.PETE BEACH- The next time you head out to Pass-a-Grille Beach you may have to shell out a few more bucks to park. The city of St. Pete Beach has passed an ordinance that will change the hours that parking meters are enforced at the city's public beaches. Instead of metered parking being free after 5 p.m. and costing $5 for the day, beachgoers will have to pay until 8 p.m., and all day will run you a 10-spot. City Manager Mike Bonfield said the rates hadn't been increased in a long time and the extra money will go toward offsetting the cost of beach maintenance. The ordinance was one of two related to parking that the commission passed last week. It also raised rates for nonresident parking permits. Bonfield said the other ordinance was an attempt to add a number of streets that already had signs enforcing parking limits to a city ordinance. "All in all, there's really not a lot of changes from what was on the ground," he said. Mollie Taaffe of the St. Pete Beach Police Department said they would probably start enforcing the meter changes by next year. While business owners will likely be the most affected, customers will have to pay later, and employee permits also increased by $10. So far, there have been few complaints. Commissioner Harry Metz, who represents Pass-a-Grille's district, said he had received only a handful of e-mails on the topic and that none had come from business owners. Nick Johnson can be reached at nickjohnson@sptimes.com or 893-8361.
[Last modified October 27, 2007, 23:18:53]
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by zippy
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10/30/07 12:13 PM
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my sentiments exactly Carol. "Our beach not yours". And FYI Rob, Florida hasn't been considered part of the "real South" for some time now. And I'm not speaking geographically.
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by darryl
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10/30/07 06:03 AM
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I can remember as a kid going along gulf blvd All you saw was Blue water and white sand from stpete to clearwater.it didnt matter where you pulled into there was free access to the beach.our beach!now theres private property and a few accesses.
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by Carol
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10/30/07 05:16 AM
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Hey Rob..., do you ever go out and clean YOUR beach? Thought not....
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by Mike
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10/29/07 11:50 AM
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If it weren't for the visitors to our state, we would probably be paying a State Tax. Ride your bike to the beach, its better exercise......
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by Rob
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10/29/07 10:30 AM
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Those born in Florida should be allowed to park for free. Afterall, it's OUR beach, not yours. Go back up north and take your greedy fees with you. This is the South, we don't charge to see Mother Nature.
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by Judy
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10/29/07 09:26 AM
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I went to Maderia the 1st day of Jan, it was raining, cold, but it was my first day in Seminole. I was there only 15 minutes, I was the only car. It cost me $20.00,I paid the ticket and NEVER went back.I went to Pass-A-Grill instead. Best think agai
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by Mike
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10/29/07 07:07 AM
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They just made Ft DeSoto my beach of choice.
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by Pete
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10/29/07 06:00 AM
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When light rapid transit to the beaches is an option, then you can charge people to park their Hummers. Get your hand out of my pocket until then, you wallet terrorists!!!
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