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Leadville council hears Interstate Parking pitch as businesses and residents warn paid parking could hurt downtown
Summary
Interstate Parking presented a turnkey, revenue-share permit-and-payment model to Leadville’s council; downtown business owners and residents urged caution, saying meters and kiosks could discourage browsing and hurt small retailers. Staff said no decision will be made without further outreach.
Interstate Parking representative Gareth Lloyd presented a turnkey parking-permit and payment system to the Leadville City Council, saying the company installs kiosks and QR-code payments, runs customer-service portals and deploys local parking ambassadors under revenue-share contracts.
“We always like to say provide us with a challenge and we'll find a solution,” Lloyd said, describing deployments in Frisco, Idaho Springs and Breckenridge and stressing that municipalities set rates, hours and exemptions.
Business owners who later spoke during the public-comment period said they fear meters or kiosks would shorten visits and reduce retail spending. “The paid parking turns me away,” said Shaw Spike Romero, who identified herself for the record as a customer of nearby towns and said short meter limits make it harder to shop and dine. “I don't want to stop and go into the shops that I want to because it just takes away from my experience.”
Monica Smith, owner of Aspen Traders, told the council she rejects the presenter’s framing that the program is intended to create a “change in behavior.” “I really question that… I want people to enjoy my store,” she said. James Smiths, also representing Aspen Traders, added that many customers stop in Leadville precisely because parking is unregulated: “At least half of our people are just kind of people that are driving through.”
Councilmember and staff questions focused on logistics and finances. City Administrator Lori Simons asked how revenue sharing is calculated; Lloyd replied that the percentage is driven by chosen rates and hours and can range, in his experience, “anywhere from 50% to the lowest I think we have is 25%,” depending on the program design. He said Interstate assumes upfront costs — kiosks, signage, maintenance and customer service — in exchange for the share.
Several commenters recommended more outreach and peer research before any move: business owners urged the council to ask Idaho Springs and Breckenridge about net effects on retail sales, and staff said they already are arranging follow-up calls to gather lessons learned. The council and staff repeatedly noted that the presentation was informational and that no decision would be made that evening.
Next steps: staff said the parking task force will consider multiple options and present further outreach and analyses to the council before any contract or ordinance is proposed.
