Ben, a city staff member working with downtown outreach, presented a resolution authorizing free parking at municipal ramps and metered on-street spaces on Saturdays during July as a four-day pilot to encourage business patronage.

"This will waive parking fees at all municipal ramps and lots...and all metered on street parking on Saturdays in July," Ben said, explaining outreach to small businesses showed parking friction and July is historically a slow month.

Nut graf: The pilot would waive fees at Water Street, State Street, Holly Street, Collier Street ramps and all on-street meters on the selected Saturdays. Staff said Saturday revenue in July 2024 averaged about $1,900 per Saturday, below other months; the city will monitor garage counts and on-street occupancy and solicit business feedback.

Councilmember Middleton asked about metrics; planning staff and the consultant (Nelson
ygaard) will compare baseline street observations and garage ticket data. Ben and staff said they will coordinate promotion through city channels and ask businesses to publicize the free-parking Saturdays.

Council action: Council voted to expedite consideration of the resolution; the expedited roll call passed 6–0. Staff said the measure is a pilot and can be discontinued if it proves counterproductive.

Ending: Staff will supply parking-count and business-feedback data to the ongoing parking study and report findings to the council after the pilot.