By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Sea Isle City is giving residents and visitors more time to buy discounted beach tags and parking permits in what is shaping up as an uncertain summer vacation season during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a 5-0 vote, City Council on Tuesday approved extending the deadline for selling seasonal beach tags at the discounted rate of $20 from May 15 to June 30. Normally, seasonal beach tags increase to the full price of $25 after May 15 each year.
Council President J.B. Feeley noted that the discounted rates will save beachgoers some money at a time when people “may be falling behind in their income” because of the sweeping economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus crisis.
Feeley also said the extended deadline will make it more convenient for people to line up their vacation plans while waiting for the Jersey Shore to reopen for the summer season.
“It gives them a little extra breathing room before deciding what they are going to do,” he said in a phone interview after the Council meeting.
Sea Isle continued its practice of holding its Council meetings by teleconference to comply with social distancing requirements. Members of the public were not allowed to attend the meeting in person, but could participate remotely by phone.
Also Tuesday, Council extended the deadline for parking permits, rental permits and mercantile licenses, all key parts of Sea Isle’s summer economy.
Parking permits had been scheduled to go on sale beginning May 1, but that date has now been pushed back to May 11.
Parking permits allow drivers to use the metered spaces and parking lots over the summer season.
Available on a first come, first served basis, the parking permits sell out each year. In 2018, the number of seasonal parking permits was increased from 300 to 400 to meet higher demand. The city plans to sell 400 this year, too.
Parking permits save motorists from the headache of fumbling for cash or coins to feed the meters or parking kiosks. They also save motorists from the worry of getting a parking ticket.
But this summer, the seasonal and weekly parking permits are going to cost more. The city is raising the price from $200 to $250 for the seasonal permits and from $30 to $50 for the weeklies. The price increase was approved by the city before the pandemic struck.
Council also voted Tuesday to push back the deadline for rental permits and mercantile licenses from May 31 to June 30.
Any property in Sea Isle being rented out seasonally or year-round is required to have a permit issued by the city. Businesses are required to have mercantile licenses to operate.
Feeley explained that the city is counting on fees that are generated by beach tags and permits to help finance Sea Isle’s municipal budget.
He said there is a possibility the city may have to tap into the $6.4 million surplus in the $25 million municipal budget to help Sea Isle finance its operations if there is a significant reduction in fees caused by the pandemic.
As the coronavirus outbreak continues, it is unclear when Gov. Phil Murphy and the shore towns will reopen the beaches and other attractions to the public for the summer vacation season.
Sea Isle City wants to help the business community get restarted after the coronavirus crisis is over.
During the Council meeting, Sea Isle Mayor Leonard Desiderio said he is working with City Council, all of the other mayors in Cape May County, the county freeholders, the local business community and the governor’s office on plans for reopening the economy at some point.
“What we need to be is prepared – prepared for when we will reopen,” Desiderio said, while reading from a statement. “In line with this, we’re working with all sectors of the economy to make sure we’re ready when the restrictions get lifted. We are working to make sure procedures are in place for rentals, restaurants, bars, retail stores, shops, and all businesses of every kind.”
He noted that there is no firm date yet for reopening, but said the governor has indicated “we were weeks away, not months.”
“I understand many of us want to know when will we be able to enjoy the beach; when will we be able to go to our favorite restaurants; when will we be able to go shopping for something other than groceries; when will we be able to get back to something approaching normal?” Desiderio said. “Unfortunately, I can’t give an exact date, but I can offer hope that we are nearly there ... and when we do reopen, we will be ready.”
