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Council weighs parking meters, fairgrounds overflow and signage to ease downtown parking
Summary
Members discussed a private company's interest in street meters, a proposed $6 event parking fee split among stakeholders, better directional signage, and the potential use of the fairgrounds as overflow parking for events.
Councilors discussed several measures to address limited downtown parking, including interest from a private company in installing street meters, using the fairgrounds as overflow parking for events, and investing in clearer directional signage to underused lots.
One councilor said a private firm was "interested in talking about putting meters on the streets," and the group debated whether parking charges could be structured to benefit the town, fairgrounds and schools. The council discussed a sample fee model for event parking — $6 per car with suggested splits of $2 to the fairgrounds, $2 to the town and $2 to the school or another stakeholder — and asked staff to explore cost, revenue allocation and operational logistics.
Members also noted sidewalk width and accessibility concerns when considering curbside meters and emphasized prioritizing signage to direct visitors to underused lots. Staff suggested trial arrangements with the fairgrounds for major events to test overflow parking and revenue sharing.
