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Downtown business owners and residents press council to pause paid‑parking kiosks during road construction
Summary
Multiple downtown merchants and residents urged the Town of Taos Council to suspend the new paid‑parking kiosk program while major road construction continues, saying kiosks have reduced customer traffic and harmed small businesses.
Dozens of speakers at the Town of Taos Citizens' Forum asked the council on Sept. 24 to pause or reverse recently installed paid‑parking kiosks until road construction is finished, saying the combination of construction and paid parking is reducing foot traffic in the downtown core.
"I want to express my strong opposition to the new parking fees and the transition from free to paid parking areas," said Kobi Sonescu, owner of Cowes Cookery, who told the council he feared paid parking would discourage local shoppers and reduce gross receipts tax revenue. Several other merchants echoed that request during the public comment period.
Business owners and residents described examples of lost customers and safety incidents. Ruth Ann McCarthy, representing the Taos Roundtable, said the town's downtown businesses had been hit repeatedly — by COVID, wildfires and prolonged road work — and urged a moratorium on paid parking while construction continues. The clerk read similar written requests from local business owners including Julie Lake and Polly Ray asking the council to pause implementation until road work ends.
Why it matters: Speakers said downtown's summer season and shoulder months are crucial to small businesses' annual revenue and that the current combination of construction and kiosk fees is reducing sales during a traditionally busy part of the year.
Details raised by commenters: Several speakers said the kiosks had been costly and confusing for locals and visitors; one business owner described an 82‑year‑old visitor who fell returning from a kiosk and left town in distress. Residents also asked the town to consider targeted waivers — for certain lots or residents — and proposed using temporary signage that reads "Enjoy free parking during road construction" to ease public relations and maintain local customer access.
Council response and next steps: Council members repeated their concern for affected merchants and discussed options including a special meeting to consider a temporary moratorium; Council member Oswald and others asked staff to prepare options. The mayor and manager said they are in contact with state and county partners on the construction timeline. No formal change to the parking program was approved at the Sept. 24 meeting.
Related items: Several commenters also raised other town expenditures (cemetery work, severance pay, holiday decorations) and requested greater transparency on those projects; the clerk and council acknowledged those concerns and directed speakers to staff for follow‑up.
Ending: The council indicated interest in exploring short‑term relief for businesses and in additional public outreach; staff were asked to return with options and possible timing for council consideration.
