Changes coming to parking in Rehoboth

After a few lengthy and well-attended public meetings, Rehoboth commissioners are expected to soon vote on changes to parking meters and permit parking.

Beginning with metered parking, during a special meeting Dec. 7, Mayor Paul Kuhns presented commissioners with a proposal that would extend the season to May 15 through Sept. 30. Currently meters are in effect from the last Friday before Memorial Day through the second Sunday following Labor Day.

Kuhns said this time frame brings Rehoboth more in line with surrounding communities and Rehoboth’s roads are now as busy in September as they are in June because a lot of families are scheduling vacations during September.

Commissioner Lisa Schlosser said she thought the change was reasonable, while Commissioner Toni Sharp said she hadn’t received any pushback when asking constituents about the change.

“It’s been met with a shrug,” Sharp said.

Kuhns also presented a change in the price for metered parking, which is currently $2 per hour at all meters. He suggested $3 an hour on Rehoboth Avenue, from the Boardwalk to Fifth Street, the first two blocks of Wilmington and Baltimore avenues, and First Street between Wilmington and Baltimore avenues. He said the 30-minute meters would remain 30-minute meters, and all the meters would have a strictly enforced 3-hour time limit.

The majority of these are in the town’s business district, said Kuhns, who then proposed increasing the time limit fine from $30 to $50, but that was met with some pushback.

Commissioner Stan Mills said a $30 fine will annoy people, but a $50 fine will really, really piss people off.

Finally, for meters, Kuhns proposed changing the time to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., from the current 10 a.m. to midnight.

Schlosser said she was in favor of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Commissioner Richard Byrne said the changes generally seemed reasonable, but it would be important for the city to create wayfinding signage that was easy to read for motorists.

There was a brief discussion about 30-minute meters, because Kuhns said he’s concerned the way they’re grouped together now isn’t working. He said most of them are on Rehoboth Avenue in front of Grotto Pizza, Louie’s Pizza and Browseabout Books. Having six or eight in front of one business doesn’t make sense, he said, and then suggested cutting the total number from 60 to 30. 

Commissioner Byrne said he doesn’t think there’s a need for 30-minute meters after some of the smaller shops close and if there was technology that would allow some to change to longterm parking that would be good.

In the end, the commissioners decided to revisit the issue when more data on usage was available.

As for permits, Kuhns suggested making them consistent with meters – May 15 through Sept. 30, but keeping the same hours as they currently are – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kuhns proposed only one permit rate increase – to the weekly pass, from $80 to $90.

The last real issue of discussion for parking permits is related to the permit perks for property owners. Kuhns suggested, and the commissioners generally agreed with, the idea that property owners would get two transferable permits, two nontransferable permits and two moped permits. He then suggested property owners be allowed to purchase up to an additional two transferable permits for $150 each, and then up to two more at $200 each. All others would be at the $250 retail price. Currently, property owners are allowed as many nontransferable permits as there are cars registered to people who live at an address.

Kuhns also suggested the additional permit pricing for property owners who rent. Currently, property owners who have a rental license may purchase one transferable permit for each rental unit at $30 each.

Sharp questioned why the city should offer discounts when property owners would receive two transferable, two nontransferable and two moped permits.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Kuhns said decisions on parking must be made soon so signage can be made, and potential costs and revenue calculated for the upcoming budget year. He said he is going to have the commissioners vote on the meter and permit changes during the commissioner meeting Friday, Dec. 21, and tasked commissioners with coming prepared with final recommendations.