JACKSON, Wyo. — Town Council discussed collecting overnight parking fees at the Millward/Simpson Garage during the first reading of the draft Parking Garage Ordinance on Monday, June 2. The new ordinance will need to be read twice more before being implemented, with the Council aiming to begin fee collection around June 25.
In December, Town Council discussed the enforcement of a parking fee of $2 per hour from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Parking would remain free from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. to allow employees with varying shift times to use the garage during their workday.
Currently, vehicles can park in the garage for up to 48 hours for free, year round.
During the first reading of the draft ordinance, Councilwoman Alyson Spery suggested moving back the time of the enforced parking fee to midnight to accommodate residents who work in the service industry.
“I am concerned about the hours that charge people for parking,” Spery said. “I work in the service industry downtown … some people don’t leave their shift until after midnight. Employees will be impacted by parking fees starting at 10 p.m. Could we shift the hours from midnight to 5 a.m.?”
Mayor Arne Jorgensen reminded Town Council that some people drive to the parking garage at 5 a.m. to access the airport shuttle, so he preferred to end the parking fee at 4 a.m.
To accommodate both needs, Teton County Public Works Regional Transportation Planning Administrator Charlotte Frei suggested scheduling the parking fee from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m., and raising the daily rate from $2 to $3 an hour to maintain the $12 overnight rate. Frei told Town Council that adjustments to fees and times can still be made during the first and second readings of the ordinance.
According to staff notes, the ordinance is being updated to authorize fees and allow for a boom gate arm upon exit of the garage. Rates will be displayed at the entrance. Town Council approved a contract Merchant Agreement with Windcave to process the drive through payments.
The draft ordinance states that it will be unlawful for any person to sleep, camp or car camp within the parking garage. Additionally, it’s unlawful to evade the required payment or willfully break or impair the parking payment equipment, including the boom gate.
According to draft ordinance, vehicles cannot be parked in the public parking structure for more than 30 consecutive days. No commercial vehicle, freight carrying vehicle or trailer can be parked in the public parking structure.
Town staff said that final changes to the municipal code will be determined at a future Town Council meeting. Staff will also begin the public information campaign about the changes once the installation date is confirmed.
