Council to greatly limit parking, hasn’t decided what to do with ramp gates
SOMERS POINT — Last month, City Council President Charlie Haberkorn said it was time the city address the issues it has been having with the gates on its two boat ramps.
The city spent about $152,000 to purchase gates and install them at the ramps, located at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park and alongside the Route 52 causeway off Bay Avenue, but malfunctions limited both access and income, and some are calling for their removal.
On March 13, Haberkorn said the gates were not operational for part of last year and wondered aloud whether it was worth keeping them, noting there was more expense than revenue in 2024.
He said the city must decide whether to keep operating the gates, which work via key fob and require a contract with a monitoring firm, or try another method for collecting fees.
City Council introduced two ordinances March 27 regarding use of the ramps but was not prepared to issue a resolution changing the way patrons pay for the service.
However, one of the ordinances states the city is creating a permitting system that “will allow a visual method of identification of those users who have paid for such use” of the ramps, such as decals.
The first ordinance states the city bears significant costs to maintain the two ramps and believes it has not maximized profit.
“The city has … tried various methods of implementing cost recoupment … including the most recent attempt, a gate system which added to the significant cost,” it states.
The ordinance eliminates the previous seasonal permit and creates an annual permit. No monetary amount was noted.
“The city may, by resolution, enact, and from time to time may amend, an annual use fee schedule for each calendar year for the launching of boats or other watercraft,” it states.
The second regulates parking of boat trailers on streets, alleys and rights of way.
In connection with modifications to the way the city charges for the use of its boat ramps, City Council determined that it should modify its ordinance governing parking.
The determination was made “based on the historical fact that many of the users of the city’s boat ramps often times park on the streets, alleys and/or rights of way in the areas” near the ramps, the ordinance states.
“City Council now believes that it is appropriate to limit boat trailer parking in certain areas …. to ensure that users of the boat ramps have paid for the use,” the ordinance states.
It states no boat, boat trailer or trailer of any type exceeding 22 feet can be parked on a street, alley or right of way at any time.
It also would prohibit boat trailers of any size to be parked in any lot or on any property owned or maintained by the city, or on any of the following streets: Broadway, Bay Avenue, George Street, Annie Avenue and Somers Avenue.
Violators would be subject to a fine of $175 to $500.
Haberkorn said the city was not ready to set those fees until the other issues were settled.
“I would have loved to have the resolution out but when we started digging in and peeling back the onion a little bit, there were things that really had to be technically corrected in the ordinances and there’s a process for that, and that’s why we pushed it back to the next meeting,” Haberkorn said.
City Council is scheduled to meet next at 7 p.m. April 10.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
