Applying for beach parking permits in Boca Raton could get a whole lot easier.

The City Council on Wednesday will consider allowing the sale of beach parking permits by mail instead of requiring people to visit a community center to purchase them. New computer technology has made the shift possible, creating a method for an online application process.

Boca issues more than 15,000 annual permits for vehicle entry at Spanish River Park, South Beach Park and Red Reef Park, City Manager Leif J. Ahnell said in a memo to the Council.

Under the current city rules, applicants must go to a community center to prove residency and to show possession of a vehicle.

As the application process moves online, the days of required face-to-face transactions for annual parking permits for the three city-owned beachfront parks could become a thing of the past.

Instead, the amendment would allow applicants to scan necessary documents and apply for the permits online. Then, staff would verify the information and mail the appropriate permit to the resident.

Under the proposed amendment, permits no longer would be referred to as parking permits, but instead as entry permits. Changing the term “reinforces the intent that vehicle access to the ocean parks requires payment of a fee,” Ahnell said.

Annual permits issued on or after Aug. 30 will be valid through Sept. 30 of the following calendar year. For more information on applying for the $57 permit, visit the Recreation Services Department webpage.

In other city business, anyone applying to serve on city boards or committees may be required to answer questions, such as “Have you been convicted of a felony?” and “Do you have criminal charges pending?”

Such questions do not currently appear on the application form. Council members will consider revising the form for the volunteer positions to include inquiries into certain background information.

“Other cities ask this information. I think it would be relevant for us to do so, too,” Councilman Scott Singer said during a Sept. 21 Council workshop. “It would not be a disqualifier, but I think it would be useful.”

Under the proposal, applicants would be asked to disclose any criminal history, past ethics violations, potential conflicts of interest, delinquent accounts with the city and pending code enforcement violations.

“In particular we had one person last year — a non-resident — who fell into one of these categories,” said Singer, who requested the resolution. “He was good enough to disclose this information, which I think was useful to our consideration, but I think we should be asking for it anyway.”

The questions proposed to be added to the form are generally consistent with those asked by other cities, including Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, West Palm Beach and Wilton Manors, said City Attorney Diana Grub Frieser in a memo to the Council.

, 561-243-6531 or Twitter @EmilyBethMiller