Council expands Halloween parking overlay to citywide commercial lots; votes to pursue excise tax

The Salem City Council approved an amended Halloween parking overlay on May 22 that removes residential zones from eligibility and allows commercial properties citywide to lease parking spaces during the Halloween period. Councilors said the change was prompted by concerns about unintended consequences if residential parking were opened for temporary commercial use.

Committee members voted to expand the overlay from a downtown‑only area to the entire city’s commercial lots. Supporters said the change is intended to provide flexibility and fairness and to allow commercial property owners citywide to respond to Halloween‑period demand while protecting residential neighborhoods from added congestion.

Councilor Stott (relaying councilor Marcello’s amendment) said the change will allow off‑street spaces located on non‑residential lots to be used for public parking during the defined Halloween period, and the committee removed residential properties from eligibility after concerns about impact on tenants and residential streets.

Separately, the council considered a home‑rule petition that would allow the city to collect an excise tax on transfers of parking spaces. Councilors accepted the committee recommendation and approved the home‑rule petition by show of hands; staff noted the excise tax item would return to subsequent meetings to complete formal steps.

Ending: The overlay amendments will return to the council for second passage; the excise tax home‑rule petition was accepted and will move forward through the required legislative steps.