Rehoboth meters to rise to $2 per hour

Visitors to Rehoboth Beach can expect higher prices when the parking meters go into effect in May.

The Rehoboth Beach commissioners are close to approving the $18 million 2015-16 city budget, which includes an increase in parking meter fees from $1.50 to $2 per hour, as well as an average 20 percent increase in business license fees.

City officials plan to use the additional revenue to replace 51 meters in the first two blocks of Rehoboth Avenue with multispace meters, similar to the one at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. City Manager Sharon Lynn said replacing these meters will cost $350,000; she said the city can no longer get the parts to fix the Rhino meters the city has been using since the mid-2000s.

"Bottom line is the manufacturer doesn't support the meters anymore," Lynn said.

Commissioner Kathy McGuiness said Rehoboth's parking meter rate is on the low side as far as seaside communities go.

However, last year, the summer parking rate in Bethany was $1.50 per hour, and Lewes last year increased the parking rate to $1 per hour in downtown areas. Parking at Lewes Beach is $1.25 per hour.

McGuiness said the parking increase to $2 per hour is reasonable because the funds will offset the cost of new meter equipment. In addition, she said, the city pays fees to credit card companies for use of the Parkmobile pay-by-phone system.

"I hope folks are aware this is a convenience for the user at a cost for city. As I have always said, parking is probably the cheapest thing you are going to do in Rehoboth Beach," McGuiness said. "Increased capital for maintenance of our city, needed items or vehicles all come at a cost."

Commissioner Bill Sargent said the parking meter increase is not likely to be a big deal, and he supports the change to to $2 per hour instead of an incremental increase to $1.75 as suggested by the city manager.

The commissioners wrapped up their budget discussions March 9 with the intention of formally passing the budget Friday, March 20, to meet the charter-mandated April 1 deadline.

Commissioner Stan Mills said he is happy with the budget, which while larger than previous years, responds to increasing costs and reflects the need for additional revenues.

Mills said the increases in license and parking fees are conservative, and revenues will be used to provide services and maintenance and replacement of equipment. The city has not raised business license fees since 1993.

Mayor Sam Cooper said the parking increase also supports a healthy capital improvement budget. He said the ordinances enacting the increases must be ready by April to go into effect for the summer.

City to fund new projects, purchase software

The budget includes almost $2.4 million for the capital improvement budget to pay for replacing aging equipment and maintenance, Mills said, including $1.2 million to fund new projects, including a stormwater study, a citywide paving analysis and maintenance plan and a Lake Avenue water and sewer infrastructure project.

Lynn said the city will purchase new financial software that will be used primarily for city accounting, but also for purchase orders, building permits and bill paying.

Mills said he would have liked to have seen money devoted to the restoration and maintenance of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal banks and for enhanced trash service. However, Mills said he was optimistic money for these projects can be found during the year.

McGuiness suggested budgeting for a professional public relations person, but the idea did not garner much support. She said with the city taking on major, big-money, controversial projects such as the ocean outfall and City Hall projects, the city should be use social media platforms to better inform residents.