INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. — The city commission in Indian Rocks Beach will discuss a hot topic around town on Tuesday: paid parking at beach accesses.
Fred Vanore shared what he thinks makes the beach so special.
WATCH: Indian Rocks Beach to consider proposed paid parking program at beach access spots
"It's basically beach-friendly for the average tourist or the average resident,” Vanore said.
The city is considering a proposal for a paid parking pilot program at beach access spots.
Right now, those parking spots are free.
“We presented a pilot program. We have about 360-something public parking spots in Indian Rocks Beach. We looked at only focusing on 182 of those, a little more than half of that, and just focus on the beach access points for now, and then in six months time, we would look at implementing paid parking throughout the city at all of our public parking spots," said City Manager Ryan Henderson. "Right now what's been presented to council, what council has discussed at a commission meeting during a work session item, would be to set the rate at $4.50 (an hour) for paid public parking at our beach access points, at the 182, public access points, and then that charge would be from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and then seven days a week."
Henderson said the City Commission has talked about paid parking for years.
"We've run estimates on how much money we would receive, how much revenue we would receive through the program, and conservatively over a million dollars, anywhere up to two, $2.5 million,” said Henderson.
Henderson’s understanding, he said, is that this is the only city in Pinellas County that offers free parking.
"The revenue that would come in through our paid parking program would go back into the community, would go back into our community investment projects, where focusing on stormwater resiliency, focusing on maintenance, focusing on just keeping Indian Rocks Beach the special place that it is,” said Henderson.
Henderson said residents would continue to be able to park free at beach access points, just displaying a residential decal on their car.
Tampa Bay 28 asked people their thoughts on the measure.
"Well as I told you, it sucks, and basically what you're doing is you're commercializing everything and just ignoring the residents who pay taxes to make these beaches beautiful,” said Vanore.
Anne Torsney thinks it's a good idea, bringing revenue in for the city.
"I'm anxious to see how it works. I really am,” said Torsney. "But I think it's been coming, and we've been talking about it for a few years. There are some areas just further down that have paid parking, so we'll see. We'll see how it all works out.”
The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.
Share Your Story with Mary
Mary O’Connell has a primary focus on education-related stories for Tampa Bay 28. But she also keeps an eye on public health concerns and the always-changing car insurance market. Reach out to Mary to share any of your questions or concerns.
.
Family mourns Brandon High School student killed by train
Jewell McMillan, Jamar's mother, tells Tampa Bay 28 reporter Annette Gutierrez she didn't realize Wednesday night would be the last time she'd see her son alive
