City will enforce 'parking lot tax' every game day

The city of Gainesville has made it more difficult for residents who live near campus to make money selling parking spots to fans on Gator game days this fall.

Residents who live on the streets surrounding the University of Florida campus must pay a business tax of $52.50 if they want to turn their yards into parking lots on game day.

Bob Woods, the city's communication officer, said it's nothing new that Gainesville has required property owners to pay a fee if they want to legally collect money for game day parking.

It's just the first year the city has enforced the requirement, or as Woods puts it, "This is just the first year we've been proactive about the tax."

Woods said the city mailed letters to property owners near the stadium informing them of the regulation to help them avoid penalties and fines. This is the first year this type of reminder letter was mailed.

Becca Gelwicks, a UF student who lives about less than a mile from the stadium and across the street from the Levin College of Law, said she found out about the tax from her landlord, who heard about it on the radio.

"I can understand why the city would want to charge us to park," she said. "It is kind of like running a business."

Gelwicks said she never considered parking cars illegally by not paying the tax. She and her roommates split the cost and gave the money to her landlord, who applied to pay the tax.

Mark Benton, finance director for the city, said 35 residents paid the tax for the 2008 football season. This year, 67 have already paid.

Benton suspects the combination of the reminder letter and people renewing from last year caused the twofold increase in property owners paying the tax.

Residents who applied to pay last year can renew on the city's Web site, www.cityofgainesville.org, before Oct. 7 without penalty.

Those who have never applied must complete an application at the Thomas Center, 302 N.E. Sixth Ave.

Benton said residents can apply today if they plan to park cars for the opening football game against Charleston Southern on Saturday. City offices are closed on Friday.

Gainesville began receiving comments and complaints from residents living near campus about yard parking last year, Benton said. That's when the city realized that residents selling parking spots is an activity that falls under its business tax ordinance, and it now will enforce the $52.50 payment, he added.

David Carlson, a UF student who lives near the stadium and plans to sell parking spots this season, said he doesn't understand the city's motives for enforcing the business tax.

"In my experience, parking cars does not create a public disturbance or safety concern. If it did, I could see regulating it. They're not changing anything," he said. "They're just getting their fingers in the pot."

If property owners elect to charge visitors for parking, they effectively turn their property into a commercial parking lot - which is subject to the annual tax, Woods said in an email Wednesday.

He added that the sale of parking spots by property owners could unfairly compete with locally owned parking lots.

Carlson said he doesn't think it's up to the city to foster an even playing field for businesses and residents who want to sell parking spots on game days.

"Whether you're a student renting or a property owner in Gainesville, you're already paying to have exclusive use of your own house. You shouldn't have to pay this tax on top of that."

Woods and Benton said code enforcement officers and a representative from the collections department will be out on Saturday to inform residents about the business tax requirement.

"At this point, we are not looking to write citations. We just want to inform the public this weekend. Obviously, this will change in the future."

Code enforcement citations range from a warning for the first violation to a $500 fine and a mandatory court appearance for repeated violations, according to Woods.

Benton said that, even though many renters may plan to sell parking on property they do not own, the ultimate responsibility for paying the tax rests with the property owner, and it is the property owner who will be issued the citation.

Oct. 7 is the due date to pay the annual tax.