Committee approves winter trial allowing on-street overnight parking outside downtown; parking bans to be citywide during storms

The Infrastructure Committee on Nov. 18 approved a staff proposal to run a winter trial that will allow on-street overnight parking outside the downtown district when there is no parking ban in effect, remove daytime odd-even restrictions, and make parking bans during storm events citywide.

Staff explained that the trial is intended to support housing development by reducing off-street parking minimums’ impact on small lots, provide traffic-calming benefits from parked vehicles narrowing streets, and test whether winter services can be maintained while allowing overnight street parking. Committee members heard that the trial would not change the city ordinance; instead staff will operate the trial this winter and report back.

Key elements of the trial as described by staff:

- Overnight on-street parking would be allowed outside the downtown parking district on non-storm nights; previously overnight parking was prohibited in some areas unless otherwise allowed.

- Daytime odd-even parking rules would be eliminated and daytime parking would follow summer rules where no signage prohibits parking.

- When a parking ban is declared for snow removal, the ban would apply citywide (a change from current practice that applies the downtown ban only to the downtown district).

- The city will designate and signpost several lots as authorized temporary parking options during a parking ban, including Columbia Street lower deck, Pickering Square Parking Garage (back section), Upper Abbott (back section), Cameron Stadium at Mount Hope (top lot), Cross Insurance Center (section C), Essex Street Dog Park, Watchmaker Street, Gateway Park, Hayford Park and Union Street Recreation Center entrances. These lots will be free to use during declared parking bans.

- Enforcement during declared parking bans will include towing and standard temporary no-parking signage. Staff described an extensive communications plan using the city mass-alert system, the public-works web page, an alert banner on the city website, social media channels, local radio postings, and downtown electronic message boards.

A councilor asked whether bans might last multiple days; staff said duration will depend on storm conditions but that the city recently established dedicated nighttime crews and will clear what it can before allowing parking again. Another committee member asked for clarification on odd-even rules; staff said odd-even applied only to daytime under the prior system and would be eliminated under the trial.

Councilor Lambert moved to adopt staff recommendations to run the trial; a second was recorded and the committee approved moving forward with the trial without sending an ordinance change to council. Staff emphasized that the trial is an operational test and that the city will monitor service levels, towing compliance and communications effectiveness.

The trial will proceed this winter and staff will report results to the committee; no permanent ordinance change was adopted at the Nov. 18 meeting.