The cost of skimping on a parking ticket in the city of Anna Maria skyrocketed Sept. 8.
City commissioners unanimously voted to approve a resolution creating an additional $85 late fee for parking tickets paid after 30 days in an effort to attract the attention of collection agencies.
The fine for a parking ticket is $50 in Anna Maria, the lowest on the island and there is a $15 late fee if a ticket in Anna Maria is not paid within five days.
Mayor Dan Murphy said that while he didn’t see a need to increase the cost of tickets, the $15 late fee is too low to secure interest from collection agencies.
Murphy said the city doesn’t have the resources to enforce the fine, so the percentage of tickets that go uncollected has increased from about 8% to about 20% over the past quarter.
The mayor suggested charging an $85 late fee for tickets paid after 60 days, which would bring the total cost of an unpaid parking ticket to $150, a cost he said agencies would be more interested in collecting.
Murphy said the city next would issue a request for proposals from collection agencies.
He added that while agencies keep 35%-60% of what they collect, the city probably would make more on timely payments.
Commissioner Robert Kingan suggested charging the additional $85 late fee after 30 days instead of 60 days.
“We need to push this,” he said.
Commissioner Mark Short moved to approve the resolution with Kingan’s proposed change and Jonathan Crane seconded the motion, which passed.
In other matters…
City commissioners also:
- Unanimously voted to approve a resolution establishing seven reserved parking spaces at city hall for Island Players’ staff noon-5 p.m. on select Sundays;
- Unanimously voted to approve easement agreements with five Pine Avenue properties so the city can complete sidewalk improvement plans;
- Unanimously voted to approve a consent agenda, including special event permits for the Vintage Flea Market 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, and the city-hosted Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony noon-3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11.
The commission will meet next at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive. Directions to attend can be found at cityofannamaria.com.
