City Council approves new permit & metered parking rules Increased fee and parking changes expected to take effect Feb. 1

By Michelle Gladden

Parking guidelines were finalized during the first Asbury Park City Council Regular Meeting Wednesday.

The adoption came with three minor revision that were based on public comments and inquiries.

Municipal attorney Frederick Raffetto said four revisions were deemed necessary following Monday night’s workshop, three of which were included in the Wednesday night adoption.

The fourth, an amendment to address the proposed increase in the employee parking permit fee, is slated for a final vote during the Jan. 27 regular meeting.

Raffetto said the public was not aware of the increased fee, which was inadvertently omitted from the proposed ordinance.

“Because the public was not aware of the new increased fee that the city was going to be charging for the employee parking permits, I do consider that to be a substantial change,” he said.

Councilman Joe Woerner said the increased fee information was included in the presentations made to the public during previous meetings but not in the formal introduction process for this ordinance.

Changes adopted Wednesday night included clarification that residential permits be issued in the form of hang tags, stickers or license plate recognition. This does away with the concern that residential permits could be issued in the form of a smart card.

The newly adopted guidelines also specified employee parking along Lake Avenue would be limited to between Bond and Heck streets.

The final revision specifies that anyone purchasing a parking permit must show legal proof of residency or employment, Raffetto said. Residential permit purchasers will also need to show proof of how a vehicle is associated to a residence.

Employee parking permits include:

The Five Day Smartcard is valid from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for $10 per month or $120 per year.

Employee Parking will be permitted on Lake Avenue between Bond and Heck streets, as well as along Bond Street between Summerfield and Bangs avenues, Grand Avenue between Lake and Cookman avenues, and the Transportation Station and Memorial Drive parking lots. Employee parking within Zones 1, 3, and 3 continue as well as the allowable 200 block metered spaces.

The Seven Day Smartcard is valid from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. at a rate of $15 per month or $180 per year.

The smartcard allows for same parking regulations outlined in the five day car permit above as well as 5:30 to midnight Monday through Friday, all day weekends and holidays. Parking will remain the same as the current ordinance as well as the allowable 200 block metered spaces and in the Transportation Center and Memorial Drive parking lots.

The new parking rules are expected to take effect February 1.

“We are working our butts off to get it in place” Woerner said. “We’ve got new maps that are being made, we’ve got frequently asked questions sheet that is in the process, we’ve got a cheat sheet for people who are looking at the permits because it’s a complicated process.”

City Manager Michael Capabianco said the permit application should be posted no later than Thursday. They will be accepted at the Springwood Avenue Sub Station. Acceptable forms of payment include cash, credit card, money orders, and checks.

The permits will either be mailed or a call will be made to the applicant for pick up, he said.

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Jan 14, 2016