observed for a lack of a better
term, a parking game.
from dedicated spaces to street
spaces, people standing in spac-
es while waiting for someone's
arrival, moving cars from one or
two streets away to a spot in front
of where they are staying, and a
myriad of other parking maneu-
vers," he said. "What I have come
to realize is this game has been
going on forever, and it is a way of
life for our owners on the ocean
block especially. ... Families are
tion in one car or even three cars
anymore and need those parking
spaces on the streets for their
grandparents, kids, boyfriends,
aunts and uncles and so on."
greedy, not listening and a host of
other non-flattering terms over
paid parking this summer.
watching," he said. "I applaud the
efforts of the petition. From some-
one who has campaigned door-to-
door many times, I realize how
much work it takes to reach 3,000
signatures were obtained by twist-
ing the truth or not, 1,648 voters
had felt compelled enough to sign
that petition."
the parking ordinance in that it
was not done to be capricious but
to look at another revenue source
to wipe the burden off taxpayers.
this petition. The last time there
was this much division in our town
was about two years ago and the
then sitting council refused to lis-
ten. We do not want to be com-
pared to them," he said.
ance to repeal Ordinance 2013-10.
The motion would immediately put a
halt to paid parking listed in the ordi-
nance and prevent the town from
having to hold a special election to
poll the taxpayers of their opinion on
paid parking or place the referendum
question in the next scheduled mu-
nicipal election. Cymek seconded
the motion.
brief history of the action that led
the council to approving the park-
ing ordinance in the first place.
Year 2014 that had a $1.2 million
penny and half on the property tax
rate, Knight explained. This was
after six months of every depart-
ment head making continuous
cuts. Realizing with City Manager
David Recor that raising taxes
was not an option the council,
worked over three weeks to make
further budget cuts.
ployees, lowered assessments, in-
creasing fund balance and funding
infrastructure.
part-time employees, which hurt
them, so that we would not have
to pay health care. We reduced
the hours of our bus service, again
hurting our some of my consti-
tuents, your neighbors, taxpayers
and non-resident taxpayers. We
increased rates for Park n' Ride
patrons. We increased rates for
business programs. What was the
next step? We investigated user
fees, such as parking, trash pick-
up, stormwater management fees,
and increases in bus fees. After
much consideration as you well
know, we implemented parking
fees in our city-owned lots and on
a few streets," she said. "My point
is this whole process worked. We
have heard you ... and we appre-
ciate your grassroots effort."