Cañon City council rescinds paid‑parking implementation after widespread public opposition

The Cañon City Council voted unanimously June 15 to rescind a prior directive to proceed with implementation of paid parking at four city‑owned lots, citing strong public opposition and changes in the program’s original justification.

The council’s action followed an extended public comment period in which downtown business owners, residents and petition organizers urged the council to step back. Jay Valdiser, who led an online petition opposing paid parking, told the council he represented “more than 1,200 people in this community” and asked, “what problem are we actually trying to solve?”

Small business owners described how the proposed fees and enforcement would affect customer habits and employees. Joshua Bradford, owner of a downtown quilt shop, told council that many customers attend longer classes and that “having to worry about paid parking, downloading an app, feeding a meter, or watching the clock … creates one or more reasons for them not to come downtown.”

Council members who had earlier voted to direct staff to draft ordinances said the policy context had changed. Council Member Schmisher said she had initially supported drafting ordinances because the revenue was intended to help fund a community pool. After council later removed financial support for the pool, Schmisher said, “I no longer believe the justification that led me to support moving forward with paid parking exists.” Council Member McCuller described conversations with longtime neighbors and said the outreach changed her view.

Faced with repeated testimony that the June 1 motion sounded like an implementation mandate rather than an exploratory study—and with concerns about third‑party vendor fees, impacts on tourism and the city’s inability to guarantee that revenue would fund the pool—the council moved to rescind. The motion, made by Council Member Fred Tony and seconded by Jeremy Reeves, passed unanimously.

The council also directed staff to prepare a comprehensive, long‑term parking plan and study for council consideration rather than implementing paid parking immediately. Mayor Phil said rescission returns the council to a neutral position and urged renewed focus on pro‑business and pro‑citizen economic development.

Next steps: city staff will return with a proposed parking study scope and timeline for council review; no paid‑parking ordinances or fee schedules will be implemented as a result of the June 1 direction while the study is developed.