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Poulsbo considers 2‑hour interim limits, employee parking and higher fines as paid parking is phased in
Summary
City staff presented an interim 2‑hour parking plan, employee parking locations, enforcement options and proposed fine increases; council directed staff to return with consultant recommendations on overnight enforcement before implementing paid parking in 2026.
Poulsbo staff gave a detailed update May 14 on downtown parking strategy, proposing interim 2‑hour time limits across most downtown streets, identifying up to 150 employee parking spaces through partnerships, and outlining enforcement options ahead of a phased paid‑parking roll‑out expected in 2026.
Staff said the interim proposal would convert most previously unrestricted streets (3rd Avenue, Moe, Jensen, much of Front Street and Anderson Parkway) to a 2‑hour time limit while preserving some no‑limit residential blocks such as Sunset. Two new ADA stalls were proposed at Front and Jensen; staff said additional ADA stalls could be added after further analysis of curb ramps and accessibility.
Council discussed enforcement options—keeping the police department responsible, hiring a dedicated parking/code enforcement officer, or contracting a third‑party vendor—and staff announced an RFP would close at month‑end to solicit enforcement vendors. The staff recommendation to raise the baseline parking fine from $30 to $50, and to increase the penalty for parking in employee/reserved stalls to $250, drew council support, though some members suggested higher fines ($75–$100) might better change behavior. Council asked staff to return June 11 with enforcement‑hour options, an analysis of overnight parking enforcement, and the costs of proposed approaches.
Councilmembers emphasized equity concerns for residents who live downtown and may lack off‑street parking; several members warned against repeated carve‑outs that could undermine a consistent parking policy. Staff also highlighted partnerships that have identified roughly 148–150 new employee spaces in the near term, including church and private‑lot arrangements, noting there will be ongoing costs and maintenance obligations in the contracts staff will present for council approval.
No final enforcement model or fee schedule was adopted at the meeting; staff will return with options and cost estimates.
