Long Branch Council Outlines Parking Meter Plan

Residents could be seeing parking meters along the city's oceanfront by as soon as mid-July as the Long Branch Council fine-tunes its plans to implement the devices this summer.

Councilwoman Kathleen Billings said the meters have become a necessity and that the city needs another source of revenue.

"If there was something else we could do, we would gladly do it," Councilwoman Billing said. "But, it looks like it's something we have to do at this point."

The Long Branch Council passed an ordinance last month that bonded $855,000 for the meters, which will be similar to those used in Asbury Park near the boardwalk and on Cookman Avenue.

Each space would be striped and numbered and people who wish to park in them would pay at a meter with either coins, dollars or a credit card. Motorists can even use their smart phone in order to add time.

The council outlined its plan for the meters during Tuesday night's council meeting and agreed on most of the important aspects of the meters including timing, fees, hours and locations.

The council can still make changes before an ordinance that will allow the meters in the city is introduced as soon as the next council meeting on May 22.

Hours:

The council had a hard time agreeing on the hours of operation for the meters, but appeared to agree that the meters would be in operation from either 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in all areas except Pier Village.

The meters in Pier Village could be in operation longer and the council juggled the possibility of having them operate from either 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. or 9 a.m. to midnight.

Councilwoman Joy Bastelli said she has spoken to many business owners in Pier Village who support having the meters stay in operation longer in Pier Village, because it helps create turnover in the spots and could bring more customers.

Months of Operation:

The council agreed that the parking meters will be in operation from May 15 through Sept. 30.

Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley said the meters will probably be installed around mid-July this summer, but that the council needed to come to a consensus on the start time next year so the ordinance could be drafted.

Fees:

The parking meters will cost $1 per hour on weekdays and $2 per hour on weekends and holidays.

Locations:

The council spoke at length on this topic, but appeared to agree on the following roads and areas:

• Pier Village

• Brighton Avenue and West End Avenue east of Ocean Boulevard

• Ocean Avenue between North Bath Avenue and South Bath Avenue on the west side of the street only.

• South Bath Avenue

• Morris Avenue

• Madison Avenue (east of McKinley Street only)

• Ocean Avenue from Seven Presidents Park to Atlantic Avenue (east side of the street only)

The council also mentioned that there could be spaces on both sides of Ocean Avenue from Avenel Boulevard to Atlantic Avenue.

The final plans for meters will be outlined in the ordinance that will be considered for introduction later this month.

Mayor Adam Schneider said whatever decision the council makes this year could change by next summer, based on the amount of revenue the meters take in this season.

"We will probably be having this discussion again in October," Mayor Schneider said. "It's better to do too little now rather than too much this summer."