JACKSON, Wyo. — Town Council voted unanimously to postpone further action on a downtown paid parking program until after FY23.
The council discussed paid parking during their morning workshop yesterday and all agreed to put off implementing a program this summer.
In December 2020 the staff directed the town staff to use 25,000 to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit offers from paid parking operators. Three companies responded and their offerings have been used to gauge costs and revenue. Findings from town staff show that the current parking situation in the downtown area does not require paid parking solutions.
According to the staff report, the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce 2021 visitor survey found that parking congestion appeared to be a “second-tier” concern compared to more pressing issues, such as overcrowding, traffic, and the high-cost accommodations and food. According to the survey, approximately 80% of respondents stated that they were either satisfied (30%) or highly satisfied (49%) with the convenience of downtown parking.
The recent hiring of Charlotte Frei as the Regional Transportation Planning Administrator was also a factor in postponing the implementation of paid parking. Town staff suggests that the council should allow Frei to consider paid parking in the context of the Integrated Transportation Plan and the Transportation Demand Management Plan, she is responsible for creating.
Vice Mayor Arne Jorgensen supported postponing paid parking but pointed out that the three elements that he feels paid parking would combat are still in play: carbon reduction, vehicle reduction, and environmental.
“As long as things are free, people don’t value them the same way,” Jorgensen said.
Councilmember Jim Rooks discussed his opinions on paid parking, pointing out that drawing a line for paid parking could cause impacts to the residential areas where parking would be free. He also noted the tourism season and events that draw large crowds.
“Out of 365 days, in the Town of Jackson, how many days are we really looking at that are just disasters as far as downtown parking?” Rooks said, “There’s certain weeks that we just know are going to be pretty rough. At the end of the day that’s maybe only 30 to 40 days per year and they are fairly predictable.”
“What means the most to me, in terms of paid parking is lowering congestion on the road.” Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson said, adding that she believes paid parking should be looked at in the larger context by Charlotte Frei.
Councilmember Jessica Sell Chambers was not in attendance at the workshop.
