My town's last board meeting discussed parking fees for the currently
free, public boat launch. There is parking for about 60 trucks and
trailers. It is always full and often people don't park properly making
it hard to park or leave.
The proposal was a $5 fee for the vehicle per day. Single axle trailers
less than 20' long another $5. Double axle trailers or single axle
trailers over 20' long, $7.50. The estimate of revenue is $2,000 per
week May-October and $1,000 per weekend mid-March-April and November.
The parking would be free those week days. December-early March would be
free, but doubtful anyone would be there.
The argument I agree with is there needs to be more order in the current
parking situation. I suppose the fees charged will easily cover the cost
of a parking attendant. While it wasn't mentioned, I'd like to see the
leftover money going to improvements in the lakefront area, rather than
lost in the overall budget.
I do think the fees are excessive however. Certainly some people will
not come to our town to eat, shop or buy gas because they will find
another free parking lot within 10 miles on the same lake.
Do any of you pay to park or launch at your public boat launch. If you
didn't now, would you consider these fees excessive? Is there a
difference for residents vs. non-residents?
I plan on writing the town board voicing my opinions, but would like to
know about other peoples opinions first.
Thanks.

This year the WA parks dept started charging for all parking at state parks.
$5 for day use. (some park ranges have seen this to mean 'no overnight
parking' and therefore charge another $10 in addition for a vehicle left
over night.. (this doesn't seem to apply in the camp grounds but does apply
at some marine parks.

However, at the launch ramp the they charge $5 for a launch and recovery and
includes the parking (I assume) for a day.

For God Sake, don't let them set up your parking fee system with an
Attendant.. This would create several new employee positions that would cost
far more than the fees collected.

Here they use an honor system. You put your parking or launch ramp fee in an
envelope/drop box. The information flap is NCR and you retain a copy and
place it in the windshield of your vehicle. The range has enforcement
authority and can right tickets if there is no proof that you dropped a fee
in the box. So far I have only seen warning tickets..

For day parking we can purchase an annual parking permit for about $50 and
seniors get that for free if they are low income.


Steve

I plan on writing the town board voicing my opinions, but would like to
know about other peoples opinions first.
Thanks.


Having a parking attendant is a bad idea. Use some metal box, fill out
envelope with your plates, etc. Have the local cop at least pretend he is
checking it.

On the flip side, once they charge $5, they will charge $6 next year and so
on. This will become a little honeywell, and yes, your town will probably
suck those profits in some bureaucracy.

Actually I can't complain about the launch ramp fees, even though I have
only use the ramp once. My boat is to large to launch and recover on a
trailer.

In my area, they have just spent several million dollars of the the boat tax
money on a very nice launch ramp and floating docks.

I wouldn't object to the parking fees if the money stayed in the parks
system for operation and expenses.. However, I know it doesn't..

The boat pumpout station has been out of service for 2 seasons now (maybe
longer) until last spring, it was the only pumpout in the whole area..
Fortunately another pumpout was opened a couple miles away at a municipal
dock. And they only charge $2 for a 5 min. pump out or porta potty dump.


--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I agree, don't have an attendant. These lot attendants always become
little tyrants and act as if they own the place.

I use the public lot in Weymouth, MA and there is a lot attendant
there like that. Guy told me I can't leave my truck/trailer overnight
without telling him in advance. Said he would have my rig towed and
send the coast guard out looking for me! Like I need this SOB to give
me grief and act like my mother....and I don't think he has the right
to tow my rig, but that gives me crap to worry about.

Luckily there is a free parking lot where I go usually ( Falmouth,)
where I can leave my truck/trailer for a week at a time while I'm out
on the boat without a problem.

I don't mind paying a fee of $5/day ( even though we already have paid
for this in our boat tax ) if at least part of it goes to maintaining
the area of the ramp/lot. Don't give people crap about overnighting
though. Let them pay the $5/day like everyone else.

John C.

A comment on your proposed fee structure from someone who does
extended trips.
$7.50 a day is too high Ithink for someone at the lot for a week.
That means I would have to pay $52.50 to the parking lot if I go out
for the week....too steep. I would be real upset about that. A weekly
rate of $30 or so would be more reasonable...again, considering we are
already paying for these ramps ourselves with our boat taxes.
Where is the boat ramp? That matters too. If at Marina Del Ray, thats
one thing. If at some mudhole out in the sticks, thats a different
thing altogether.
John C.

I'm not in favor of excesively high fees to when the money doesn't got to
the agency that operates the facilities..

However, if there is only a limited number of parking spots at a launch ramp
then there has to be someway to keep boat owners from leaving their trailer
and truck for long periods of time.. One way is to set time limits, the
other is to charge a fee that is high enough to encourage the boater to have
someone take the trailer home while he is on the water for a week.. Could
you imagine the problems a the Marina Del Ray ramp if their wasn't a time
limit or high fee..

