JACKSON, Wyo. — The parking garage on the corner of Millward Street and Simpson Avenue will remain free of charge while the Town of Jackson (TOJ) works out the logistics of a discount pilot program for local residents that will be imposed until the winter parking ban is over.
At Monday’s Town Council meeting, five people gave public comment on the parking garage fee structure dilemma that Council has been working to address for over a year. Ultimately, the councilmembers voted unanimously to begin implementing a new plan that will cost $5 per hour for nonlocals, from midnight to 4 a.m., with a maximum overnight rate of $20; and a local’s discount program for 100 residents within town limits that would cost $4 per night until April 16, 2026. TOJ anticipates some time before the fee schedule goes into effect, to allow for residents to prove residency within the town limits.
“If it takes us a week or two to make sure we’re clearly communicating to the public what’s happening, that’s worth doing,” said Mayor Arne Jorgensen.
The number of local residents who will be eligible for a discount was based on a study done in March. Town staff took a full inventory of vehicles and state license plates in the garage every three hours from 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, to 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 22. The weekend did coincide with the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb, which could have affected results. The study found that 103 vehicles did not move in two nights, and 66 vehicles were present both nights.
Councilmember Alyson Spery was originally interested in keeping the garage fee-free for local residents. But TOJ Transportation Manager Charlotte Frei cautioned the group against free parking, which encourages driving and also tends to favor higher-income residents who already own a vehicle. After debating four other options brought by TOJ staff, Town Council decided on a motion that keeps the maximum overnight cost for 100 local residents at $4.
The electeds were clear that this will be a pilot program implemented in order to recoup some cost of supplying and maintaining the structure, while continuing to study the patterns of those who utilize the garage. There will be a chance to review and determine future changes after winter. The overnight hourly rate for nonlocals is not expected to end on April 16, though Town Council will take all things into consideration before executing a permanent plan.
The main questions that councilmembers attempted to answer in their discussion on Monday were about determining who are the intended and unintended users, and which group should be prioritized. Jorgensen mentioned a prior resident who made public comment and told Town Council that they only have one off-street parking space but members of the shared residence have two cars. The resident’s landlord had told the renter that the parking garage could be used for overnight parking in the winter.
Jorgensen agreed that he was not keen on offering completely free parking, and that an off-street parking space should be considered in roommate negotiations: “By providing free parking, we are subsidizing landlords.”
