Amended Paid Parking Rules Now in Effect in North Myrtle Beach

CITY BEGINS TAKING PARKING DECAL APPLICATIONS FEBRUARY 24

During the February 17 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, Council members passed final reading of amendments to Article II, Stopping, Standing and Parking of the City Code of Ordinances.

The amendments apply to public parking lots on either side of Ocean Boulevard, and certain side streets that intersect with Ocean Boulevard. The paid parking season is March 1-October 31.

On February 24, the City will begin to accept parking decal applications at the Parking Office located in the Finance Department at City Hall, 1018 Second Avenue South. City Hall is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

These are the amended rules governing parking decal applications:

1.  A full-time resident whose vehicle (i.e., golf cart, LSV, motorcycle, automobile or pickup truck that must completely fit into a standard parking space) is registered to their North Myrtle Beach address may apply for a maximum of two complimentary parking decals per property address. If the decal is for a golf cart, a copy of the SCDMV permit registered to the resident’s North Myrtle Beach address is required. Each household may also purchase one additional parking decal for $200 annually.

1.  A nonresident property owner may apply for one complimentary parking decal for their personal vehicle (i.e., golf cart, LSV, motorcycle, automobile or pickup truck that must completely fit into a standard parking space). If the decal is for a golf cart, a copy of the SCDMV permit registered to the nonresident property owner’s North Myrtle Beach address is required. If applying for the vehicle decal, the vehicle does not have to be registered to the North Myrtle Beach property address but must be registered in the property owner’s name. Proof of residential property ownership is required. Each household may also purchase one additional parking decal for $200 annually.

1.  Horry County residents who do not own property or reside in the city of North Myrtle Beach may purchase one decal for their personal vehicle (i.e., LSV, motorcycle, automobile or pickup truck that must completely fit into a standard parking space) for $200 annually. A maximum of 200 parking decals are available, issued on a first come, first served basis.

IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING PARKING DECALS

-- Decals issued in 2019 have not expired and are good through the end of the 2020 parking season.

-- Driver’s license and current vehicle (golf cart, automotive) registration are required to apply for a decal. Non-resident property owners must also show proof of residential property ownership. Golf carts must be registered through the SCDMV to the owner’s North Myrtle Beach address.

-- In cases where a windshield has been replaced, vehicle ownership transferred, etc., parking decals must be returned to the Parking Office to receive a replacement decal. Parking decals are not transferable.

SIDE STREET PAID PARKING LOCATIONS

Beginning March 1, the City will charge a $2 per hour parking fee on the following side streets, which are located East of Nixon, Perrin, Hillside, Lake, Seaview and Spring. (If a street listed below extends West of these boundaries, there are no parking fees on that side of the boundaries.)

1st Ave North

3rd Ave North

Hillside Drive from 3rd Ave North to 11th Ave North

4th Ave North

5th Ave North

6th Ave North

7th Ave North

8th Ave North

9th Ave North

10th Ave North

11th Ave North

12th Ave North

13th Ave North

14th Ave North

15th Ave North

16th Ave North

Hillside Drive from 16th Ave North to 18th Ave North

17th Ave North

18th Ave North

20th Ave North

21st Ave North

Spring St from Sea Mountain Hwy to Ocean Blvd

23rd Ave North

25th Ave North

32nd Ave North

34th Ave North

39th Ave North

46th Ave North

Alongside of and behind Lake Drive/50th Ave North paid parking lot

55th Ave North

57th Ave North

58th Ave North

59th Ave North

East Nixon St from 53rd Ave North to 61st Ave North

The Point located at the dead end of Ocean Boulevard in Cherry Grove

1st Ave South

6th Ave South

Perrin Drive from 7th Ave South to 8th Ave South

9th Ave South

20th Ave South

28th Ave South

Seaview St from 34th Ave South to 36th Ave South

Seaview St from 39th Ave South to 48th Ave South

46th Ave South

48th Ave South

Currently, there is no definition to parking spaces along side streets perpendicular to Ocean Boulevard. In coming years, parking along high-demand side streets could be defined using paved road shoulders, crushcrete, and/or landscaping.

Questions about the parking decal application process may be directed to Parking Clerk Carolina Garcia at cegarcia@nmb.us or (843) 280-5509.

Questions about City policy regarding the paid parking program may be directed to Public Information Officer Pat Dowling at pcdowling@nmb.us.

Results - FY 2021 North Myrtle Beach City Council Budget Retreat

The North Myrtle Beach City Council held its FY 2021 budget retreat meeting February 24-25 at Santee Cooper’s Wampee Conference Center.

The City’s fiscal year is July 1-June 30.

The proposed budget involves 17 separate funds with significant interrelations and transfers between the various funds.

The proposed FY 2021 budget is about $119 million, an increase of about $27 million over the FY 2020 budget.

The budget proposes a property tax increase of about 7.9 mils, most of which would go toward funding an expansion of the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. The proposed tax millage increase equates to a $79 property tax increase on a $250,000 owner-occupied home and 50% more on a nonresidential property of equal value.

