Somerville council adopts $300,000 bond to buy parking pay stations, directs ADA and outreach review

The Borough Council of Somerville on June 15 unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 2805, a bond ordinance appropriating $300,000 to purchase pay-on-foot parking stations and related equipment for the borough’s parking utility and authorizing $200,000 in bonds as part of the financing.

Council opened a public hearing on the ordinance; no members of the public spoke. During council discussion, staff said the consultant has not yet set exact pay-station locations but that each station is expected to serve an estimated eight to 10 parking spaces. Staff also said more than half of current payments are made through mobile apps and the borough will add ParkMobile as an option.

Kevin, a borough staff member, told the council that ParkMobile is a widely used platform and that the borough will provide public education on app use. "ParkMobile is a more known, more comfortable app that people are familiar with," Kevin said, adding that customers who use the app do not need to walk to a station to pay.

Council members raised accessibility concerns, asking whether drivers with disability placards would be exempt and whether the change would require adding more ADA-designated spaces near Main Street where stations are planned. Staff said handicap placards are expected to be exempt from payment and pledged to check the exemption policy and the placement plan; council also asked staff to evaluate adding no-cost ADA spaces in the project area and to consider walk distances when locating stations.

The council approved the ordinance on a roll-call vote; all members recorded "yes." The mayor directed staff to present placement maps and a public-education plan to council as the procurement and installation proceed. The ordinance takes effect according to its terms in borough code and procurement timelines.