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02/09/10
Pay/Display parking fee program approved for Fort Williams Park
In a series of separate votes, the Town Council on Feb. 8, 2010, took bold steps toward making Fort Williams Park financially self-sustaining.
Most contentious were two votes, both passed 5-2, that establish a pay/display system for collecting parking fees at the park beginning April 1, 2011; and, set a non-binding referendum this spring asking citizens whether they favor such a system.
The fee system approved by the council would charge a daily fee of $5 for parking at Fort Williams, to be collected through "pay/display" units. Seasonal passes, $10 for Cape Elizabeth residents and $20 for non-residents, would also be available for purchase at various locations.
The advisory referendum, to be held at the same time the town first votes to validate the 2010-2011 school budget, will read, "Would you favor the Town establishing a ‘pay/display’ parking program for Fort Williams Park?"
The fees would be charged annually April 1-Nov. 1 beginning in 2011, and are part of a recommendation from the Fort Williams Advisory Commission to make Fort Williams Park financially self-sustaining. Aggressively seeking revenues from Fort Williams Park is a high priority under one of the Town Council's goal for this year: To enhance revenues from sources other than the property tax.
The fee for residents, however, and the amount, were points of contention as the seven Town councilors grappled with their decisions Feb. 8.
Councilor Penny Jordan offered an amendment to the motion for a pay/display system that would exempt town residents. Councilor Jessica Sullivan, and Chair Anne Swift-Kayatta, agreed that residents should not have to pay to park. "We've supported the Fort for years, I think that would be an appropriate step to take," said Sullivan.
However, Councilors Frank Governali, Jim Walsh and Sara Lennon sided with the position offered by Coucilor David Sherman, that not charging residents would be inconsistent with the goal of making the park self-sustaining. "It seems a bit inconsistent to say, 'if you happen to live in Cape Elizabeth, you don't have to contribute to that'," said Sherman. However, he said he believed the low $10 price for a resident pass respected the support that Cape Elizabeth residents have given to Fort Williams in the past.
Councilor Sara Lennon was among the four councilors who voted against removing the fee for residents, and carried it further by proposing a pass price of $25 for both residents and non-residents. Her amendment failed 2-5, with Jim Walsh being the only other councilor supporting.
Jordan and Sullivan ultimately voted against the pay/display parking fee system. Swift-Kayatta, Sherman, Lennon, Governali, and Walsh supported it.
Citizen referendum
Walsh and Lennon, however, were opposed to a subsequent vote to hold a non-binding citizen referendum on their decision for the pay/display program. "I just question the wisdom of going to referendum on this question," said Walsh. As stewards of the park, and representatives of the community that elected them, the council is responsible for making this very important decision, Walsh said. "I just believe that the time for us to act, as it relates to the self-sustaining components of this park, is now, it's not to wait until June," Walsh said. Lennon said she worried what the council would do if the referendum failed, as did a similar referendum three years ago. "It means a tax increase - or a crumbling Fort," Lennon said.
Sherman, who along with Swift-Kayatta, Sullivan, Jordan and Governali, voted in favor of a referendum, said he agreed with many of Walsh's and Lennon's concens, but in this case, the topic had already gone to referendum. "I am very reluctant to say, 'well, sorry, we're just going to completely disregard what you've said'," said Sherman.
The wording of the referendum differs slightly from that which was soundly defeated by citizens in November 2006. The question at that time, "Would you favor the Town establishing a 'pay/display' parking fee for non-residents at Fort Williams Park to help support park maintenance and improvements?" was greeted with 3,145 votes against, and 1,951 votes in favor.
Fees for tour buses
Less contentious action on Feb. 8 was a motion to establish fees for the estimated 800 tour, recreational and camp buses that visit Fort Williams Park.
By unanimous vote, the council directed Town Manager Michael McGovern to meet with bus tour representatives, and to propose fees to the Town Council no later than July 15, 2010. "The fees shall be similar to those recommended by the Fort Williams Advisory Commission but may provide for package plans for frequent visitors," according to the approved motion.
The council also requested the Fort Williams Advisory Commission continue to explore income potential from concessions, special events, new park uses and from other suggestions from citizens, and asked for a report on these suggestions by Dec. 31, 2010.
The parking fees adopted by the council will not be collected from visitors attending Cape Elizabeth High School's graduation, Family Fun Day, the Engine One Labor Day Art show, or scheduled sporting events on the park's athletic fields.
As part of the council action Feb. 8, the daily parking fee for picnic shelter users may be collected as part of the rental fee, at the option of the renting party. The Fort Williams Advisory Commission will propose a fee schedule beginning in 2011 to accommodate this option.
The parking fee for special events may be adjusted as part of the fee for a special event during the approval process for the special event.
Chair Anne Swift-Kayatta closed the hourlong discussion on Fort Williams by encouraging voters to vote in the referendum. "I want to remind everyone that everyone on the Town Council and probably everyone in our community has the same interest, and that is to keep Fort Williams the special and wonderful place that it is today," she said.
McGovern added that the advisory referendum question refers only to the pay/display parking, not the fees for buses. "And even the advisory referedum is an advisory referendum," McGovern said. The council will have the option of reversing its action on pay/display parking fees after the public vote, he said.
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