The Town Council on Oct. 6 approved a new pricing structure for winter car storage at the Millward Simpson parking garage and directed staff to survey nearby Jackson Street Apartments residents about unmet parking needs. Council and staff also discussed using the garage to support an airport shuttle pilot.

Transportation Manager Charlotte Frey presented background and two alternatives for winter overnight (car storage) pricing. Staff's overview noted the garage is a community asset that should be adaptively managed, and that pricing is a key lever for managing demand and turnover while ensuring financial sustainability for facility maintenance. Staff explained a range of possible pricing variables and recommended a data-driven trial using an illustrative structure: free parking for the first eight hours, then $5 per hour up to a maximum daily rate of $25, with the daily maximum applying again for each 24-hour block.

Public comment included two speakers who said the garage is the only practical overnight option for some residents and that adding fees would be an equity burden for low-income or under-resourced people who have no other overnight parking option. Councilors acknowledged that consequence and discussed targeted responses (permits or reserved spaces for nearby affordable housing) while also stressing the need to manage demand and collect data from the new gate system.

After discussion, the council voted to direct staff to implement a payment structure for car storage at the town parking garage with the first eight hours free and $5 per hour up to a maximum daily rate of $25; additionally council directed staff to conduct a survey of Jackson Street Apartments residents to determine additional parking needs (including how many additional parking spaces residents might need and their attitudes toward pricing). The motion was adopted by council.

Councilors also asked staff to consult with the Start (transit) director and airport staff about advertising the garage as an option for airport shuttle users; staff reported they planned to meet that week with Start and airport staff to coordinate outreach and logistics.

Why it matters: The town installed automated entry/exit equipment this year; the new rate structure and survey are an early, data-driven attempt to manage competing demands (residents, employees, visitors, airport-shuttle riders and hotel guests) while funding maintenance. Councilors said the decision balances short-term equity concerns with a longer-term need to treat parking as a managed, priced resource.

What comes next: Staff will implement the pricing pilot and begin collecting utilization data; the transportation team will report back with performance metrics and the housing director will be asked to survey Jackson Street Apartments residents and return findings as soon as practicable.