12/15/09
Advisory commission proposes parking fees for Fort Williams Park
The Town Council will begin the new year by reviewing a list of proposals for making Fort Williams financially self-sustaining - a list that includes charging fees for parking in the park.
The council on Dec. 14 accepted a report from the Fort Williams Advisory Commission which suggests a fee schedule which includes charging $10 for annual parking passes for residents, and $20 annual passes for non-residents. Tour buses and other group charges are suggested, according to the commission's report, as is an hourly parking fee using a 'pay/display' system.
The fees would apply to nearly all visitors, including those using rental facilities and fields. Exceptions would be educational group buses, visitors to town sponsored events such as Family Fun Day and the Engine One Labor Day Art Show, and possibly people-intensive uses such as the Beach to Beacon race or other cultural events.
The commission's report is a response to a council goal to make Fort Williams Park financially self-sustaining. The council on Dec. 14 voted to accept the commission's report and will consider it further at the Jan. 4, 2010 workshop.
"In 2006 voters overwhelmingly said 'No' to a proposed pay and display system of parking fees at the park, which would have generated much needed revenue needed to pay for capital projects and offset operating expenses," the commission's report says.
"However, there has not been a prior proposal to raise a specific amount of money, in this case the amount necessary to make the park self-sufficient," it says.
The park's operating budget, $173,187 for fiscal 2010, is supported by the town's general fund, with contributions from leased buildings in the "Officer's Row" area of the park. The park's capital budget is supported by revenues generated from picnic shelter rentals, sales of park benches, coin-operated binoculars, commercial site fees and donations from the Fort Williams Charitable Foundation. Larger capital projects, such as improvements to the main gate and to Battery Blair, have been possible only with the help of transfers from the Portland Head Light budget. .
"After consideration, and some exploratory discussions with consultants, the commission concluded that the only way to raise this amount of money would be to institute parking fees or entrance fees," the report says.
The commission is recommending parking fees because they would be easier to implement would interfere less with the traditional uses of the park.
Revenue estimates, based on a survey conducted with the help of the Greater Portland Council of Governments, are projected at $285,424 the first year of implementation, and $309,674 the second year, when buses and trolleys would be included. "Due to need of the travel industry to include access fees in its basic costs, it is already too late to institute parking fees for buses in the park in 2010," the report says. "In fact, the commission has been told that if notice is not given by the end of this calendar year, it will also be too late to institute parking fees for buses in 2011. Therefore, the commission requests that the town manager contact bus and tour companies as soon as possible with notification that fees will be charged beginning in the year 2011."
Startup costs, estimated at $113,000, would include cost of pay/display meters and equipment, enforcement devices and vehicle and reconfiguring the "old" main entrance on Shore Road to prevent parking along that road. Annual cost of the system, estimated at approximately $15,000, would include hiring an additional ranger for enforcement.
The parking fee proposal is estimated to raise adequate funds for the park to become self-sustaining, but the commission is also recommending that the town pursue other ways to raise revenue. These include a second picnic shelter, a reserved picnic area near the beach, concessions, or offering the Officer's Row buildings to a wider range of tenants. "However, these will require further study to determine their feasibility, and the commission recommends nothing other than further study at this time," the report says.
"The commission looks forward to the opportunity to further explore this proposal with the Town Council, and to work towards its implementation if adopted," the report says.
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