STONE HARBOR – Stone Harbor implemented a new parking protocol, May 1, that has, so far, resulted in 1,457 parking tickets being issued in the 60 days that ended June 30. July numbers are not yet available.
The borough decided to remove its old parking kiosk system and rely on the use of the ParkMobile smartphone app as the principal means by which residents and visitors would pay for parking in those areas of the borough that require payment.
The borough did not overlap the old system with the new, but, instead, chose to implement the app-driven parking system cold turkey. The result has been the surge in parking tickets.
A motion by Council member Reese Moore to have the municipality declare a parking holiday for a defined period was defeated as unworkable at the July 3 Borough Council meeting.
At a council work session, July 18, Council President Frank Dallahan briefed the governing body on the steps the borough is taking to help those who park along 96th Street, the borough’s premier shopping area.
According to Dallahan, one police officer will be dedicated as an “ambassador” who will move along 96th Street with the aim of helping individuals who may be having difficulty downloading and registering for the ParkMobile app.
Dallahan admitted that another officer will be patrolling the same street “writing tickets.”
Dallahan also reported that the borough would be significantly increasing the signage in the area informing those parking that they will need the app and providing information on how to download and use the system.
By “next week,” Dallahan said, the signage will be joined by a large banner that will carry the message: “Welcome to Stone Harbor, Please be Sure to Download the Park Mobile Parking System.”
