WATERVILLE — The City Council is considering whether downtown paid parking could become a revenue source for Waterville following a presentation Tuesday by a parking and transportation consultant.
Consultant John M. Burke spoke to the council as the city explores new revenue streams.
Based in Massachusetts, Burke brings regional experience to the project, having launched similar municipal parking programs in Maine communities, including Camden.
Maj. Joshua Woods of the Waterville Police Department connected Burke with city officials. Burke outlined how cities determine if paid parking is appropriate and the steps required to implement a program. A key metric on which he relies is the “85% parking occupancy rule.”
Under that guideline, motorists should occupy roughly 85% of parking spaces at any given time, leaving about one space available for every seven occupied spots.
Burke said this strategy improves turnover, reduces the congestion drivers cause while searching for parking, and makes it easier for people to find a space.
He explained that cities generally consider paid parking when demand consistently reaches or exceeds that occupancy level.
Councilor Scott Beale, D-Ward 6, asked if a paid parking system could distinguish between Waterville residents and visitors.
Burke said some municipalities offer residents free or discounted parking while charging nonresidents.
The council also questioned the potential cost of studying the city’s parking needs before making any decisions.
Burke estimated that the first phase of the project would cost about $10,000.
This initial phase would focus on gathering and analyzing data to determine whether a paid parking program would work.
Burke said a downtown efficiency study would include reviewing existing parking data, interviewing key stakeholders, conducting occupancy and turnover surveys and developing recommendations for improvements.
Beale also asked about the project’s timeline.
Burke said that if the council moves forward, the study will take three to four months to complete.
The City Council took no formal action Tuesday. Councilors said they will take time to consider whether to authorize the first phase of the study before deciding whether paid parking is appropriate for downtown Waterville.
