By ARIELLA MONTI
The meeting, led by City Manager Charles Theofan and parking consultant Gerry Giosa of Level G Associates in Bethpage on Tuesday morning, outlined the proposal for the stretch of Park Avenue between Long Beach and National boulevards. The basic rate, which has not been finalized, for parking along the curbs and within the interior parking malls would be 50 cents per hour. Areas where drivers are permitted to park for only 10 to 30 minutes would cost a quarter. Instead of traditional, individual coin-operated meters, Giosa’s plan calls for centrally located multiple-space meters, or muni-meters.
For curbside parking, drivers would pay for the meter and place a printed receipt on their dashboard. Spaces that are currently lined would be numbered, and drivers would input the space number into the meter and pay for an allotment of time. They would be able to add time to their space via their cell phone, as well as at any meter along Park Avenue.
The plan also includes employee parking, which would be scattered throughout the business district; drivers would be required to purchase a sticker or tag to park in these areas. The cost would work out to around 50 cents a day, which Theofan said would deter employees from parking in spaces reserved for store and restaurant patrons.
“This plan can be fine-tuned based on usage,” Theofan said.
Stephan Casea, owner of Zamboni’s Deli on West Park Avenue, said he was pleased with the plan. “I like the fact that the customer doesn’t have to walk back to the street to get a ticket,” said Casea, who noted that his customers are usually in and out of his deli in 15 minutes. He offered a few suggestions, including making it the responsibility of business owners to hand out tags to their employees. He also suggested that the city consider where the spots are placed relative to certain businesses, such as hair salons that women may be leaving late at night.
“Are they close enough where they are leaving their store at 9 at night? You don’t want a girl walking by herself, or a young woman walking by herself,” said Casea.
The proposal, which has no projected implementation date, is part of a broader $25,000 plan to examine parking in the city, including in the West End and on Broadway. The next public meeting will be at City Hall on June 23 at 7 p.m.
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