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Pitkin County to advance paid parking pilot and SP Plus contract at Buttermilk; board asked to remove revenue projection pending fee decisions
Summary
Pitkin County staff proposed hiring SP Plus to manage paid parking at the Buttermilk lot and HHS garage, and proposed a limited summer pilot; commissioners asked staff to withhold revenue projections pending a formal fee schedule.
Pitkin County public-works staff asked commissioners to approve supplemental appropriations to move to a full-year parking-management contract with SP Plus for the Buttermilk ski-area lot and Health & Human Services (HHS) parking, and to implement summer paid parking this season.
Brian Pettit, public works director, said a full-year contract with SP Plus would cost roughly $260,000 and that the county expects to cover the cost from paid-parking revenue at Buttermilk. Pettit explained Buttermilk parking is highly seasonal: limited summer demand and heavy winter demand tied to ski operations; staff recommended starting a summer paid-parking pilot at a historic fee of $6 per day (6-day maximum) to begin familiarization with paid operations and to coordinate with the airport’s fee program.
Pettit said the county will work with stakeholders — including Aspen Skiing Company and adjacent homeowners associations — to discuss winter-fee alternatives and to design equitable shuttle and transit connections. Commissioners asked that any revenue assumptions be removed from the supplemental budget request until the board reviews and adopts a formal fee schedule; staff agreed to omit the revenue projection and bring fee options and a formal recommendation later.
Why it matters: commissioners and staff said the paid-parking program could help reduce vehicle trips, fund shuttle services and expand mobility options from Park-and-Ride locations such as Brush Creek. Commissioners asked staff to ensure accessible direct transit links (no multiple transfers) to Highlands and other neighborhoods when services are planned.
Board direction and next steps: staff to proceed with SP Plus onboarding to support paid parking operations and to return with fee alternatives and a revenue model for a subsequent board decision; staff also to reserve free day-parking stalls near the Rafta/Brush Creek stop for transit users while continuing stakeholder engagement.
