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Hernando Today

People unfazed by Pine Island parking fee hike

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: October 22, 2009

PINE ISLAND - Don Pirk of Weeki Wachee doesn't believe raising the parking fee at Pine Island a buck is a big deal.
Pirk figures he visits Pine Island about 10 times a month, often bringing family members to enjoy the ambience and warm breezes off the Gulf.

"Do I like raises in anything? No I don't," said Pirk on a visit to the beach Wednesday. "But I don't think it will make a difference."

The only ones it may represent a hardship to are seniors who visit almost daily, he said. That extra dollar could start to add up.

On Oct. 1, the cost of parking at Pine Island increased from $2 per vehicle to $3. The annual pass increased from $40 to $60.

The parking fee is charged from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Fees will continue to be charged through Nov. 15 at Pine Island.

The extra dollar is adding up.

From Oct. 1 through Oct. 17, the county collected $7,479, compared to $4,982 the same period last year.

That's a difference of $2,497 with roughly the same amount of vehicles passing through the gate: 2,491 during the first 17 days of October compared to 2,486 last year at the same time.

Parks Director Pat Fagan said that tells him people are not bothered by the fee increase.

Nancy Logan, gatekeeper at Pine Island Wednesday morning, said visitors are taking the increase in stride, at least during the two weeks she's been stationed there.

"Usually they say, 'Oh, you've increased it,'" Logan said. "But they understand."

Jerry Shipe, 69, frequently travels from his Crystal River home to Pine Island because the setting is so nice.

Wednesday, he brought his son to see the sights.

"When you want to bring your family, you can't beat $3 dollars," he said.
Fagan said he hasn't received any complaints yet about the dollar increase and the park remains full, especially on weekends.

He hopes the increase will net an extra $52,000 annually into parks and recreation coffers.

"Every time someone comes in, that's an extra dollar we didn't have before," Fagan said.
County commissioners agreed to raise fees to offset the personnel costs associated with general maintenance of the park, collection of the money and traffic control from peak season demand.

The total salary plus benefits for the four gate attendants at Pine Island and two maintenance workers who work Monday through Sunday in two shifts, is $201,941 annually, Fagan said.

Their average salary is $9.20 an hour.

Meanwhile, the idea of automated parking meters is not off the table.
County commissioners have asked Fagan to examine the cost efficiency of having electronic fee machines versus on-site personnel.

To that end, Fagan said he and Planning Director Ron Pianta plan to visit the St. Petersburg beaches to examine their systems.

One of the drawbacks to Pine Island is the meters would be too close to the Gulf and would wear down by the constant wind and sand, Fagan said.

On Clearwater Beach, the automated meters are farther back from the water and are not a problem, he said.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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