Aberdeen council repeals dormant downtown parking board, centralizes parking authority and appoints public parking manager

The City of Aberdeen City Council voted May 5 to repeal the downtown parking board, adopt a citywide rewrite of municipal parking regulations and establish a public parking manager role, naming Lieutenant Brad Jung (promoted for the position) to lead the effort.

Council member Ronen said the parking district’s taxing authority “has not been used since 2019” and described downtown parking as “a ship without a rudder,” arguing the ordinance will “get somebody steering this thing.” The council approved Ordinance 25-05-03 (repealing the parking board) by roll-call vote; all members present voted aye.

The council then considered Ordinance 25-05-04, which reorganizes Chapter 52 of the Aberdeen City Code to consolidate parking rules and clarify who may make temporary no-parking and no-traffic determinations. Council member Ronen told the council the ordinance adds a new section (52-2-16) to mirror state statute language that frames public parking regulation as a public-safety and public-welfare activity and expands 52-2-17 to include temporary “no traffic zones” used for street closures and events.

Chief McNeil told the council the new public parking manager will coordinate multiple city departments and downtown stakeholders: “There are a lot of different things that need to happen and occur in our downtown area,” he said, and the position is intended to be “that first point of contact that can be accountable and be able to answer in a timely fashion those needs.” He said the post will gather input, set priorities and work with other city offices on maintenance, signage and safety improvements.

The ordinance establishes several operational details: limited-time parking designations will be made by the city manager, overtime parking violations will operate under a fee schedule with a daily maximum of $100, and vehicles accruing more than $300 in unpaid overtime-parking fees may be towed. The rewrite also formalizes leased and restricted parking uses (explicitly allowing other approved uses in specific spots, such as dumpsters where no alternative exists).

During debate council members pressed for a balance between delegation and oversight. Councilwoman Langer and other council members said they supported streamlining routine street-closure approvals so event organizers do not have to wait for council agendas, while Councilwoman Tiffany (full name not specified in the record) successfully moved an amendment to subsection 52-2-17(d) striking “for more than 2 days.” The amendment passed on roll call (Nordstrom, Langer, Ronan/Ronen and Mayor Shoneman voted aye; Ward and Fulberg voted no; the amendment carried), allowing any denied applicant to appeal a no-parking/no-traffic denial to the council rather than limiting appeals to denials of requests longer than two days.

Council then approved the amended ordinance by roll call; all present voted aye. Chief McNeil introduced Lieutenant Brad Jung to the council; the chief said Jung had the experience the city sought in planning, enforcement, conflict resolution and event coordination. "I'm confident that this position can make a difference," Chief McNeil said, and Jung described a multi-month rollout to set priorities and gather stakeholder input.

Council members who spoke praised downtown partners and staff. Councilwoman Langer singled out Amber Schwab for coordinating meetings among stakeholders that led to the ordinance changes. The council directed staff and the new parking manager to develop policy details and return to council as needed to adjust the program.

The action repealing the parking board, the ordinance amending Chapter 52 and the appointment of the public parking manager are final city actions recorded at the May 5 meeting.