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NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- In an effort to hold down the cost of municipal services, city officials moved a step closer to charging a fee for parking in public lots with action taken tonight at New Smyrna Beach City Hall.
A city wide ordinance on parking was approved by a 3-2 vote of the City Commission.
Mayor Adam Barringer was pleased with Tuesday's action, telling NSBNews.Net in part: "Tonight's City Commission vote moves us a step closer in the right direction in planning for the future sustainability of our community."
The mayor was joined in the ordinance vote by Commissioners Lynne Plaskett and Judy Reiker. Commissioners Jack Grasty and Jim Hathaway were dissenters.
The ordinance allows the city to designate public lots where motorists would be charged a fee to park. This includes parking on the lot leading to the boat ramps on the North Causeway.
A price schedule or exact affected parking areas have not yet been solidified. Barringer said this issue is critical along the beach approaches, including Flagler Avenue where motorists who do not have a paid pass to drive and park on the beach are taking up key parking spaces off the beach.
The idea of setting up parking kiosks on the North Causeway for boaters did not win approval with the mayor and Plaskett unable to get a third vote among Grasty, Hathaway and Reiker.