Wildwood OKs Parking Measure; Residents Object

WILDWOOD — A lot of people with meters in front of their homes aren’t crazy about this city’s newly approved parking ordinance.
The measure set new fees for seasonal permits in two parking zones.
Permits for Zone A, located on the blocks close to the Boardwalk, cost $400 per season. Permits for Zone B, blocks away from the Boardwalk, cost $150. Zone B permits can be purchased early for $100.
Previously, the city only had one parking permit for spots at any meter that cost $125. These permits were available for early purchase for $75.
At an April 14 meeting, City Commissioners held a public hearing on the ordinance. Meter parking starts on May 15.
Several city residents objected to the new fees.
Kathleen Distro, of East 26th Avenue, said it is a parking free-for-all on her block. She said her neighbors were upset over the ordinance.
She has 10 units in her property and was hoping the city would offer discounts on the permits for property owners.
“All I want to know is once you collect all these millions of dollars from the parking, will you collect that amount off the city budget,” Distro asked.
Mayor Gary DeMarzo said the city was committed to reducing the tax rate to 99 cents this year compared to $1.11 last year.
Marlana, of East Hildreth Avenue, who did not provide her last name, was disappointed that the city was increasing parking fees by 400 percent and was only discounting the permits for properties away from the beach. She was also disappointed that because she has a driveway at her home, she was not eligible for a free spot on her block.
“Nobody’s forcing you to use the program,” DeMarzo said.
“I can go $3 for a tax rate and we can have valet parking, I mean where do you stop,” he added. “I believe this is fair and that’s why we’re voting for it.”
“I don’t find it to be fair,” said Jackie McWade, of East 26th Avenue. She was also upset that residents with driveways don’t get a free spot.
She, her husband and three children all drive, she said.
“I have five cars,” she said.
“Where do you draw the line?” DeMarzo asked. “Some that has 10 cars gets a break? Someone that has 15 cars gets a break?”
Dave Kinder, of East Leaming Avenue, said his property has five units and four off-street parking spaces. He allows his renters to use the spots leaving himself without parking.
He said he usually buys a permit, but won’t pay $400.
“The person you’re hurting is me, a resident who lives here,” he said.
Dan Shindler, of West Burk Avenue, said this ordinance was really going to affect people more than the commissioners realize.
He was looking for a fee in the A Zone of $150 instead of $400.
“That would be a 100 percent increase and a great place to start,” he said.
DeMarzo said that the commissioners were going to pass the ordinance as it stands and consider changing it at a later date. It can be easily be changed by a resolution, he said.
In the end, the ordinance passed unanimously.
In a related matter, six downtown businesses are paying $37,450 to lease 250 city parking spaces.
DeMarzo said the businesses pay $150 per spot. That fee is based on the Zone B seasonal permit.
The businesses and the amount paid are: Beach Terrace Motor Inn, $9,600; Boardwalk Bar, $2,400; Bolero Motel, $11,250; Crest Savings Bank, $7,500; Nickels Midway Pier, $3,000; and Red Oak Restaurant, $3,750.