Beach parking stickers

Dear Editor:

Since cities and towns are having a hard time at budget time continue to offer programs to constituents, it’s hard to understand why Deerfield commissioners came up with the new beach sticker fees.

Thousands of snowbirds pay taxes and deserve the right to a beach sticker. How many beach stickers were sold to non year- round residents last year? When they return this year and are told they are not eligible for a beach sticker, they should make their voices heard in dissent.

If it’s necessary to give an edge to year-round residents, then why not have a non-resident sticker with a higher fee? That is how many northern beaches show their appreciation to these residents and acknowledge their contribution to town coffers.

Joe Rubino

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note: See ordinance below, passed by Deerfield Beach city commission after June 19 first reading and July 11 second reading.

ORDINANCE NO. 2012

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DEERFIELD BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 66-78(a) REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING STICKERS, SETTING FORTH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCUMENTS A PERSON MUST PRODUCE IN ORDER TO BE ISSUED A PARKING STICKER; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CITY CODE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

SECTION 1. Section 66-78 of the City of Deerfield Beach Code of Ordinances is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 66-78. – Requirements for parking stickers.

(a) No person shall be issued a city parking sticker unless he produces the following original documents or facsimile thereof:

(1) A valid current State of Florida vehicle registration in the name of the applicant or evidence that the applicant has a lease on the vehicle for which the sticker is to be purchased for a period in excess of 180 continuous days both of which must reflect a City of Deerfield Beach address; and

(2) One of the following:

a. A Southern Bell telephone bill showing that the applicant has paid a telephone bill for a residence within the city in the month preceding the month in which that person seeks to purchase a Deerfield Beach parking sticker. Where the telephone bill indicates payment for a Deerfield Beach address by a person with the same last name as the applicant, such bill shall be sufficient if the applicant can produce a valid Florida driver’s license held by himself and listing the same address. The address for which the telephone bill is listed must be a city residence;

b. A city water bill indicating that the person seeking the parking sticker has paid for water service within the city during the month preceding the month in which that person seeks to purchase a city parking sticker. The location for which the water bill was paid must be a residence. Where the water bill indicates payment for a Deerfield Beach address by a person with the same last name as the applicant, such bill shall be sufficient if the applicant can produce a valid Florida driver’s license held by himself and listing the same address;

c. A current voter’s registration card indicating that the person seeking a city parking sticker is a permanent resident of the city;

d. A Florida Power and Light electric bill indicating that the person seeking a city parking sticker received a Florida Power and Light bill for a residence located within the city during the month preceding the month in which the person seeks to purchase a city parking sticker. The address represented on the Florida Power and Light bill must be a residence; or

e. Such other evidence of residency as may be determined from time to time by the city commission by resolution.

(2) A current State of Florida driver’s license; and

(3) A current utility bill reflecting a City of Deerfield Beach address for the applicant or, in the alternative, a valid Florida voter registration card for the applicant with a City of Deerfield Beach address;

(4) The last name and address on all required documents must match.

(b) No person may purchase a city parking sticker who has outstanding and unpaid any city parking citation.

(c) Residents shall be permitted to purchase only one sticker per vehicle. When a sticker is purchased for a particular vehicle as indicated in the vehicle registration, it may not be used for any other vehicle.

(d) The chamber of commerce shall be permitted to purchase 25 stickers per year at the prevailing cost; provided only that each sticker purchased by the chamber of commerce is used to promote tourism and business activities in the city. The chamber may not sell these stickers for more than their actual cost.

(e)(d)The city administration is authorized to formulate an application form for city parking stickers. An applicant for a sticker must sign a statement indicating that he is a permanent resident of the city at the time the sticker is purchased and that the sticker shall not be placed upon a vehicle owned by a nonresident or on a vehicle which is not described in the valid vehicle registration presented with the application.

SECTION 2. It is the intention of the City Commission and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of this ordinance shall become and be made a part of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Deerfield Beach Florida, and the sections of this ordinance may be renumbered to accomplish such intent.

SECTION 3. If any word, phrase, clause, sentence, or section of this ordinance is for any reason held unconstitutional or invalid, the invalidity thereof shall not affect the validity of any remaining portions of this ordinance.

SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its passage and adoption.