 |
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
Las Olas Association Offers Positive
Solution to Parking Meter Increase John Hoelzle, Assistant Parking Division Manager and Bud Bentley, Assistant City Manager, addressed the Las Olas Association recently concerning plans to implement new types of parking meters and forms of payment. They explained that the city wide rates on parking haven’t gone up since 1981, justifying the rates going up from 25 cents to 75 cents per hour. Members of the board and Las Olas business owners all agreed that the 75 cents an hour was understandable, but that there were no provisions to provide visitors with enough quarters to feed the meters primarily in the H Lot. It seems that since the new rates were implemented, people coming to Las Olas were unprepared for the increase and thus they had to scurry around to get several dollars in quarters! Mr. Hoelzle introduced the new parking meters that were being purchased for the parking lots that can use a pre-paid card, but not credit cards or dollar bills. He was reminded by board members that many of the businesses on Las Olas depended on tourists who would probably never go to City Hall to purchase the special pre-paid card. "The city’s efforts were well intended, but did not address the group’s need for visitor parking offering ease of payment, especially for tourists," LOA’s President Chris Gaus said. Chris inquired about installing more user-friendly meters such as the Schlumberger, solar powered meters along Las Olas, rather than the ones being considered. The reason the City wasn’t planning to install the Schlumberger multi-space meters, that take dollar bills and Master Charge and Visa credit cards, was cost; $12,000 each. Four of these meters would be needed. After some lively discussion, Sharon Schwartz, vice president of the board made a motion to approve an expenditure by the board of directors of up to $15,000 dollars to share in the expense of purchasing multi-space meters rather than the less expensive, but less effective meters. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. "The board feels this is an important issue for members and non-members alike,"Chris said. As manager of Mangos, Chris started the fund off with a donation of $1,000.00 which was followed closely with another $1,000.00 contribution from the Las Olas Company. Chris recently presented a check for the $15,000 to Cindi Hutchinson, the Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner for District IV. The new meters should be operational in the 2nd quarter of 2004. "The multi-space meters will be a long-term solution to a very serious problem and is just one more way the Las Olas Association continues to fuel the Las Olas Renaissance," said Amanda Greene, the Association’s executive director. For comments or information, call Chris Gaus at 954-684-9747. For information, call the Las Olas Hot Line at 888 – 4 Las Olas. By: Kevin Lane Contact: Chris Gaus (954) 523-5001 Kevin Lane (954) 480-4894 |
|||||||||
|
Got news? We'd love to publish details of your forthcoming events, special sales or parties. If you're celebrating an anniversary, have a new business venture or any news about the boulevard, please |
||||||||||
|
|
Las
Olas Boulevard ©Las
Olas Association 2003 904 Las
Olas Blvd, |
