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Fees increase for beachfront parking
By AMY WIMMER
© St. Petersburg Times, ST. PETE BEACH -- Headed to the beach? It'll cost you. The St. Pete Beach City Commission voted 3-2 Tuesday night to increase the hourly parking fees visitors pay to use the city's beaches. St. Pete Beach will now charge $1.25 an hour rather than $1 an hour. The increase is expected to generate $85,000 in revenue for St. Pete Beach in the 2001-2002 budget. Commissioner Lolly Kreider, who represents the neighborhoods of Vina Del Mar and Pass-a-Grille, opposed the increase, saying it would unnecessarily charge tourists and mainland residents. "I don't think nickel and diming the meter is the way to think we're going to help our revenues," Kreider said. Commissioner Pete Blank also voted against the increase. One of her constituents, Rusty Erchius, who manages the city's Merry Pier in Pass-a-Grille, said the poor state of tourism on the beaches should convince commissioners to postpone raising the fees. "You're going to chase people away from the beach rather than draw people here," he said. The increase affects only the city's "pay stations," installed at Upham Beach, Pass-a-Grille and the county beach parking area across the street from Publix-anchored Dolphin Village. The all-day parking pass that may be purchased at the pay stations will remain at $5. The change will take effect as soon as the police department can adjust the pay stations to charge the higher amount, which could take a few weeks, police Chief Ray Kaminskas said. Parking meters, including some street meters in Pass-a-Grille away from the beach, will continue to charge $1 an hour. Commissioner John Phillips said he doesn't think the fee increase will turn visitors away from the beach, even as tourism falters. "I think the beach is a bargain," Phillips said.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
