Myrtle Beach increases parking meter rates, citation fee increase likely

Drivers visiting the beach will pay more to park at meters in Myrtle Beach starting May 1 after the City Council voted to raise the rates.

And as soon as April 28, those who don’t pay parking meters could face an increase in citation fees.

City Council passed a resolution Tuesday that increases rates in some areas from 25 cents to 75 cents an hour and $2 to $4 more a day.

This is the second increase in parking meter rates since they were installed in 2004, Downtown Redevelopment Corp. Executive Director David Sebok said. Rates increased 25 cents in March 2012.

The increase will not affect residents who pay city taxes on their cars that are registered in Myrtle Beach and are eligible for a parking decal, which allows them to park for free at the city’s parking meters and at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. City Finance Director Maria Baisden said more than 9,000 decals had been issued this year for use through next season.

Council members Susan Grissom Means and Mike Lowder voted against the increase. Councilman Michael Chestnut was not at the meeting.

Lowder said he was concerned any increases would negatively impact employees in the downtown area. Council members said business owners make arrangements with owners of parking lots so their staff can avoid having to pay to park.

Other employees could use the Pavilion Parking Garage, where officials in February set a monthly parking rate of $30. Sebok said DRC negotiated with garage owner Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc. to let Lanier Parking Solutions set the rate.

The meter rate hike comes as city officials say they are looking for ways to increase the DRC’s revenue. City staff estimate that the raise in rates will produce about $330,000 more per year.

The additional revenue will be used to pay interest on loans from a $10 million loan pool the city is establishing with South Atlantic Bank to be used to encourage redevelopment in the south mixed-use area of downtown, which is defined as the area from First Avenue North to Seventh Avenue North and from the Atlantic Ocean to Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach.

“This all works part and parcel to continue to focus non-financial and financial investment in an area that is underutilized,” Councilman Wayne Gray said.

There will be a three-tiered system for parking meter rates, with the spots at beach accesses costing the most and getting less expensive the farther spots are from the ocean.

Parking meters at beach accesses will increase from $1.50 per hour to $2 per hour.

Last year, the city approved extending the amount of time that parking meters are up by one month, having meters in effect from March 1 to Oct. 31 each year. That additional month generated about $66,000 in gross revenue.

In the 2013-2014 fiscal year, about $1.2 million was collected from parking.

DRC was expecting the meters to bring in that same amount this budget year, which ends June 30, but that’s likely to increase now with the jump in rates.

Those who get a parking ticket are likely to pay more in fines this year. City Council approved, on first reading, increasing the penalty for parking meter violations to $30 from $20. After 30 days, the fee would increase to $60.

Under the current rate structure, if the fee is not paid within 30 days, drivers have to pay $30. If it’s not paid after 45 days, the fee jumps to $45.

Second reading on the citation fee ordinance could be as soon as April 28.

If the violation fees are increased, citations are expected to generate about $60,000 to $75,000 for the city.

This story was originally published April 18, 2015 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Myrtle Beach increases parking meter rates, citation fee increase likely."