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Poulsbo council approves limited paid parking on waterfront lot after hours-long debate
Summary
After extended public comment and council debate, Poulsbo approved Resolution 2026‑05 to implement paid parking limited to the Anderson Parkway waterfront lot with seasonal rates, one weekly free day and a $10/month employer fee for employee parking; an amendment to exempt local residents failed 6–1.
The Poulsbo City Council voted to adopt Resolution 2026‑05 on April 15, 2026, authorizing a downtown paid‑parking program restricted to Anderson Parkway (the waterfront lot) and a set of administrative steps for implementation. Mayor Edward Stern read the resolution summary; Councilmember Doug Taber moved the measure and it passed on a roll‑call vote, 6–1.
City planner Heather Wright told council the program would operate 10 a.m.–6 p.m., six days a week with one weekly "grace" day, and split the year into a high season with a $3/hour rate and an off season at $1/hour. The resolution includes a $10-per-month employer fee to manage the employee‑parking permit list and directs staff to reinvest program revenue into downtown parking and related services. "It allows people to swing by the downtown in the morning or evening without having to pay," Wright said as she described built‑in "grace" hours in the plan.
During public comment, downtown business owner Aaron Wenholz urged the council not to adopt paid parking, arguing it would harm local merchants: "Paid parking will drive our local customer base away from downtown," he said. Council discussion ranged over several compromise proposals — including one by Councilmember Doug Newell to exempt residents who pay the Transportation Benefit District fee and to narrow the high season — but Newell's amendment failed on a 1–6 roll call. Council discussion repeatedly invoked the program's modest footprint: staff said charging would affect roughly 17% of city‑owned parking and about 12% of downtown space when accounting for the one free day.
Opponents warned the change could reduce downtown visits; proponents said the revenue stream would allow the city to invest in shuttles, signage and longer‑term parking capacity. Councilmember Michael Fitzpatrick summarized the staff approach as "a paid parking program that tries to accommodate the concerns and needs of the community," and urged an adaptive rollout with close monitoring and public feedback. The resolution passed with Eckert, Taber, Lindahl, Fitzpatrick, McVeigh and Crowe voting yes and Newell voting no. Staff will return with vendor selection details, signage plans and a public outreach schedule ahead of implementation.
