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Parking advisory committee urges more signage, smart-meter transition and discounted employee permits for downtown Helena
Summary
The Parking Advisory Committee told the Helena City Commission it recommends stepped-up communications about downtown parking, a phased removal of lollipop meters in favor of kiosks and a new discounted monthly permit option for employees.
Julia Gustafson, chair of the Parking Advisory Committee, told the Helena City Commission on March 19 that the committee’s two primary recommendations are increased investment in communications and a transition away from the downtown “lollipop” meters.
"Our first one is that we recommend an increased investment in communications signage and publicly posted information about parking options in Downtown Helena," Gustafson said. She described the transition of many on‑street lollipop meters to a mix of dollar-per-hour kiosk spaces, two‑hour free spaces and a new discounted permit option targeted to downtown employees.
The package of changes grew out of seven committee meetings and discussions with transportation staff, Gustafson said. The permit option would be a monthly pass that covers four hours in specified areas, and staff are already piloting the permits at a few locations the committee identified.
Commissioners and staff discussed outreach and survey work: the committee has drafted a public survey on residential permanent permits that went live the prior week and will remain open for three weeks; the committee plans to review results in April and deliver recommendations to the commission.
Miguel Dolan, representing the Downtown Improvement District, said the committee’s update generated significant public interest: a recent newsletter item about parking generated more than 200 clicks to the committee’s parking update document.
Committee members said they have also begun preliminary talks about the condition and future use of parking structures and will examine consultant deferred maintenance findings in an upcoming meeting. No formal commission action was taken; the committee presented recommendations for the commission’s consideration and said specific budget figures will be provided during the budget process.
The commission invited continued public engagement and staff follow-up as the committee refines permit locations and signage plans.
