Poulsbo council advances downtown parking plan discussion; staff to return with enforcement options and fine proposals

Poulsbo staff told the City Council on May 14 that they have drafted a downtown parking plan intended to increase turnover, add employee parking, improve signage and prepare for paid parking in 2026.

Planning and public works staff said the proposal would change many downtown curbside limits to two hours, add at least two new ADA parking stalls near Front Street and Jensen Avenue, and reconfigure parts of the King Olaf lot and Anderson Parkway to create employee parking. Staff said discussions with property owners and community groups have produced about 48 potential new employee spaces in private and institutional lots.

Staff emphasized that paid parking would be implemented in 2026 and that, once paid parking is active, some existing two‑hour limits in paid zones would be replaced by paid signage; unpaid areas would remain on the two‑hour policy. Staff recommended a 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. enforcement window for paid parking but asked council to confirm enforcement hours, treatment of overnight parking and whether to allow paid overnight parking in some locations.

Josh (planning/transportation) and Heather (transportation staff) led the presentation and said an RFP for parking enforcement and management was already out; the city has received interest and expects responses at the end of May. Councilmembers asked staff to return to the June 11 meeting with options and cost estimates for four alternatives: an on‑staff parking/code enforcement officer, a third‑party contractor for light enforcement, a robust contractor for daily enforcement, or a hybrid model.

Councilmembers discussed whether to allow overnight parking in some downtown blocks that adjoin residential buildings. Some members said allowing overnight parking in areas that are not in paid zones would make better use of existing spaces; others warned that carving out exceptions could undermine enforcement and the long‑term goal of directing residents to on‑site or designated parking.

Staff also proposed revising the city’s fine schedule. Under current Poulsbo code the base fine for most parking violations is $30 and a fire‑lane violation is $250. Staff recommended raising the base fine to $50 and making unauthorized use of employee‑only spaces a $250 violation; councilmembers also raised the idea of a late‑fee penalty for unpaid citations similar to Port Orchard’s structure.

Councilmember McVeigh and others thanked local partners — churches, businesses and institutional property owners — for volunteering employee parking spaces. Staff stated they will bring draft contract terms, enforcement hour options and a recommended fine schedule back to the council in June.