Shelter advocate urges temporary parking permits near Day by Day Shelter; committee asks staff to consult parks and police

Jacob Claymeier, a Day by Day Shelter staff member and member of the Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board, told the Transportation Committee guests at the shelter face unstable overnight parking options and occasional verbal conflicts with nearby residents. He proposed using part of the Leach Amphitheater parking lot or Lot 2 (next to Oshkosh Fire Department Station 15) as a temporary permitted overnight parking area with nightly permits distributed by shelter staff.

Claymeier described that some guests store most of their belongings in cars and that tickets, towing or theft can cause significant financial and emotional harm. "If they get a ticket, they get towed, or they have their belongings stolen, it can be really a financial and emotional, event," he said.

Committee members and staff discussed jurisdictional limits: the Leach Amphitheater lot is under Parks Department control and would require Parks approval; Lot 2 is signed for permitted parking and charges (staff said signage suggested a ~$50/month rate). Members also recommended consulting the Police Department to identify potential enforcement or public-safety concerns, and staff noted existing city rules generally prohibit overnight parking in most city lots unless a leased stall is held.

Staff said they would follow up, consult Parks and Police, and report back to the next meeting. Committee members noted that event nights (for example, Waterfest) would likely preclude use of Leach Amphitheater parking on those dates and that any permit system should prevent long-term camping or unattended multi-day vehicle storage. Claymeier offered a possible nightly pass that shelter staff would issue to guests to limit use to one night at a time.

No formal committee action was taken other than staff agreeing to investigate and return with options.