PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend City Council is considering the implementation of a pilot paid parking program for the city’s downtown core. The plan is likely to go back before council on March 17.
A presentation on the parking management plan went before the council at a Feb. 10 workshop. Presenting were Police Chief Thomas Olson, Public Works Director Steve King and Emma Bolin, the city’s director of planning and community development.
“Parking is a psychological topic,” King said.
He shared a slide which said that when parking is available, people might not think about it, or simply reflect on being lucky to find a spot. Conversely, when no parking is available, people can experience high levels of frustration. That may be compounded by being late or experiencing bad weather.
Stretching the length of Water Street from the ferry terminal to the corner of Monroe Street, the program also would include Tyler Street, Taylor Street, Adams Street and Quincy Street between Water Street and Washington Street. Parking on Quincy Street between Water Street and the waterfront would also be pay-to-park.
There are about 270 spaces expected to be included in the program, Olson said.
Madison Street between Water Street and Washington Street, in front of City Hall, is not part of the program’s map, Olson said.
Mayor David Faber asked if exemptions could be made within the program for people with disabilities.
“That’s certainly a policy that you can make locally, is if you’re disabled and you have a placard, then you’re exempt from paid parking,” Olson said.
The proposed map will not impact current disabled parking spots, Olson said.
Parking likely would cost $2 per hour, and payment would be required between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Olson said.
Olson said spaces in the pilot program could be used for the entire day, so long as they’re paid. Time can be added remotely without returning to your vehicle, he said.
“One of the concerns I’ve heard over the last years is that locals won’t use downtown restaurants because they don’t want to pay to park,” Olson said. “So I’m only putting it up to five o’clock; evenings are free. So that wouldn’t be an issue for our locals to come down and use our local businesses.”
Olson said parking will be recommended to be free on Mondays and/or Tuesdays.
The city will work with an outside contractor, which will provide a parking app and collect payment for the city. The company, yet to be chosen, will provide the city with data about usage for different spots.
Gathered data will influence the direction of a longer-term parking management plan, King said.
City staff anticipates recommending a more long-term plan based on the data results, in the coming years, according to the presentation.
“When you do a parking management program, there’s a real intent and opportunity to achieve strategic outcomes about what you want for, in this case, your downtown,” King said. “There’s a lot of different opinions of what that looks like. One extreme is a parking garage; another extreme is more ride-share or bike-share.”
The pilot program fees will pay for data analysis and effective enforcement, King said.
Current parking limitations define certain spots as being limited to two hours, four hours or 15 minutes. The current parking violation fee is $15. City staff recommend a violation fee of $65, which could make the fee more effective, Olson said.
Infrastructure installations will be limited to signs with information on how to access payment, which can be done through an app or by calling a phone number, Olson said.
“You can put an app on your phone so once you’ve used it, your vehicle and all your information is stored in there,” Olson said. “If you’re new to the app, it can take five to 10 minutes. If you’ve used it before, it’s within a couple of minutes.”
Council gave city staff the go ahead to budget and plan for a pilot fee program in a meeting last September, King said.
Bolin said the fee program falls in line with elements in the transportation section of the comprehensive plan.
A 2004 parking management study recommended charging parking fees, King said.
“If you look back at that 2004 study, this is probably the biggest thing that has not yet been implemented, is parking fees,” King said.
Council agendas can be found at https://cityofpt.us/citycouncil/page/agendasminutesvideos. Agendas for the regular Monday meetings are generaly online by the end of the day on Friday.
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Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached by email at elijah.sussman@sequimgazette.com.
