[B]URLINGTON — The Public Works Commission has approved changes to the residential parking permit program that include a $10 fee per permit and a cap on the number of permits each household can obtain.
The commission voted 6-0 Wednesday night to approve the changes, which faced opposition from some residents who didn’t want to pay the additional fee. The new plan is expected to go into effect in January or February.
Public parking is not allowed on streets that have residential parking, which now covers eight miles across the city.
Residents had expressed concerns about an additional fee on top of their taxes. Others were concerned that they would be losing their residential permit parking as part of these changes, which is not the case.
John King, the parking enforcement manager for the Burlington Police Department, runs the program and said that he supported the changes.
“I think it’s got administrative tools and explanations and things that we’ve needed for a long time,” he said.
Along with the fee, the update sets a limit at four per household on single-unit parcels and three per household on properties with multiple units.
King said while he expects some complaints about the fee, he anticipates most of the pushback will be from those who have gotten more permits in the past than will now be allowed.
“I think it’s going to be hard to tell people who’ve had nine permits that they’re stuck at three,” he said. “And I think that’s where we all have to get together and make sure we all support the program, we all understand the program.”
For example, King said there were 15 to 17 legal parking spaces on Fletcher Place, depending on the size of the vehicles. But the department has around 93 permits issued for that street, which is located off Colchester Avenue near the University of Vermont.
Longtime public works commissioner Bob Alberry agreed with King and said permits have been misused for years due to the lack of a limit.
Changes to the program have been discussed for years, and these administrative changes stem from an extensive study of the program which was completed in January 2016.
Other changes approved by the commission include clarifying which documents are acceptable as proof of residency, creating transferable permits and allowing each permit holder to obtain one voucher per year to void a mistaken ticket. The changes also formalize contractor permits, clarify policies for businesses, fraternities and sororities, and regulate CarShare vehicles separately.
The City Council discussed the program at its Monday meeting following a presentation from King and Chapin Spencer, the city’s director of public works.
Councilor Dave Hartnett said the program had gone too far in restricting public parking, while Councilor Brian Pine and others defended the program as necessary to allow residents in congested areas to park near their homes.
Commissioner Solveig Overby said that the department and commission are good at constantly re-evaluating changes to ensure systems work smoothly.
“I think we’re really good about trying our best to get something that is going to improve things, and … I think we’re really good at hearing we have to change to things,” she said.
