Change in Carmel parking meter enforcement hours

The new parking meters on Ocean Avenue have caused a stir among businesses since they were installed in December.

This week the city has already made some changes to the pilot program.
On Monday the parking enforcement hours in Carmel changed from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. adding two extra hours of free parking.

Carmel Police Chief Mike Calhoun said,

“(This happened) after hearing some concerns regarding the business owners about allowing people to park early morning so they can come get a cup of coffee or read a paper without having to pay.”

Todd Tice, the owner of The Club clothing store said he met with the mayor and chief of police to talk about the enforcement times. Tice said most stores don’t open until 10 a.m. While coffee shops are open earlier.

“Its not really fair for those places that need a quick in and out type customer to come in and get a quick coffee why they shouldn’t really be able to park out in front,” said Tice.

The paid parking started on five blocks of Ocean Avenue on Dec. 2. One of the reasons the meters were installed was to try and get employees to park in the designated parking lots a couple blocks away.

News Channel 5 was on Ocean Street around midday and there were plenty of open parking spots. The city sees those open spots as an opportunity to shop while businesses see the open spaces as a loss of money.

Store owner Sheree Smith said,
“This is hurting us. It’s hurting us. People are going to the side streets and now they’re not coming down Ocean Avenue.”

Smith owns Carriggs of Carmel and she has had a petition to get rid of the meters inside her store from day one. She says she now has over a 1,000 signatures.

Over at The Club, Tice said he’s not really for or against the meters but he has learned how to keep his customers happy.

Tice said,
“One thing we do is when someone comes in to make a purchase, we reimburse them for their parking.”