NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – City officials adjusted the prices of its holiday parking at the Beaches Town Center, after hearing from local merchants and business owners.
News4JAX spoke to several business owners who said the initial increase from $2 to park to $5, was not the best for sales or customer morale.
Melody Joy Snelen the co-owner of Kyds Children’s Boutique says the last few weeks have been a little frustrating for some customers.
“We have had a lot of feedback, negative feedback,” Snelen said. Anything that deters customers from shopping locally hinders our business. Hurts our business hurts our employment.”
The updated changes are as follows:
Daytime parking rate $2.50 per hour
• Evening rate $5.00 per hour (from 5:00 p.m. until midnight)
• One half-hour grace period for quick stops and pickups will continue
• Free parking for Neptune Beach residents and Atlantic Beach residents. Those who are not already registered for four hours of free parking each day can do so by clicking here.
This adjustment comes after a Neptune Beach town center employee created a Change.org petition out of frustration with the “unfair burden of high parking fees.”
The city said its goal is to support local businesses while making it easier for residents and visitors to enjoy the town.
Many people News4JAX spoke to say though the city made this announcement to cut paid parking in half through January, it’s not enough.
Especially since the evening rate is still $5 an hour so they want answers.
Something Cori Bylund, the mayor of Neptune Beach, is working to get people.
“We want to be sensitive to concerns of merchants about how this will affect their business,” Bylund said. “And so far the data regarding the parking suggest that parking is up.”
Bylund said the city has identified 70 free parking spots.
They will be located between Tucker Rental and Penman Road on the southside of Lemon street.
The mayor said in addition to the free parking area they are looking to identify more paid parking spots and add more bike racks.
Business owners noted people can still shop between 6am to 11am to avoid paying a parking fee.