Then of course, I'm apposed to parking fees for overnight parking when I
already have a annual parking permit (which has now been defined as 'Day
Use'. Doesn't say anything like that on the pass.). In addition, I am
already paying for mooring my boat at a state mooring.. Do the guys in the
RV park have to pay an extra $10 for their car? I don't think so.

please excuse the Venting..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Hi User,

In Jacksonville, the public ramps are free. Or at least no ramp fees.
The taxpayers footed the bill. Now we have some nice new ramps here and
a 1/2 cent sales tax too. But we also got new sewers, water pipes,
roads, courthouse, city hall, schools, parks, football stadium, sports
arena, a music park with docks and free pump out, and lots of new cops
in the bargain.

Many marinas charge all the traffic will bear to plop your boat, and
they don't have parking attendants either. One nearby uses a lift and
charges 20.00 for the splash and 10 for a pump out.

If you go before the city council, and insist the revenues from boat
ramps go toward maine activities, I am sure they can find something to
waste it on.

Capt. Frank

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks

user wrote:

My town's last board meeting discussed parking fees for the currently
free, public boat launch. There is parking for about 60 trucks and
trailers. It is always full and often people don't park properly making
it hard to park or leave.
The proposal was a $5 fee for the vehicle per day. Single axle trailers
less than 20' long another $5. Double axle trailers or single axle
trailers over 20' long, $7.50. The estimate of revenue is $2,000 per
week May-October and $1,000 per weekend mid-March-April and November.
The parking would be free those week days. December-early March would be
free, but doubtful anyone would be there.
The argument I agree with is there needs to be more order in the current
parking situation. I suppose the fees charged will easily cover the cost
of a parking attendant. While it wasn't mentioned, I'd like to see the
leftover money going to improvements in the lakefront area, rather than
lost in the overall budget.
I do think the fees are excessive however. Certainly some people will
not come to our town to eat, shop or buy gas because they will find
another free parking lot within 10 miles on the same lake.
Do any of you pay to park or launch at your public boat launch. If you
didn't now, would you consider these fees excessive? Is there a
difference for residents vs. non-residents?
I plan on writing the town board voicing my opinions, but would like to
know about other peoples opinions first.
Thanks.

and truck for long periods of time.. One way is to set time limits, the
other is to charge a fee that is high enough to encourage the boater to have
someone take the trailer home while he is on the water for a week.. Could
you imagine the problems a the Marina Del Ray ramp if their wasn't a time
limit or high fee..


Steve, you should realize that although I use the parking lot for a
long time, I don't use it often. I don't take my boat out for a day or
two, when I go it's for a long time, but not as often as many people
do. You seem to want to not allow people to use the lots long, how
about if I said people should not be allowed to use the lots often?
Maybe put a limit that you can only use a ramp 5 or 6 times a year?
Thats just as fair, and that would work for me. We all have different
use patterns. I can see your gripe if people were to leave the boat on
a mooring and leave the trailer hogging space while not on the boat.
Otherwise, no. In Falmouth, MA where I go the rule is no unattended
trailers. This way you know people are not just blocking the space
with their trailers. If the car is there too you know they are
probably out on the boat.
Besides, a week at a time means during the week when there isn't a
space problem at most ramps anyway. Our fighting over space should be
directed away from each other and to the government to build us more
ramps. Check out fantastic new ramps at places like Fort Desoto near
Tampa, then look at the crappy lousy little ramps we have in New
England. Our boat taxes must be used to ...well, nevermind...lol, but
I don't think they're being used for boat ramps.
John C.

Thanks to all for their input. Being that it is $5 for the vehicle and
$5-7.50 for the trailer, that's $10 or $12.50 per day except for canoes
and dinghies would end up being $5.
About 1.5 miles away from the launch is a public beach. Not much of a
place, about 400' of waterfront, on perhaps 3 acres. They have restrooms
with 3 stalls for the women (my wife says) and 2 urinals and 2 stalls
for the men. There's some picnic tables off the beach. There's parking
for about 100 cars, making the parking area as large as the rest of the
park. They do have a lifeguard and the place is fairly clean.
Parking is strictly residents only. They've sold decals ($10 per year)
for a good 300 cars, despite only having 100 spaces. The logic is some
of these people work in town and there is also a residents only parking
lot off the street.
You have to get in early. Anyone can use the beach. There's probably 100
other cars parked near the beach. Half residents, half out of towners.
This has left people with businesses or homes in the area rather miffed.
It is not a thriving area, but a little better than a mud hole.
The point of the honor system sounds good. I used to live in an area
where parking was $1 per day at the bus station, for commuters. It was
on the honor system. People were not paying for the most part.
Eventually parking meters went in and the fee to park was 25¢ per hour,
so commuters like myself had to pay $2.50 per day, plus have the hassle
of having so many quarters...
I also see the point of someone staying 4 days in a row costing $40-50.
In that perspective, it does seem excessive.
I suspect someone sees this as a cash cow for the town (which it may not
be) plus summer/weekend jobs for someone's kids.
I'm still not certain what I'll write or say, but I believe this needs
to be significantly revised before they vote on it.