In 2019, using a short-term loan, the City paid $4.2 million for the purchase of 96 acres adjacent to the existing 162-acre Park & Sports Complex. Part of the revenue generated by the proposed 7.9 mils increase would pay off the short-term loan, the rest would fund payments on a multi-year bond issue for construction of six new ballfields, seven soccer/lacrosse fields, a family entertainment center, a possible water-play area, and more.

Staff introduced the expansion project and its currently projected cost of about $25 million to City Council at the budget retreat in order to get a feel for Council’s appetite for the project. Council liked the project and the positive financial and quality of life impacts it offers North Myrtle Beach. City management will now move toward getting more precise figures on costs for each element within the project, enabling City Council to come to a better understanding of whether to bond all of the proposed improvements at one time, do key elements now and save some for the future, or do some of the proposed amenities but not others.

City Council has indicated that the proposed millage increase of 7.9 mils could decrease by the same amount after retiring the bond. Council took that approach with the millage increase that helped fund the original Park & Sports Complex.

The City’s current property tax rate is 37.1 mils. For the current budget year, City Council reduced its millage rate by 6.1 mils to reflect the end of the eight-year bond issue with which the City purchased 162 acres and constructed the original Park & Sports Complex. If the proposed 7.9 mils increase is adopted, the City’s new property tax rate would be 45 mils, still one of the lowest in Horry County and South Carolina for a full-service city.

Since opening in March 2014, the Park & Sports Complex generated over $100 million in new, direct revenue for the North Myrtle Beach economy, primarily in the off-season. The facility has attracted over two million visitors. The expanded facility would enable the City to compete for and host larger sports tourism events, and host multiple events simultaneously. It would also position the City to provide continued opportunities for its growing youth and adult recreation leagues, and add increased entertainment, festival, special events and other opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

The proposed budget includes construction of the 18th Avenue North Ocean Outfall beginning in fall 2020. Construction would occur over two years in the fall, winter and early spring months. While other outfalls were funded through a bond issue, the City delayed this new outfall by a couple of years in order to accomplish the estimated $14 million project ($12 million City and $2 million state) without borrowing funds. Smaller storm water drainage projects are also included in the proposed budget.

The proposed budget includes initial funding for an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and a Data Management Center (DMC) on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway. These facilities would be constructed in phases over a couple of years and would share a site with a new fire station, the latter coming on line several years from now to serve development in the city limits on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway.

The EOC would provide the City with a secure, centralized facility from which to manage severe impacts to North Myrtle Beach from Category 3 and stronger hurricanes. Currently, the City does not have emergency operations capabilities west of the Waterway.

The DMC would provide the City with added redundancy and a secure location from which to continue to run the City in the event a major hurricane or other disaster compromised infrastructure located east of the Waterway.

The proposed budget includes funding to help establish a free June 15-August 15 Coast RTA bus route in North Myrtle Beach, utilizing two buses that offer residents and visitors the opportunity to park their cars and ride to multiple locations along Highway 17 and Ocean Boulevard.

Coast RTA will also established a paid bus route that continues bus travel into North Myrtle Beach as part of a route that currently ends in Myrtle Beach. The service, which would begin in October, would have multiple stops in the city.

For both offerings, Coast RTA offers an App that shows where its buses are and when they will arrive at specific locations.

Coast RTA, the City, the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and others will promote both bus services when they are finalized.

Equipment replacement for departments continues on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Under the proposed budget, the year-end balance for the General Fund would be about $12.5 million, above the 35% fund balance policy.

Funding for Beach Renourishment will come from state accommodations tax funds. The City sets aside funding each year to ensure its ability to participate in the major federal beach renourishment program that occurs every 10 years or so.

The proposed budget projects Beach Services showing a profit and net equity in excess of $1.2 million at the close of the FY 2021 budget cycle.

The employee Pay-for-Performance matrix remains the same as for FY 2020.

General Obligation debt remains at $0 until issuance of the proposed Park Improvement Bonds occurs.

City Council discussed the possibility of initiating a long-term focus on public art for City parks and other public areas. Council members instructed the planning department to assess what other cities of similar size have accomplished in this regard and to report back to them. 

Six North Myrtle Beach City Employees Earn Longevity Awards

During the February 17 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, six employees were provided with Longevity Awards. The City provides the awards in five-year increments to City employees who consistently demonstrate excellent customer service.

Shown left to right in the accompanying photo are City Manager Mike Mahaney, Joey Williams, Frank Patterson, Michael Johnson, Douglas Davis, Ben Caldwell, and Kris Monk.

The award winners are Wastewater Operator C Joey Williams (30 years of service), Landscape Technician Frank Patterson (20), Heavy Equipment Operator Kris Monk (20), Heavy Equipment Operator Michael Johnson (20), Bridge Operator Douglas Davis (20), Assistant Zoning Administrator Ben Caldwell (15).

We thank these employees for their dedication to the city of North Myrtle Beach!