West Palm Beach tweaks parking rates in response to anger from residents, business owners

West Palm Beach made changes to its downtown metered parking fees and rules amid fury from some residents and business owners.

City Commission members approved adjustments this week that reduces the expired meter fees to $35 from $37.50, scraps the $10 overnight metered parking fee and ends 24/7 meter enforcement. Meter enforcement will end at midnight in the highest demand areas of downtown, at 9 p.m. in areas just beyond that core and at 7 p.m. in areas farther out.

The city has created an online map to show residents which streets are in which enforcement zone.

Ed Davis, the city's parking systems administrator, said the response to the city's new rate structure, which was announced in March and went into effect on May 1, spurred changes.

"After some subsequent meetings with the merchants downtown, a little more public outreach, we took a look at some of the language and stipulations we had," Davis said. "We made a couple of adjustments."

The changes – particularly the end of the $10 overnight fee, which was a bane to many downtown residents – are likely to be welcomed by downtown business owners, who said the previous rate structure hurt them at a time when they are still recovering from the economic pain brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

But how various aspects of the parking structure came into place still rankles some.

"The 24-hour enforcement was one of the items that came out of nowhere," said Joseph Russo, a computer technology entrepreneur who had worked with city officials as the parking rate structure was being put together. "I'm really glad that the city staff and the commission made the changes. While the issue itself is seemingly resolved, I still have concerns about the process."

Russo also criticized the city for not considering the economic struggles of residents.

"We're just looking at the money," he said.

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Mayor Keith James had defended the previous rate structure, saying it had not been updated in years and that money collected would enable the city to maintain and update parking infrastructure.

On Tuesday, he lauded the tweaks to the old parking rate structure.

"The parking rate adjustments are a great example of the city of West Palm Beach’s commitment to customer service and to incorporating community feedback in policy decisions," he said. "The parking rate and enforcement changes we made in March have yielded promising results. We look forward to seeing even more positive changes with these adjustments."

While the fine for expired meter parking was reduced – Davis said the $37.50 fee was "a mistake" that was always supposed to be $35 — fines will ramp up sharply for those repeatedly ticketed.

After an initial ticket of $35, drivers will be fined $75 if they are ticketed again within six months. They'll pay $150 if they are ticketed three times in a year.

"The parking fees were not enough to change the behavior," Davis said. "They would just pile up and pile up."

Commissioner Joseph Peduzzi, who recalled considering repeated tickets "the cost of doing business," said that change has long been needed.

"I definitely think its necessary to make sure that behavior is not rewarded," he said.

Why West Palm is ending the $10 overnight parking fee

Commissioner Christy Fox said ending the $10 overnight fee is an important change.

"One of the things I was hearing the most from downtown residents was about the overnight parking," she said. "There are several smaller buildings downtown that don't even have parking. People were often relying on the meters."

In addition to outlining the tweaks to the parking rate structure, Davis shared some parking data with James and commissioners.

Since May 1, the city has sold 256 parking permits to hospitality workers at the 50 percent off rate of $50 plus tax.

The new parking rules define hospitality workers as those employed as table servers, cooks or dishwashers. Managerial staff members are not eligible for the half-off parking permits.

Some downtown employees had complained that garage spaces were not available.

"There was a lot of concern about the garages being full and not having any place to park," Davis said. "We have exhausted those (parking permit) lists. We now have current space in all garages. We still have ample space."

Davis told commissioners that, over the past year, the average amount of time people are parked at downtown meters is down by nearly 14 percent. And he said those parking at meters downtown pay an average of $2.30.

Those brief stays at a downtown parking meter are a good development, he said.

"We're getting turnover," Davis said. "People are not staying as long. They're being more attentive to the parking restrictions and they're allowing more turnover, thus allowing availability and convenience for those who are coming to the downtown."

Wayne Washington covers West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations. E-mail tips to wwashington@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm Beach adjusts downtown parking fee structure after outcry