Jackson Square metered parking OK’d

Commissioners also debate meeting once a month during day

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Figuring out parking regulations in Key West is a moving target. But, after several postponements, the formerly free nighttime parking lot behind the county courthouse on Thomas Street will transition to a metered lot in about a month.

However, to lessen the pain to locals who had complained about losing one of the last free public parking opportunities in the downtown area, city commissioners voted to allow four parking permit programs to use the lot and adjoining 500 block of Thomas Street, which will also be metered, in the evening.

The parking lot is currently limited to Monroe County Courthouse staff during the day but open to the public for free after 6 pm. Now, drivers will have to pay by the hour to park there in the evening. But three residential parking permit programs and one program aimed at Monroe County drivers living close to Key West will be permitted to park for free in the Jackson Square area for a minimum of four hours per evening. 

The parking permit programs that if approved on second reading will be allowed to use the Jackson Square parking area are the “basic” Key West workforce permit program, which allows downtown workers to park at the Truman Waterfront Park and in the Old Town Park and Ride garage for $25 a month; the “deluxe” resident permit program, which for $175 per month, not including tax, allows a driver to park up to 12 hours a day at any meter; the residential permit program where for $20 a year drivers can park up to four hours a day for free in five different public parking lots; and the Monroe County residential program, which charges county residents $25 a year to park up to four hours a day for free at the Truman Waterfront Park. Commissioners sweetened the deal for county residents by voting to increase the area covered by the permit from Mile Marker 11 to 33.

“We’ve tried to mitigate the impact to residents, both in Key West and up the Keys,” said Key West Parking Director John Wilkins.

The vote to meter Jackson Square and the 500 block of Thomas Square passed narrowly by 4-3. Commissioners Clayton Lopez, Billy Wardlow and Greg Davila have consistently voted against the resolution, calling it another tax on residents. Indeed, the resolution was initially voted down on Sept. 4. But a need for new revenue for city spending and the inclusion of local parking permit holders to park for free for a minimum of four hours daily convinced the commission majority to approve the metering program. Initially projected to provide a $244,000 increase in annual revenue to the city, that estimate has been reduced to $100,000 in the current city budget.

In other news from the Dec. 3 commission meeting, City Manager Greg Veliz reported that a meeting with the owner of the Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina over the opening of Admiral’s Cut may lead to an agreement without the city having to sue for the right to bridge the 45-foot water gap to allow pedestrian crossing. City officials have been trying to work out an agreement for years but Margaritaville and the previous owner, Westin Hotels, haven’t budged.

“They [Margaritaville officials] mentioned they would have a couple of conditions they would want us to meet,” Veliz said, not identifying the conditions. “They promised they would have those conditions to us within 90 days, or March 1.”

“We’ve waited 15 years,” said Commissioner Jimmy Weekley, who has led the drive to bridge Admirals’s Cut. “What does [90 days] matter?”

Also, at the meeting, Mayor Teri Johnston floated her idea to switch city commission meetings to the daytime, instead of the current 5 pm start time. She also broached the idea of holding meetings once a month, instead of every other week. Commissioners did not vote on the proposal but agreed to take up the issue at their Jan. 15 workshop after talking with their constituents.

“In my particular district, my constituents work [during the day],” Commissioner Davila said.

“My biggest concern would be public participation,” said Commissioner Lopez.

 “I will tell you this,” said Johnston. “It has very strong support from staff.”

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