Downtown Parking Committee reviews signage, pricing, and ordinance changes

The Downtown Bangor Parking Committee discussed feedback from a recent public meeting, focusing on improved signage, parking garage navigation, and the potential for paid on-street parking. The group also reviewed a proposal to amend the committee's governing ordinance to remove the requirement that the chair be a sitting city councilor. Staff indicated that a comprehensive study on parking pricing and enforcement will be prepared for future discussion.

Key points

• The committee deferred a decision on a proposal to convert two parking spots at 128 Main Street to 15-minute limits due to a lack of data on the frequency of the reported issues.
• Members agreed that the primary parking challenges in downtown Bangor are related to visibility, signage, and public perception of safety rather than a lack of available spaces.
• Councilor Joseph Leonard proposed an ordinance amendment to remove the requirement that the committee chair be a city councilor, suggesting a non-voting council liaison role instead.
• Staff noted that the parking fund is an enterprise fund that must be self-sustaining, limiting the ability to offer significant discounts without offsetting revenue increases.
• The committee discussed the underutilization of certain parking lots, such as the back of Abbott Square, and the need to evaluate ADA parking spot distribution.

Next steps

• Staff will provide documentation of the 128 Main Street parking proposal discussion to the applicant.
• Staff will prepare a comprehensive study on parking pricing, ticket revenue, and the feasibility of paid on-street parking.
• The committee will review the proposed ordinance amendment regarding the chair position and council liaison role.
• Staff will investigate the distribution and usage of ADA parking spaces in the downtown area.

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