Cape May to Raise Daily Beach Tag Fee

CAPE MAY- City Council introduced an ordinance that would raise the fee for a daily beach tag by $1.
The increase would raise the daily tag fee from $5 to $6.
At a Nov. 20 meeting, City Manager Bruce MacLeod said a $6 daily beach tag fee was competitive with neighboring towns.
In addition, the ordinance would also increase the cost of an in-season, seasonal beach tag from $25 to $28. He said that would not increase the price of pre-season, seasonal beach tags.
For the 2012 season, a pre-season tag cost $15 and $25 once the beach season began.
Initially, MacLeod had proposed raising the weekly, 8-day beach tag fee. He said after additional meetings with the beach tag supervisor, an increase in the daily beach tags was a better choice.
MacLeod said the increases would bring the city an additional $125,000. He said the city’s goal was to utilize some of the new funds to make improvements to restrooms along the beachfront.
At a Nov. 7 council meeting, MacLeod said the city was looking for solution to move portable restrooms placed at the end of Gurney Street and replace those with facilities in the former Oasis Restaurant and a portion of the beach tag office on the Promenade.
A public hearing for the ordinance is scheduled for council’s Dec. 18 meeting at 7 p.m. in City Hall Auditorium.
At council’s Nov. 7 meeting, MacLeod had also suggested increasing fines for expired parking meters from $32 to $35. Of that amount, the city retains $20.50 with the remainder going to the state programs.
The $3 increase would not raise a significant of revenue for the city, approximately $22,000 to $25,000, said MacLeod.
At council’s Nov. 20 meeting, City Solicitor Tony Monzo said an increase in parking fines was a function of the city’s municipal court which was subject to the approval of the county assignment judge.
Monzo said he spoke with Municipal Court Judge Louis J. Belasco, Jr. who requested a resolution from council covering all parking violations.
Monzo said he would prepare a resolution for council’s next meeting,