Delray contemplates paid parking for downtown

DELRAY BEACH — To charge or not to charge. For parking in the downtown, that is.

That question is likely to be among the most contentious facing the city in the coming year, as it figures out how to pay for the recently opened parking garages while balancing the interests of downtown businesses. Merchants fear that paid parking might cause customers to go elsewhere to shop or to dine, which in a soft economy, could be deadly.

The first word came Tuesday from Delray’s Parking Advisory Board, which came to an informal consensus that the matter needs more study and that parking should remain free for a defined period — a year, perhaps longer.

“Every merchant I’ve talked to is very concerned,” said Board Member Cecelia Boone, a real estate agent who lives and works in the downtown’s Pineapple Grove district. “We’re looking for a compromise down there … a reprieve for three years so that people can be retrained to return downtown.’

Downtown merchants generally have been hit by the softening economy. Pineapple Grove has been especially hard hit, as a series of construction projects, including the garages themselves, have made it difficult to attract customers to the area.

Boone suggested that the city declare a grace period of sorts, with free parking as a public relations tool while merchants get back on their feet.

Meanwhile, the city could hold meetings with various interest groups to get their input and develop a plan.

The city must determine — how much to charge, when to charge, how to handle employees who work in the area.

The lots were planned and budgets projected at a time when the city was fairly flush with cash. The Legislature’s mandate that the city cut property taxes changed the equation.

City Parking Director Scott Aronson provided the board with four sets of time options and projected revenue assuming a charge of 75 cents an hour for street parking and surface lots, and 50 cents an hour for the garages.

Options include charging 8 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, which would generate about $2.6 million for the city. Another option would be to charge only between 5 p.m. and midnight, which would bring in about $1 million.

“This is a very preliminary step,” Aronson emphasized. “It’s going to be discussed ad nauseam by the Downtown Development Authority, the Community Redevelopment Agency, the chamber. It’s going to go to every committee and then some.”

City commissioners will get their turn in January, when Aronson will ask them for their thoughts on the issue.

In other matters, the board gave its OK to Taverna Eros, a restaurant at 8 Atlantic Avenue restaurant, to convert four off-street parking spaces into an outdoor dining space.

The restaurant will pay the city $62,400 for the privilege.

Owner Steven Dapuzzo said plans are to give the area a courtyard-like appearance, with a planter on three sides, trees and pavers matching Atlantic Avenue.

“I think it will much more attractive for Atlantic Avenue,” said Francisco Perez-Azua, president of Perez Design Inc.

The city commission must approve the request.

Aronson said the city should have a “smart card” system for parking meters in the beach area ready to go during the first quarter. The smart cards are prepaid and are swiped through the meter similarly to credit cards. Motorist still will be able to feed the meter the traditional way, with change.

The cards will be sold at the utility billing office in city hall, through beach merchants and possibly the visitors center and at kiosks at the north and south ends of the beach.

The system will be phased in on A1A as the state Department of Transportation completes work on the beach highway.