Usage fees and parking fees for non-residents at Marathon’s public boat ramps and Sombrero Beach are about to become a reality … most likely.
A push from councilwoman Robyn Still to move forward with the fee assessment initiative, often discussed but not yet enacted in the past year, prompted the first concrete suggestion of a fee schedule at the Marathon City Council meeting on Aug. 9.
Two resolutions approved unanimously by the council outline contracts with Flowbird Urban Intelligence and PAVE Mobility Inc. that will allow for the installation and upkeep of enforcement cameras and pay stations at Marathon’s three public boat ramps and Sombrero Beach. With pay stations set to cost $58,392 for the first year and $9,792 for each of the following two years, the system will require non-residents to pay for parking at each of the four areas, along with a fee for launching or retrieving a boat.
As described by public works director Carlos Solis, using systems similar to those found in Key West for paid parking, the system would use license plate recognition technology to identify offenders and issue parking charge notices. As initially proposed, the system would require permanent residents of Marathon and Key Colony Beach to register their local vehicles to avoid being charged as visitors.
In lieu of hiring additional enforcement personnel, PAVE would be responsible for collecting fees for parking violations and would provide the city with 40% of the revenue collected. It would also invoice $6.50 for each parking charge notice issued.
After a brief discussion, the council provided Solis with direction on a fee schedule, applicable only to non-residents: $25 to launch or retrieve a boat; $20 to park at a boat ramp; and $10 to park at Sombrero Beach for an initial two-hour period, plus $2 for each additional hour. A future draft of the official fee schedule will require formal approval by the council before it takes effect.
With multiple council members expressing concern about backlash from residents who may receive citations in error from unregistered vehicles, the council also directed city staff to work with PAVE and explore options for automatically excluding license plates registered to Marathon addresses.
In other news:
- With the support of the other council members, councilman Luis Gonzalez asked city attorney Steve Williams to draft a series of tiered penalties to strengthen the “very, very weak” provisions for those found consuming alcohol at city parks.
- After an incredibly successful first event in 2021, the second Saturday of September each year will be designated as Landry Sayer Clean the Curb Day. Organized by Stanley Switlik student Landry Sayer after a presentation to the city council, the day will organize roadside cleanup efforts around town in partnership with community members, local officials, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Marathon Fire Rescue personnel.
- The council granted a conditional use permit to Skocean LLC for construction of a boat trailer storage facility adjacent to U.S. 1 between 81st and 82nd Street Ocean.
- At their first public hearings, the council approved a pair of ordinances establishing a park in a vacant triangle of land on Calle Ensenada in the Sombrero Beach area of Marathon.
- The city announced and approved a number of grant agreements for ongoing city projects: a $243,000 Tourist Development Council (TDC) grant for restrooms at the Quay property, an annual $203,000 TDC grant for facilities maintenance at Sombrero Beach, a $1,488,000 Florida Communities Trust grant for improvements at the Salty’s/7 Mile Marina property, and an $844,800 Florida Communities Trust grant for improvements at the Quay property as the city looks to redevelop the area into a public park.
- A grand opening celebration for the newly-built Rotary Park is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 20. at 10 a.m.
