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Council hears public input on parking; members preview 'locals day' and move paid-parking decision to March 19
Summary
Poulsbo councilmembers and a resident discussed downtown parking ideas March 5, including a proposed 'locals day' and more targeted promotion of transit to relieve demand; council postponed a decision on paid parking to March 19.
Public comment and council discussion at the March 5 Poulsbo City Council meeting focused on downtown parking and preliminary plans for paid parking and promotions to spread demand.
Linda Pop, a resident, urged the council to work with businesses and groups such as Rotary to schedule events during slower times to draw shoppers outside peak hours. Councilmembers described ideas under consideration including converting about 40% of city-owned spaces to paid parking, offering a 'locals day' (one weekday with free parking for residents) to attract customers on slow days, and targeted marketing of Kitsap Transit routes such as Route 344 to help people park farther away and take transit downtown.
Council members noted repeated constituent requests for more handicap parking downtown. The council confirmed that a formal vote on implementation option 3 — enforcement, signage immediately and paid parking beginning about a year from now — was moved to the March 19 meeting. Mayor Rebecca Erickson and councilmembers said the item needs more homework and full council attendance before a final decision.
No formal action was taken on paid parking at the March 5 meeting; the council recorded plans to continue outreach and return with implementation details.
